MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON OPEN GOVERNMENT, SELECT

Thursday, May 12, 2011

8:30 AM

Betty King Committee Room

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Open Government, Select was held on Thursday, May 12, 2011, in the Betty King Committee Room at the State Capitol, in Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chair

 

Senator Kevin Eltife

Senator Wendy Davis, Vice Chair

 

Senator Florence Shapiro

Senator Rodney Ellis

 

 

 

*****

 

The chair called the meeting to order at 8:43 AM. There being a quorum present at 8:45 AM, the following business was transacted:

 

The chair laid out HB 3307 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hinojosa, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Wentworth moved that HB 3307 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Ellis moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on May 5, 2011; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

Senator Ellis moved that HB 3307 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 3 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

 

Senator Ellis moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 2978 and recognized Senator Davis, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Wentworth moved that HB 2978 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 2538 and recognized Senator Davis, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Wentworth moved that HB 2538 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business CSSB 677 and recognized Senator Davis, in the absence of the author, to explain a new committee substitute for SB 677.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Wentworth moved that CSSB 677 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Davis assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out HB 2313 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Wentworth, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Davis sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Wentworth to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as filed.

 

Witnesses registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Davis moved that CSHB 2313 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business CSSB 1904 and recognized the author, Senator Wentworth, to explain a new committee substitute for SB 1904. 

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Davis moved that CSSB 1904 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Wentworth resumed the chair.

 

There being no further business, at 9:05 AM Senator Wentworth moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Pursuant to the suspension of Senate Rules 11.10 and 11.18, Senator Wentworth reconvened the Senate Select Committee on Open Government at 1:46 PM at his desk. 

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chair

 

 

Senator Wendy Davis, Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Rodney Ellis

 

 

Senator Kevin Eltife

 

Senator Florence Shapiro

 

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business CSSB 677.

 

Senator Eltife moved to reconsider the vote by which CSSB 677 was adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Eltife sent up and moved adoption of a new committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Eltife moved that SB 677 do not pass but that CSSB 677 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 3 ayes, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 2978.

 

Senator Eltife moved that HB 2978 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Eltife moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 2313.

 

Senator Eltife moved adoption of the committee substitute for HB 2313; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Eltife moved that HB 2313 do not pass but that CSHB 2313 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Eltife moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Shapiro requested unanimous consent to be shown voting “Aye,” with the chair, on the following: HB 2978, HB 2313, HB 3307; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 2538.

 

Senator Shapiro moved that HB 2538 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Shapiro moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

There being no further business, at 1:52 PM Senator Wentworth moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chair

 

 

__________________________________________

Amanda Kit, Clerk