MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION & HOMELAND SECURITY

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

8:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.016

 

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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 Transportation & Homeland Security was held on Wednesday, March 16, 2011, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Tommy Williams, Chair		Senator Wendy Davis
Senator Kirk Watson, Vice Chair
Senator Rodney Ellis
Senator Chris Harris
Senator Juan Hinojosa
Senator Robert Nichols
Senator Florence Shapiro
Senator Jeff Wentworth

 

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Senator Watson called the meeting to order at 8:00 AM. A quorum present at 8:10 AM, the following business was transacted:

 

The following members arrived after the roll was called:

Senator Rodney Ellis

Senator Chris Harris

Senator Jeff Wentworth

 

The chair laid out SB 963 and recognized the author, Senator Uresti, 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 Watson moved that SB 963 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.   

 

The chair laid out SB 119 and recognized the author, Senator Uresti, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Watson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Uresti to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Hinojosa moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

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 Watson moved that SB 119 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Williams assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 971 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Watson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Hinojosa to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

 

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 Williams moved that SB 971 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 19 and recognized the author, Senator Nichols, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Harris sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nichols to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Nichols moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Harris sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.

 

Senator Williams requested unanimous consent to incorporate the amendments into the bill to create a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Williams then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

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 Nichols moved that SB 19 do not pass but that CSSB 19 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

 

The chair laid out SB 802 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, 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 Harris moved that SB 802 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 524.

 

Senator Watson moved that SB 524 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

 

Senator Watson 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 SB 731 and recognized the author, Senator Nichols, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Nichols sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nichols to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

 

Senator Williams moved that SB 731 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 548 and recognized the author, Senator Nichols, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Nichols sent up Committee Amendment 1.

 

Senator Watson sent up Committee Amendment 2.

 

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 Williams moved that SB 548 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Watson assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 461 and recognized the author, Senator Williams, 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 Williams moved that SB 461 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

 

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

 

The chair laid out SB 138 and recognized Senator Williams, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Williams sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Williams to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Williams moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

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 Watson moved that SB 138 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 182 and recognized Senator Williams, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

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 moved that SB 182 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Williams assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 963.

 

Senator Watson moved that SB 963 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

 

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

 

Senator Nichols asked to be shown voting aye for SB 963.

 

There was no action taken for the following bill(s): SB 934

 

There being no further business, at 10:32 AM Senator Williams moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

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Senator Tommy Williams, Chair

 

 

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Tulsi Reddy, Clerk