MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

8:00 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 Government Organization was held on Tuesday, May 14, 2013, in the Betty King Committee Room at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair		Senator Larry Taylor
Senator Charles Schwertner, Vice Chair
Senator Brian Birdwell		OTHER LEGISLATIVE
Senator Sylvia Garcia		MEMBERS PRESENT:
Senator Ken Paxton		Senator Robert Deuell
Senator José Rodríguez		Senator Juan Hinojosa

                                                                                   Senator Eddie Lucio

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The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

Senator Schwertner moved that the minutes of the May 7, 2013, hearing be approved. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out HB 2718 by Representative Ryan Guillen and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Deuell, to explain the bill. HB 2718 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out HB 3674 by Representative Sergio Muñoz Jr. and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hinojosa, to explain the bill. HB 3674 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out HB 749 by Representative Richard Raymond and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Lucio, to explain the bill. HB 749 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out HB 432 by Representative Debbie Riddle and recognized Senator Schwertner to explain the bill on behalf of Senator Van de Putte, the Senate sponsor. HB 432 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out HB 2895 by Representative Dennis Bonnen and recognized Senator Schwertner to explain the bill on behalf of Senator Taylor, the Senate sponsor. Senator Schwertner sent up the committee substitute for HB 2895 and moved its adoption. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. The Chair recognized Senator Schwertner to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the House bill as engrossed. CSHB 2895 was left pending.

 

At 8:10 a.m. Senator Schwertner assumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out HB 1965 by Representative Linda Harper-Brown and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. HB 1965 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out HB 2873 by Representative Linda Harper-Brown and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. HB 2873 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out HB 3093 by Representative Gary Elkins and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. HB 3093 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out HB 3211 by Representative Philip Cortez and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. HB 3211 was left pending.

 

At 8:17 a.m. Senator Zaffirini re-assumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out anew HB 3674 by Representative Muñoz, sponsored by Senator Hinojosa, and opened public testimony. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. HB 3674 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out anew CSHB 2895 by Representative Bonnen, sponsored by Senator Taylor, and opened public testimony. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. CSHB 2895 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out anew HB 2873 by Representative Harper-Brown, sponsored by Senator Zaffirini, and opened public testimony. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. Senator Garcia moved that HB 2873 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 5 ayes and 0 nays, HB 2873 was reported favorably. Senator Garcia moved that HB 2873 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew HB 1965 by Representative Harper-Brown, sponsored by Senator Zaffirini, and opened public testimony. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. HB 1965 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out anew HB 3093 by Representative Elkins, sponsored by Senator Zaffirini, and opened public testimony. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. HB 3093 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out anew HB 2718 by Representative Guillen, sponsored by Senator Deuell, and opened public testimony. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. HB 2718 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out anew HB 3211 by Representative Cortez, sponsored by Senator Zaffirini, and opened public testimony. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. Senator Garcia moved that HB 3211 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 5 ayes and 0 nays, HB 3211 was reported favorably. Senator Garcia moved that HB 3211 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew HB 432 by Representative Riddle, sponsored by Senator Van de Putte, and opened public testimony. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. Senator Paxton moved that HB 432 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 5 ayes and 0 nays, HB 432 was reported favorably. Senator Paxton moved that HB 432 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew HB 749 by Representative Raymond, sponsored by Senator Lucio, and opened public testimony. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. Senator Schwertner moved that HB 749 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 5 ayes and 0 nays, HB 749 was reported favorably. Senator Garcia moved that HB 749 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

Having been present during the hearing, Senator Rodríguez requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on HB 432 and HB 749. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and his votes were included in the total vote count.

 

There being no further business, at 8:52 a.m., the Chair announced that the committee would stand in recess, subject to the call of the Chair.

 

 

 

Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair

 

 

 

Gonzalo Serrano, Clerk