MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION

Friday, May 17, 2013

7:30 AM

Betty King Committee Room

 

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Pursuant to suspension of Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Government Organization was held on Friday, May 17, 2013, in the Betty King Committee Room at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair

 

Senator Ken Paxton

Senator Charles Schwertner, Vice Chair

 

Senator Larry Taylor

Senator Brian Birdwell

 

 

Senator Sylvia Garcia

 

OTHER LEGISLATIVE

Senator José Rodríguez

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Senator Juan Hinojosa

 

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The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

Senator Schwertner moved that the minutes of the May 16, 2013, hearing be approved. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out HB 194 by Representative Joe Farias and recognized Senator Rodríguez to explain the bill on behalf of Senator Hinojosa, the Senate sponsor. Senator Rodríguez sent up the committee substitute for HB 194 and moved its adoption. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. The Chair recognized Senator Rodríguez to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the House bill as engrossed. CSHB 194 was left pending.

 

At 7:34 a.m. Senator Schwertner assumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out HB 1726 by Representative Dwayne Bohac and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. Senator Zaffirini sent up the committee substitute for HB 1726 and moved its adoption. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. The Chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the House bill as engrossed. CSHB 1726 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out HB 2450 by Representative Richard Raymond and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. HB 2450 was left pending.

 

At 7:39 a.m. Senator Zaffirini re-assumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out anew HB 3116 by Representative Cook, sponsored by Senator Schwertner. Senator Schwertner moved that HB 3116 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 5 ayes and 0 nays, HB 3116 was reported favorably. Senator Schwertner moved that HB 3116 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew CSHB 194 by Representative Farias, 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. Senator Schwertner moved that HB 194 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do not pass, but that the committee substitute adopted in lieu thereof do pass and be printed.  There being 5 ayes and 0 nays, CSHB 194 was reported favorably. Senator Schwertner moved that CSHB 194 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew CSHB 1726 by Representative Bohac, 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. CSHB 1726 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out anew HB 3648 by Representative Harper-Brown and its proposed committee substitute. Senator Schwertner moved adoption of the proposed committee substitute for          HB 3648. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. Senator Schwertner moved that      HB 3648 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do not pass, but that the committee substitute adopted in lieu thereof do pass and be printed. There being 5 ayes and 0 nays, CSHB 3648 was reported favorably.

 

At 8:25 a.m. Senator Schwertner assumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out anew HB 12 by Representative Flynn, sponsored by Senator Zaffirini. Senator Zaffirini sent up the committee substitute for HB 12 and moved its adoption. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. The Chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the House bill as engrossed. Senator Birdwell moved that HB 12 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do not pass, but that the committee substitute adopted in lieu thereof do pass and be printed. There being 5 ayes and 0 nays, CSHB 12 was reported favorably. Senator Birdwell moved that CSHB 12 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

At 8:30 a.m. Senator Zaffirini re-assumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out anew HB 2450 by Representative Raymond, 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 2450 was left pending.

 

There being no further business, at 8:35 a.m. Senator Schwertner moved that the Senate Government Organization Committee stand adjourned, sine die, for the 83rd legislative session. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

 

Judith Zaffirini, Chair

 

 

Gonzalo Serrano, Clerk