MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

9:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

 

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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 Natural Resources was held on Tuesday, April 30, 2013, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Troy Fraser, Chair

 

Senator Rodney Ellis

Senator Craig Estes, Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Bob Deuell

 

 

Senator Robert Duncan

 

 

Senator Kevin Eltife

 

 

Senator Glenn Hegar

 

 

Senator Juan Hinojosa

 

 

Senator Robert Nichols

 

 

Senator Kel Seliger

 

 

Senator Carlos Uresti

 

 

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:06 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

The chair laid out HB 788 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hinojosa, to explain the bill. Senator Hinojosa sent up Committee Amendment 1 and explained the amendment.

 

Senator Fraser moved to limit testimony to 3 minutes; 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 Hinojosa moved adoption of Committee Amendment 1; without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Fraser moved that HB 788 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 619 and recognized the author, Senator Taylor, to explain the bill. Senator Estes sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Taylor 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 Fraser moved committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1560 and recognized the author, Senator Taylor, to explain the bill. Senator Hegar sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Taylor 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 Fraser moved committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 468 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill. Senator Seliger sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Seliger 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 Fraser moved committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 1718 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Estes, 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 Fraser moved that HB 1718 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 11:00 AM Senator Fraser moved that the Committee stand recessed until 15 minutes after adjournment of the Senate. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 2:20 PM Senator Fraser reconvened the meeting.

 

The chair laid out HB 752 and recognized Senator Deuell, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, 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 Fraser moved that HB 752 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HCR 55 and recognized Senator Uresti, 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 Fraser moved that HCR 55 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 115 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Uresti, 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 Fraser moved that HB 115 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 252 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 Fraser moved that HB 252 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 622 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 Fraser moved that HB 622 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 839 and recognized Senator Uresti, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. There were no witnesses registered on the bill. The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Fraser moved that HB 839 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 2:39 PM Senator Fraser moved the committee stand at ease; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 2:44 PM Senator Fraser reconvened the meeting.

 

The chair laid out HB 3163 and recognized Senator Estes, 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 Fraser moved that HB 3163 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 619 and recognized Senator Estes, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. Senator Estes withdrew the previous committee substitute that had been sent up; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Estes sent up a new committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Estes to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Estes moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Estes moved that SB 619 do not pass but that CSSB 619 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent. Senator Estes moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1561 and recognized Senator Estes, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

Senator Deuell assumed the chair.

 

Senator Fraser resumed the chair.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Deuell moved that SB 1561 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 4 absent.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1560 and recognized the author, Senator Taylor. Senator Deuell moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Deuell moved that SB 1560 do not pass but that CSSB 1560 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 4 absent.

 

The posting rule, Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, was suspended to hear the following bills:

SB 468

SB 1560

SB 1561

 

 

 

 

 

 

There being no further business, at 3:48 PM Senator Fraser moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

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Senator Troy Fraser, Chair

 

 

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Tatum Reagan, Clerk