MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS & BORDER SECURITY

Friday, May 12, 2017

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 Veteran Affairs & Border Security was held on Friday, May 12, 2017, in the Betty King Committee Room at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Donna Campbell, Chair

 

Senator José Rodríguez

Senator Don Huffines, Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Dawn Buckingham

 

 

Senator Bob Hall

 

 

Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.

 

 

Senator Carlos Uresti

 

 

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 8:03 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

The following members arrived after the roll was called: Senator Hall and Senator Huffines.

 

The Chair recognized U.S. Army veteran, Jim Brennan, to lead the committee in the pledges of allegiance to the United States and Texas flags.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 846 and recognized Senator Carlos Uresti, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Uresti to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved adoption of the committee substitute for HB 846; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that HB 846 do not pass but that CSHB 846 be reported back 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 1 absent.

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. 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 HCR 56 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Taylor, V., for a motion.

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that HCR 56 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 1 absent.

 

Senator Huffines 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 257 in lieu of SB 1457 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Buckingham, for a motion.

 

Senator Buckingham moved that HB 257 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 1 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 1630 and recognized Senator Carlos Uresti, 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.

 

The chair moved to leave all considered bills pending until the end of the hearing, without objection; it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HCR 45 and recognized Senator Carlos Uresti, 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.

 

The chair laid out HB 1646 and recognized Senator Carlos Uresti, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.

 

The chair opened up public testimony.

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 1606 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Lucio, Jr., 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 Huffines assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out HB 493 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Campbell, 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.

 

The chair laid out HCR 122 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Campbell, to explain the bill.

 

The chair opened up public testimony.

 

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

 

Senator Campbell resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 493.

 

Senator Campbell moved that HB 493 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 1 absent.

 

Senator Campbell 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 HCR 122.

 

Senator Campbell moved that HCR 122 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 1 absent.

 

Senator Campbell 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 1630.

 

Senator Uresti moved that HB 1630 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 1 absent.

 

Senator Uresti 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 HCR 45.

 

Senator Huffines moved that HCR 45 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 1 absent.

 

Senator Huffines 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 1646.

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that HB 1646 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 1 absent.

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. 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 1606.

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that HB 1606 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 1 absent.

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. 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 8:37 AM Senator Campbell moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Senator Donna Campbell, Chair

 

 

__________________________________________

Carrie Smith, Clerk