MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS & BORDER SECURITY

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

1:30 PM or upon adjournment

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 Wednesday, May 17, 2017, in the Betty King Committee Room at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Donna Campbell, Chair		None
Senator Don Huffines, Vice Chair
Senator Dawn Buckingham
Senator Bob Hall
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Senator José Rodríguez
Senator Carlos Uresti

 

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Senator Huffines, the acting chair, called the meeting to order at 5:43 PM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

The following members arrived after the roll was called: Senator Rodríguez, Senator Hall, Senator Lucio, Senator Campbell, and Senator Uresti.

 

The chair recognized U.S. Army Reserve and VABS intern, Sgt. Brandon Gajeton, to lead the committee in the pledges of allegiance to the United States and Texas flags.

 

Senator Buckingham moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on May 12, 2017; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 2486 and recognized Senator Buckingham, 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.

 

Senator Huffines moved that HB 2486 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 3066 and recognized Senator Buckingham, 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.

 

Senator Huffines moved that HB 3066 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 150 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Creighton, 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 moved that HB 150 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HJR 21 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Creighton, 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 moved that HJR 21 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 2008 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Buckingham, 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 Buckingham moved that HB 2008 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 0 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 HB 3521 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Buckingham, 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 Buckingham moved that HB 3521 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 0 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 HB 1905 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hall, 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 Hall moved that HB 1905 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 0 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 HB 2115 and recognized Senator Hall, 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 Lucio moved that HB 2115 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.

 

Senator Campbell assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out HB 1644 and recognized Senator Hall, 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.

 

Senator Huffines moved that HB 1644 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 HB 3567 and recognized Senator Hall, 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.

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that HB 3567 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 0 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 377 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Campbell, for a motion.

 

Senator Campbell moved that HB 377 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 0 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 150 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Creighton, for a motion.

 

Senator Huffines moved that HB 150 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 0 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 HJR 21 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Creighton, for a motion.

 

Senator Hall moved that HJR 21 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 0 absent.

 

Senator Hall 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 2486 and recognized Senator Buckingham, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, for a motion.

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that HB 2486 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 0 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 3066 and recognized Senator Buckingham, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, for a motion.

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that HB 3066 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 0 absent.

 

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

 

Having been present when a quorum was established, Senator Rodriguez requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on the following bills: HB 377, HB 150, HJR 21, HB 2406, HB 3066, HB 2115, HB 1644, HB 2008, HB 3521, HB 3567, and HB 1905. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Having been present when a quorum was established, Senator Uresti requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on the following bills: HB 3567, HB 2486, HB 2115, HB 1644, HB 2008, HB 3521, and HB 1905. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Having been present when a quorum was established, Senator Campbell requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on the following bills: HB 2115, HB 2008, HB 3521, and HB 1905. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

There being no further business, at 6:50 PM Senator Campbell moved that the Committee be adjourned. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Senator Donna Campbell, Chair

 

 

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Carrie Smith, Clerk