MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Tuesday, February 16, 1999
3:30 pm
Senate Chamber
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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Natural
Resources was held on Tuesday, February 16, 1999 in the Senate
Chamber at Austin, Texas.
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MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator J.E. "Buster" Brown, Chair Senator Gonzalo
Barrientos
Senator Kenneth Armbrister Senator Bill Ratliff
Senator Teel Bivins
Senator Tom Haywood
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
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The Chair called the meeting to order at 3:40 pm. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
Senator Lucio moved that the Minutes from the previous hearing
be adopted. There being no objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair explained to the Members the proposed recommendation
that the Committee would send to the Senate Finance Committee
regarding Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Authority in
Texas. The Committee moved to adopt the following
recommendation: "In order to fulfill the state's
responsibility for proper management of low-level radioactive
waste generated within Texas and as outlined in the Compact,
the Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Authority
should continue as a state agency with a mission of pursuing a
public-private partnership to obtain a permit for the disposal
and /or long-term management of low-level radioactive waste in
the state. The Committee also believes that the Sunset
process is the appropriate venue for in-depth analysis of the
Authority and its future. The Authority is scheduled for
Sunset review to begin this interim with a report due to the
Legislature in 2001."
At 3:42 pm, Senator Bivins assumed the chair.
Senator Brown laid out SB 115 and explained the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Brown moved that SB 115 be reported favorably to the
full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed. The motion carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0
present not voting, and 3 absent.
Senator Brown laid out SB 133 and explained the bill.
No public testimony was taken on the bill.
Senator Brown sent up a Committee Substitute and moved
adoption; without objection, the substitute was adopted.
Senator Brown moved that CSSB 133 be reported favorably to the
full Senate. The motion carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0
nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.
Senator Brown laid out SB 392 and explained the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Brown moved that SB 392 be reported favorably to the
full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed. The motion carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0
present not voting, and 2 absent.
Senator Brown moved that CSSB 133 and SB 392 be recommended
for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
There being no further business, at 4:10 pm Senator Armbrister
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the Chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
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Senator J.E. "Buster" Brown, Chair Carol
McGarah
, Clerk