MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Tuesday, March 30, 1999
2:00 pm
Senate Chamber
*****
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, March 30, 1999 in the Senate
Chamber at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator J. E. "Buster" Brown, Chair Senator Bill Ratliff
Senator Kenneth Armbrister
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
Senator Teel Bivins
Senator Tom Haywood
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
*****
The Chair called the meeting to order at 2:12 pm. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
Senbator Barrientos moved that the Minutes from the March 23rd
and March 25th hearing be adopted. There being no objection,
it was so ordered.
The Chair notified the Committee that SB 705 and SB 1300 would
not be heard.
At 2:13 pm, Senator Armbrister assumed the Chair and laid out
SB 1310. Senator Brown, the author, explained the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Brown moved that SB 1310 be reported favorably to the
full Senate. The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0
nays, 0 present not voting and 1 absent. Senator Brown moved
that SB 1310 be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 2:21 pm, Senator Brown assumed the Chair and laid out SB
1555. Senator Fraser, the author, explained the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Armbrister moved that SB 1555 be reported favorably to
the full Senate. The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0
nays, 0 present not voting and 1 absent. Senator Armbrister
moved that SB 1555 be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 513 and Senator Carona, the author,
explained the bill. Senator Barrientos sent up a new
Committee Substitute and Senator Carona explained the
differences in the Substitute. Senator Barrientos moved
adoption of the Substitute; without objection, the Substitute
was adopted.
No public testimony was taken on the bill.
Senator Barrientos moved that CSSB 513 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, 2 nays,
0 present not voting and 1 absent.
The Chair laid out SB 1070 and Senator Bivins explained the
bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Bivins moved that SB 1070 be reported favorably to the
full Senate. The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0
nays, 0 present not voting and 1 absent. Senator Bivins moved
that SB 1070 be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 2:39 pm, Senator Barrientos assumed the Chair and laid out
SB 453. Senator Brown explained the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Brown left SB 453 pending, awaiting for the arrival of
its companion House bill.
The Chair laid out SB 1298 and Senator Brown explained the
bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Bivins moved that SB 1298 be reported favorably to the
full Senate. The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0
nays, 0 present not voting and 1 absent.
The Chair laid out SB 1305 and Senator Brown explained the
bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Brown moved that SB 1305 be reported favorably to the
full Senate. The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0
nays, 0 present not voting and 1 absent. Senator Brown moved
that SB 1305 be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 1306 and Senator Brown sent up a
Committee Substitute, explained the differences, and moved its
adoption; without objection; the Substitute was adopted.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Brown moved that CSSB 1306 be reported favorably to
the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed.. The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0
present not voting and 1 absent. Senator Brown moved that
CSSB 1306 be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 3:25 pm, Senator Lucio assumed the Chair and laid out SB
1307. Senator Brown explained the bill.
No public testimony was taken on the bill. The bill was left
pending until a quorum was present.
The Chair laid out SB 1308 and Senator Brown explained the
bill. Senator Brown sent up Committee Amendment One,
explained the Amendment and moved its adoption; without
objection, the amendment was adopted.
No public testimony was taken on the bill.
Senator Brown moved that SB 1308 be reported favorably as
Amended to the full Senate. The motion carried with a vote of
6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting and 1 absent.
Senator Brown moved that SB 1307 be reported favorably to the
full Senate. The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0
nays, 0 present not voting and 1 absent. Senator Brown moved
that SB 1307 and
1308 be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 3:20 pm, Senator Brown assumed the Chair and laid out SB
944. Senator Armbrister, the author, explained the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Brown explained that a lot of legislation dealing with
Groundwater Districts have been filed and a Subcommittee on
Groundwater Districts was created.
Senator Lucio moved to refer SBs 635, 943, 944, 1826 and 1829
to the Subcommittee on Groundwater Districts. It was so
ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 938 and Senator Armbrister explained the
bill.
At 3:50 pm, Senator Lucio assumed the Chair.
Witnesses testifying and registering on SB 938 are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Armbrister moved that SB 938 be reported favorably to
the full Senate. The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0
nays, 0 present not voting and 1 absent.
The chair laid out SB 1152 and Senator Bivins, the author,
explained the bill. Senator Bivins sent up a Committee
Substitute, explained the Substitute and moved adoption;
without objection, the Substitute was adopted.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
At 4:37 pm, Senator Brown assumed the Chair and Commissioner
Dewhurst answered questions on SB 1152.
Senator Bivins sent up Committee Amendments One, Two and Three
and moved their adoption; without objection, the amendments
were adopted. Senator Bivins moved that Amendments One, Two
and Three be rolled into a new Committee Substitute; without
objection, it was so ordered. Senator Bivins moved that CSSB
1152 be adopted and be reported favorably to the full Senate
with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The
motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not
voting and 1 absent.
The Chair laid out SB 1270 and Senator Wentworth, the author,
explained the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
The bill was left pending awaiting a quorum.
The Chair laid out SB 1282 and Senator Wentworth, the author,
explained the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
The bill was left pending awaiting a quorum.
The Chair laid out SB 1797 and Senator Duncan, the author,
explained the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
The bill was left pending before the Committee.
The Chair laid out SB 736 and Senator Armbrister, the author,
explained the bill.
No public testimony was taken on the bill.
Senator Armbrister moved that SB 736 be reported favorably to
the full Senate. The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0
nays, 0 present not voting and 1 absent. Senator Armbrister
moved that SB 736 be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Armbrister moved that SB 1270 be reported favorably to
the full Senate. The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0
nays, 0 present not voting and 1 absent. Senator Armbrister
moved that SB 1270 be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Armbrister moved that SB 1282 be reported favorably to
the full Senate. The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0
nays, 0 present not voting and 1 absent. Senator Armbrister
moved that SB 1282 be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 1178 and Senator Armbrister sent up a
Committee Substitute. Senator Ogden, the author, explained
the Substitute.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Lucio moved adoption of CSSB 1178; without objection,
the Substitute was adopted. Senator Lucio moved that CSSB
1178 be reported favorably to the full Senate. The motion
carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting
and 1 absent. Senator Armbrister moved that CSSB 1178 be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;
without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 821 and Senator Armbrister, the author,
explained the bill. Senator Armbrister sent up Committee
Amendment One and moved its adoption; without objection, the
amendment was adopted.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
The bill was left pending awaiting a quorum.
At 5:36 pm, Senator Armbrister assumed the Chair and laid out
SB 1309. Senator Brown, the author, sent up a Committee
Substitute, explained the Substitute, and moved its adoption;
without objection; the Substitute was adopted.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Brown moved that CSSB 1309 be reported favorably to
the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed. The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0
present not voting and 1 absent. Senator Brown moved that
CSSB 1309 be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 5:40 pm, Senator Brown assumed the Chair.
Senator Armbrister moved that the amendment to SB 821, be
rolled into a Committee Substitute; without objection, it was
so ordered. Senator Armbrister moved that CSSB 821 be adopted
and reported favorably to the full Senate with the
recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion
carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting
and 1 absent. Senator Armbrister moved that CSSB 821 be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;
without objection, it was so ordered.
At 5:41 pm, Senator Armbrister assumed the Chair and laid out
SB 1311. Senator Brown, the author sent up a Committee
Substitute and explained the Substitute.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Brown moved adoption of the Committee Substitute;
without objection, the Substitute was adopted. Senator Brown
moved that CSSB 1311 be reported favorably to the full Senate
with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The
motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not
voting and 1 absent. Senator Brown moved that CSSB 1311 be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;
without objection, it was so ordered.
At 5:52 pm, Senator Brown assumed the Chair and laid out SB
1312. Senator Armbrister explained the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attched list.
At 6:30 pm, Senator Lucio assumed the Chair.
At 6:52 pm, Senator Brown assumed the Chair and then closed
public testimony on the bill. The bill was left pending
before the committee.
Senator Haywood sent up the Subcommittee on Ag report on SB
518, and Senator Armbrister moved adoption of the
Subcommittee report. The Chair laid out SB 518.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Armbrister moved that SB 518 be reported favorably to
the full Senate. The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0
nays, 0 present not voting and 1 absent. Senator Armbrister
moved that SB 518 be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 7:01 pm, Senator Armbrister assumed the Chair and laid out
SB 766. Senator Brown sent up a Committee Substitute and
explained the Substitute.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Brown moved to adopt the Committee Substitute for SB
766; without objection, the Substitute was adopted. Senator
Brown moved that CSSB 766 be reported favorably to the full
Senate. The motion carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 1 nay, 0
present not voting and 1 absent.
At 8:42 pm, the Chair laid out SB 1303. Senator Brown sent
up a Committee Substitute and explained the Substitute.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Public testimony on SB 1303 was closed and the bill was left
pending before the Committee.
Senator Brown moved to correct the record and show that Mr.
Tom "Smitty" Smith was in favor of CSSB 821.
There being no further business, at 10:30 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