MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES
Friday, May 14, 1999
9:30 p.m. or upon adjournment
Senate Chamber, Senator Zaffirini's Desk
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted for a public hearing on Friday,
May 14, 1999, and a motion made in the Texas Senate by Senator
Zaffirini to suspend the posting rule for the bills listed in
the minutes in accordance with Senate Rule 11.11, a public
hearing of the Senate Committee on Human Services was held on
Friday, May 14, 1999, in the Senate Chamber at Senator
Zaffirini's Desk at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair
Senator John Carona, Vice Chair
Senator David Bernsen
Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.
Senator Chris Harris
*****
The chair called the meeting to order at 9:44 p.m. There
being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
The chair laid out HJR 74 be Representative Patricia Gray,
proposing a constitutional amendment to provide a four-year
term for the commissioner of health and human services and to
provide that the term runs concurrently with the term of the
governor, and recognized Senator Carona to explain the bill on
behalf of the Senate sponsor, Senator Brown.
There being no witnesses registered or responding to the
chair's call for public testimony relating to HJR 74, the
chair closed public testimony.
Senator Carona moved that HJR 74 be reported to the Senate
with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The
motion prevailed by a vote of 5 "ayes" and 0 "nays."
Senator Carona moved that HJR 74 be recommended for the local
and uncontested calendar. There being no objection, the
motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
The chair laid out HB 2017 by Representative Christian,
relating to the designation of certain state employees as
liaisons to faith-based organizations for the purpose of
promoting community services for
the needy and to the promotion of cooperation and coordination
among certain organizations by local workforce development
boards, and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Carona, to
explain the bill.
There being no witnesses registered or responding to the
chair's call for public testimony relating to HB 2017, the
chair closed public testimony.
Senator Carona moved that HB 2017 be reported to the Senate
with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The
motion prevailed by a vote of 5 "ayes" and 0 "nays."
Senator Carona moved that HB 2017 be recommended for the local
and uncontested calendar. There being no objection, the
motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
At 9:46 p.m. Senator Carona assumed presiding duties.
The chair laid out HB 2609 by Representative Greenberg,
relating to the provision of scholarships, bonuses, and wage
supplementation for professional child-care workers, and
recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain
the bill.
There being no witnesses registered or responding to the
chair's call for public testimony relating to HB 2609, the
chair closed public testimony.
Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 2609 be reported to the Senate
with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The
motion prevailed by a vote of 5 "ayes" and 0 "nays."
Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 2609 be recommended for the
local and uncontested calendar. There being no objection, the
motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
The chair laid out HB 3126 by Representative Chisum, relating
to the establishment and application of uniform criteria for
evaluating state-funded drug abuse prevention programs, and
recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain
the bill.
There being no witnesses registered or responding to the
chair's call for public testimony relating to HB 3126, the
chair closed public testimony.
Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 3126 be reported to the Senate
with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The
motion prevailed by a vote of 5 "ayes" and 0 "nays."
Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 3126 be recommended for the
local and uncontested calendar. There being no objection, the
motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
The chair laid out HB 3479 by Representative Greenberg,
relating to liability for sexual exploitation by mental health
services providers who are officers or employees of
governmental units, and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.
There being no witnesses registered or responding to the
chair's call for public testimony relating to HB 3479, the
chair closed public testimony.
Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 3479 be reported to the Senate
with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The
motion prevailed by a vote of 5 "ayes" and 0 "nays."
Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 3479 be recommended for the
local and uncontested calendar. There being no objection, the
motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
At 9:49 p.m. Senator Zaffirini resumed presiding duties.
There being no other business to come before the committee,
the chair adjourned the Texas Senate Committee on Human
Services at 9:49 p.m.
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Judith Zaffirini, Chair
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Scott Caffey, Committee Clerk