MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & COMMERCE
Tuesday, January 30, 2001
9:00 a.m.
Lt. Governor's Committee Room
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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Business &
Commerce was held on Tuesday, January 30, 2001, in the Lt.
Governor's Committee Room, at Austin, Texas.
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MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator David Sibley, Chairman None
Senator Troy Fraser, Vice Chairman
Senator John Carona
Senator Mike Jackson
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Senator Eliot Shapleigh
Senator Leticia Van de Putte
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Chairman Sibley called the organizational meeting of the
Business and Commerce Committee to order at 9:00 a.m. There
being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
The Chairman conducted the meeting in Spanish to emphasize the
growing importance of being bilingual as Texas-Mexico business
relations increase. There was an interpreter present to
translate for committee and audience members.
Chairman Sibley welcomed the Committee members and advised that
the Committee will meet every Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. The
Committee will have only two hours to transact business before
the Senate goes into Session, so bills not requiring extensive
testimony will be heard in the morning and the Committee will
reconvene after Session to hear bills with lengthier testimony.
The Chairman advised that the Committee will also meet on
Thursdays, beginning in March when the workload increases.
Senator Lucio commented that the meeting was historical because,
to his knowledge, there had never been a committee hearing in
Spanish at the Texas capitol. Senator Lucio thanked the
Chairman and stated that the Committee's work will be very
important to the future of Texas.
Senator Van de Putte thanked the Chairman and also expressed her
pleasure that the meeting was being held in Spanish. She stated
that it would send a very important message to the people of
Texas.
Chairman Sibley laid out the Committee Rules. There being no
questions or comments on the rules, Senator Van de Putte moved
adoption. Without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chairman advised that Texas will have much closer ties to
Mexico in the next twenty years. He stated that it is only
necessary to go to the Texas-Mexico border to see the future of
commerce in Texas; and that Texas children need to be bilingual
in order to prosper in the future.
The Chairman then asked if other members wished to make a
statement. Senator Shapleigh expressed his pleasure in being a
part of the Committee and stated that the investments to be made
in the Border will be important accomplishments in Texas.
There being no further business, at 9:15 a.m. Chairman Sibley
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
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Senator David Sibley, Chairman
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Barbara Henderson, Clerk