MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
9:00 a.m.
Capitol Extension, Room E1.028
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on
Intergovernmental Relations was held on Wednesday, March 16,
2005, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.028, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Frank Madla None
Senator Kim Brimer
Senator Bob Deuell
Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.
Senator Jeff Wentworth
*****
The chair called the meeting to order at 9:02 a.m. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
Senator Wentworth moved adoption of the minutes from the
previous hearing held on March 9, 2005; without objection, it
was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 792 and recognized the author, Senator
Staples, 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 Wentworth moved that SB
792 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation
that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a
record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0
absent. Senator Wentworth moved that the bill be recommended
for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Brimer assumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 877 and recognized the author, Senator
Madla, to explain the bill. Senator Madla sent up a proposed
committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Madla to
explain the difference between the committee substitute and the
bill as filed. Senator Madla sent up Committee Amendment 1 and
moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Senator Wentworth sent up Committee Amendment 2 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator
Wentworth sent up Committee Amendment 3 and moved adoption;
without objection, the amendment was adopted. Witnesses
registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. Senator
Madla requested unanimous consent to roll the amendments into
the proposed committee substitute; without objection, it was so
ordered. Senator Madla then moved that the new committee
substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Madla moved that SB 877 do not pass but that CSSB 877 be
reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do
pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5
ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Madla
moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Madla resumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 670 and recognized the author, Senator
Seliger, to explain the bill. There were no witnesses
registering or testifying on the bill. The chair moved that the
public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so
ordered. Senator Brimer moved that SB 670 be reported favorably
to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0
nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Wentworth
moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 668 and recognized the author, Senator
Seliger, to explain the bill. There were no witnesses
registering or testifying on the bill. The chair moved that the
public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so
ordered. Senator Brimer moved that SB 668 be reported favorably
to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0
nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Brimer moved
that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Gallegos, Jr. requested to be shown voting aye on SB 792
and CSSB 877; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SCR 8 and recognized the author, Senator
Seliger, 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 Brimer moved that SCR 8
be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that
it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record
vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.
Senator Wentworth moved that the bill be recommended for
placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out CSSJR 14 and recognized the author, Senator
Seliger, to explain the bill. Senator Madla moved that CSSJR 14
be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 716 and recognized the author, Senator
Gallegos, Jr., 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 Gallegos, Jr. moved that
SB 716 be reported favorably to the Senate with the
recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion
carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not
voting, and 0 absent.
The chair laid out SB 245 and recognized the author, Senator
Gallegos, Jr., to explain the bill.
Senator Gallegos sent up a proposed committee substitute; the
chair recognized Senator Gallegos to explain the difference
between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. Senator
Gallegos sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption;
without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Gallegos
sent up Committee Amendment 2 and moved adoption; without
objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Gallegos
requested unanimous consent to roll the amendments into the
proposed committee substitute; without objection, it was so
ordered. Senator Gallegos then moved that the new committee
substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Gallegos moved that SB 245 do not pass but that CSSB 245
be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it
do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote
of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator
Gallegos moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the
Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The chair laid out SB 734 and recognized Senator Brimer, in the
absence of the author, to explain the bill. Witnesses
testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached
list. Senator Wentworth assumed the chair. Senator Madla
resumed the chair. The chair moved that the public testimony be
closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Madla
moved that SB 734 be left pending; without objection, it was so
ordered.
Senator Brimer assumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 243 and SB 282 at the same time. The
chair recognized the author of SB 243, Senator Wentworth, to
explain the bill. Senator Madla, author of SB 282, explained
the difference between the two bills. Testimony was taken for
both bills together and witnesses testifying and registering on
the bill are shown on the attached list. Senator Madla moved
that SB 243 and SB 282 be left pending; without objection, it
was so ordered.
There being no further business, at 10:59 a.m. Senator Brimer
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
The posting rule, Senate Rule 11.18, was suspended, motioned by
Senator Madla, to hear the following bill(s): SB 734.
Upon adjournment of the Senate, the Committee met at the chair's
desk and called the meeting to order at 12:05 p.m. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted: The
chair laid out SB 734, which was previously left pending, and
recognized Senator Brimer, in the absence of the author.
Senator Brimer sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption;
without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Brimer
requested unanimous consent to roll the amendment into the body
of the bill; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator
Brimer moved that SB 734 as amended be reported back to the
Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.
The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0
present not voting, and 1 absent.
There being no further business, at 12:07 p.m. Senator Madla
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
_____________________________
Senator Frank Madla, Chair
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Christine Wright, Clerk