MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND HOMELAND SECURITY
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
8:00 p.m.
Capitol Extension, Room E1.016
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on
Transportation and Homeland Security was held on Wednesday,
April 27, 2005, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at
Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Todd Staples None
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
Senator Kim Brimer
Senator Rodney Ellis
Senator Jon Lindsay
Senator Frank Madla
Senator Florence Shapiro
Senator Eliot Shapleigh
Senator Jeff Wentworth
*****
The chair called the meeting to order at 8:05 a.m. The
following business was transacted:
The chair laid out HB 749 and recognized Jason Skaggs,
Legislative Aide to Senator Duncan, in the absence of the Senate
sponsor, Senator Duncan, to explain the bill. Senator Brimer
sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Jason
Skaggs, Legislative Aide to Senator Duncan, to explain the
difference between the committee substitute and the bill as
engrossed. Senator Brimer moved adoption of the committee
substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 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 Staples explained
proposed committee amendment 1; committee amendment 1 was not
officially sent up. The chair moved that CSHB 749 and proposed
committee amendment 1 be left pending; without objection, it was
so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 1818 and recognized the author, Senator
Janek, to explain the bill. Senator Wentworth sent up a
committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Janek to
explain the difference between the committee substitute and the
bill as engrossed. 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. The chair moved that SB 1818 and the committee
substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The chair laid out SB 499 and recognized the author, Senator
West, to explain the bill. Senator Shapleigh sent up a
committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator West to
explain the difference between the committee substitute and the
bill as engrossed. Senator Shapleigh moved adoption of the
committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.
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. The chair moved
that CSSB 874 be left pending; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The chair laid out HB 874 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Wentworth, to explain the bill. Senator Wentworth sent
up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator
Wentworth to explain the difference between the committee
substitute and the bill as engrossed. Senator Wentworth moved
adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was
so ordered. 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. The
chair moved that CSHB 874 be left pending; without objection, it
was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 540 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Lindsay, to explain the bill. Senator Lindsay sent up a
committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Lindsay to
explain the difference between the committee substitute and the
bill as engrossed. Senator Lindsay moved adoption of the
committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.
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. The chair moved
that CSHB 540 be left pending; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The chair laid out HB 160 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Wentworth, to explain the bill. With no one present
wishing to register or testify, the chair moved that the public
testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. The
chair moved that HB 160 be left pending; without objection, it
was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 87 and recognized Senator Wentworth, in
the absence of the Senate sponsor, Senator Madla, 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. The
chair moved that HB 87 be left pending; without objection, it
was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 696 and recognized Senator Wentworth, in
the absence of the author, Senator Ogden, to explain the bill.
Senator Wentworth sent up a committee substitute; the chair
recognized Senator Wentworth to explain the difference between
the committee substitute and the bill as filed. Senator
Wentworth moved adoption of the committee substitute; without
objection, it was so ordered. 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. The chair moved that CSSB 696 be
left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 1699 and recognized Senator Brimer, in the
absence of the author, Senator Averitt, to explain the bill.
At 9:00 a.m. there being a quorum present the clerk called the
roll. Senator Lindsay moved adoption of the minutes from the
previous hearing held on April 20, 2005; without objection, it
was so ordered.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill, SB 1699, are
shown on the attached list. The chair moved that the public
testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Brimer sent up a committee substitute; the chair
recognized Senator Brimer to explain the difference between the
committee substitute and the bill as filed. Senator Brimer
moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection,
it was so ordered. The chair moved that CSSB 1699 be left
pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 9:05 a.m. Senator Wentworth assumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 322 as pending business and recognized the
author, Senator Staples, to explain the bill. Senator Staples
made a motion to reconsider the adoption of the committee
substitute at the committee's March 30th hearing; without
objection, the motion was adopted. Senator Staples withdrew the
March 30th committee substitute. Senator Staples sent up a
committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Staples to
explain the difference between the committee substitute and the
bill as filed. Senator Staples moved adoption of the committee
substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 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. The chair moved that CSSB
322 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 1073 as pending business and recognized
the author, Senator Staples, to explain the bill. Senator
Staples made a motion to reconsider the adoption of committee
amendment 1 at the committee's March 30th hearing; without
objection, the motion was adopted. Senator Staples withdrew the
March 30th committee amendment 1. Senator Staples sent up a
committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Staples to
explain the difference between the committee substitute and the
bill as filed. Senator Staples moved adoption of the committee
substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 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. The chair moved that CSSB
1073 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 1706 as pending business and recognized
the author, Senator Staples, to explain the bill. Senator
Staples sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized
Senator Staples to explain the difference between the committee
substitute and the bill as filed. The following amendments are
drafted to the proposed committee substitute.
The chair recognized Senator Staples on committee amendment 1.
Senator Staples sent up committee amendment 1 and explained the
amendment. Senator Staples moved adoption; without objection,
the amendment was adopted.
The chair recognized Senator Staples on committee amendment 2.
Senator Staples sent up committee amendment 2 and explained the
amendment. Senator Staples moved adoption; without objection,
the amendment was adopted.
The chair recognized Senator Staples on committee amendment 3.
Senator Staples sent up committee amendment 3 and explained the
amendment. Senator Staples moved that committee amendment 3 be
left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 9:31 a.m. Senator Barrientos assumed the chair.
The chair recognized Senator Wentworth on committee amendment 4.
Senator Wentworth sent up committee amendment 4 and explained
the amendment. Senator Wentworth moved that committee amendment
4 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
Resource witness testimony only was heard.
At 9:54 a.m. Senator Barrientos moved that the committee stand
recessed until subject to the call of the chair; without
objection, it was so ordered.
At 3:34 p.m., upon adjournment of the Senate, Senator Staples
reconvened the committee hearing.
The chair recognized Senator Brimer on committee amendment 5.
Senator Brimer, sent up committee amendment 5 and explained the
amendment. The chair moved that committee amendment 5 be left
pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 3:37 p.m. Senator Brimer assumed the chair.
The chair recognized Senator Staples on committee amendment 6.
Senator Staples, in the absence of the author of the amendment
Senator Shapiro, sent up committee amendment 6 and explained the
amendment. The chair moved that committee amendment 6 be left
pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair recognized Senator Staples on committee amendment 7.
Senator Staples, in the absence of the author of the amendment,
Senator Shapleigh, sent up committee amendment 7 and explained
the amendment. The chair moved that committee amendment 7 be
left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 3:41 p.m. Senator Barrientos assumed the chair.
The chair recognized Senator Brimer on committee amendment 8.
Senator Brimer, in the absence of the author of the amendment,
Senator Lindsay, sent up committee amendment 8 and explained the
amendment. Resource witness testimony only was heard. The chair
moved that committee amendment 8 be left pending; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The chair recognized Senator Brimer on committee amendment 9.
Senator Brimer, in the absence of the author of the amendment,
Senator Lindsay, sent up committee amendment 9 and explained the
amendment. Resource witness testimony only was heard. The chair
moved that committee amendment 9 be left pending; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The chair withdrew the previously sent up committee amendment 4.
The chair recognized Senator Brimer on committee amendment 4a.
Senator Brimer, in the absence of the author of the amendment,
Senator Wentworth, sent up committee amendment 4a and explained
the amendment. Public testimony was opened only for people
wishing to register or testify on committee amendment 4a. The
chair moved that the public testimony on committee amendment 4a
be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. The chair
moved that committee amendment 4a be left pending; without
objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Staples moved that SB 1706, the committee substitute and
committee amendments 3, 4a, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 that were sent up
today be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 4:21 p.m. Senator Staples resumed the chair. The chair
announced a tentative meeting for tomorrow, Thursday, April 28th
upon adjournment of the Senate to vote on some of the bills from
today's posting, at his Senate chamber desk. If the meeting is
to occur, the senate posting rules will be suspended and
Chairman Staples will make an announcement on the Senate floor.
There being no further business, at 4:24 p.m. Senator Staples
moved that the committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
_____________________________
Senator Todd Staples, Chair
_____________________________
Patricia Gajda, Clerk