MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Tuesday, February 18, 1997
9:00 am
Senate Chamber
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Economic
Development was held on Tuesday, February 18, 1997 in the
Senate Chamber at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator David Sibley, Chairman None
Senator David Cain, Vice Chairman
Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Rodney Ellis
Senator Chris Harris
Senator Tom Haywood
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Senator Frank Madla
Senator Jerry Patterson
Senator Florence Shapiro
Senator Eliot Shapleigh
*****
The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:30 am. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
Chairman Sibley announced that he would lay out all bills on
the agenda, and the Committee would then hear testimony from
the legal panel on the liability issue, SB 386.
The Chair laid out Senate Bills 382 by Senator Madla, 383 by
Senator Cain, 384 by Senator Nelson, 385 by Senator Sibley,
386 by Senator Sibley, 387 by Senator Harris and 585 by
Senator Nelson. Senator Harris sent up a committee substitute
on SB 387; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair explained SB 386, and called the first panelist, Bob
Glasgow, representing the Texas Medical Association,
testifying in favor of SB 386. The next panelist, James W.
Cannon, representing himself, spoke in opposition to the bill.
At 10:45 a.m., Senator Cain assumed the Chair, and at 10:50
a.m., Senator Sibley resumed the Chair.
The Chair called the third panelist, Katherine Youngblood,
representing the Texas Coalition for Quality Healthcare, who
testified in opposition to the bill. The final panelist, Jim
Perdue, representing the Texas Trial Lawyers Association,
presented his testimony in favor of the bill. Each of the
witnesses responded to members' questions.
At 11:30 a.m., the Chair recessed the hearing until 20 minutes
after adjournment of the Senate. Without objection, it was so
ordered.
At 1:15, the Committee reconvened and panelist, Jim Perdue,
responded to members' questions.
Upon completion of Mr. Perdue's testimony and members'
questions, the Chair advised that public testimony would be
heard and called the first two witnesses.
The Chair then laid out SB 383 and recognized the author,
Senator Cain, to explain the bill. The Chair laid out SB 384
and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the
bill. The Chair laid out SB 382 and recognized the author,
Senator Madla, to explain the bill.
At 2:25 p.m. Senator Cain assumed the Chair, laid out SB 385
and recognized the author, Senator Sibley to explain the bill.
At 2: 30 p.m. Senator Sibley resumed the Chair, laid out 585
and recognized the author, Senator Nelson to explain the bill.
Senator Madla sent up a committee substitute for SB 585;
without objection, it was so ordered. The Chair laid out SB
387 and recognized the author, Senator Harris, who explained
the substitute previously sent up.
Public testimony then continued, and witnesses responded to
members' questions. All witnesses are shown on the attached
witness lists.
Upon completion of the testimony, the Chair advised that the
bills would be left pending.
There being no further business, at 6:15 pm Senator Sibley
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the Chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
__________________________
Senator David Sibley, Chairman
__________________________
Barbara Henderson, Clerk