MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Thursday, March 6, 1997
9:00 am
Lt. Governor's Committee Room
*****
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 Thursday, March 6, 1997 in the Lt.
Governor's Committee Room, Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator David Sibley, Chairman Senator Robert Duncan
Senator David Cain, Vice Chairman
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 9:15 am. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
Senator Cain assumed the Chair, laid out CSSB 385, which had
been recommitted to the Committee, and recognized the author,
Senator Sibley. Senator Sibley sent up a new committee
substitute and explained the difference between the new
committee substitute and the bill as originally substituted.
Senator Sibley moved that the new committee substitute be
adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Sibley
then moved that SB 385 do not pass but that CSSB 385 be
reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do
pass and be printed. The motion carried with a vote of 7
ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 4 absent.
At 9:20 am Senator Sibley resumed the chair, laid out SB 79
and recognized the author, Senator Ellis. Senator Ellis sent
up a committee substitute and explained the difference between
the committee substitute and the bill as filed. Senator Ellis
sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without
objection, the amendment was adopted. Witnesses testifying
and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.
Senator Ellis requested unanimous consent to incorporate the
amendment into the proposed committee substitute; without
objection, it was so ordered. Senator Ellis then moved that
the new committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it
was so ordered. Senator Ellis moved that SB 79 do not pass
but that CSSB 79 be reported back to the Senate with the
recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion
carried with a vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting,
and 1 absent.
The Chair laid out SB 652 and recognized the author, Senator
Carona. Senator Sibley sent up a committee substitute and
Senator Carona explained the difference between the committee
substitute and the bill as filed.
Karen Neeley, representing Independent Bankers Association of
Texas, testified in favor of the bill, and Kelly Rodgers,
representing Texas Bankers Association, registered in favor of
the bill but did not wish to testify. Senator Cain moved that
SB 652 do not pass but that CSSB 652 be reported back to the
Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.
The motion carried with a vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present
not voting, and 1 absent.
The Chair laid out SB 547 and recognized the author, Senator
Carona, to explain the bill. Richard Dole, representing the
State Bar of Texas, testified in favor of the bill. Karen
Neeley, representing Independent Bankers Association of Texas,
and Kelly Rodgers, representing Texas Bankers Association,
registered in favor of the bill but did not wish to testify.
The Chair closed the public hearing and moved that SB 547 be
left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 251 and recognized the author, Senator
Carona, to explain the bill. The Chair called Leslie
Pettijohn, Consumer Credit Commissioner, to testify as a
resource on the bill. Richard Goddard, representing Texas
Financial Services Association, testified in favor of the
bill, and Rob Schneider, representing Consumers Union,
testified in opposition to the bill. The Chair read the names
of witnesses registering in favor of the bill but not wishing
to testify. All witnesses are shown on the attached witness
list.
At 10:50 a.m., the Chair moved that the hearing be recessed
until thirty minutes after adjournment of the Senate; without
objection, it was so ordered.
At 1:05 p.m. the Committee reconvened and resumed testimony
and discussion on SB 251. The Chair recognized Representative
Sinfronia Thompson who spoke to the Committee on the bill.
Following the testimony, the Chair moved that the bill be left
pending and that the public hearing be left open for further
testimony. Without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 750 and recognized the author, Senator
Bivins, to explain the bill. Senator Shapiro sent up a
committee substitute and Senator Bivins explained the
difference between the committee substitute and the bill as
filed. Wade Spilman, representing Texas Association of
Insurance Agents, testified in support of the bill, and Rhonda
Myron, representing the Texas Department of Insurance,
testified as a resource on the bill. Bob Huxel, representing
Texas Association of Insurance Agents, registered in support
of the bill but did not wish to testify. Following testimony
and discussion, the Chair closed the public hearing and moved
that the bill be left pending; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 417 and recognized the author, Senator
Ellis, to explain the bill. Leslie Geballe, representing
Texas Workforce Commission, testified as a resource on the
bill. Sidney Hacker, representing the Comptroller's Office,
registered in favor of the bill but did not wish to testify.
Following testimony and discussion of the bill, the Chair
closed the public hearing and moved that the bill be left
pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 459 and recognized the author, Senator
Ellis. Senator Ellis sent up a committee substitute and
explained the difference between the committee substitute and
the bill as filed. The Chair called Ed Bloom, representing
Texas Association for the Education of Young Children, who
testified in favor of the bill. The Chair read the names of
those registering for or on the bill but not wishing to
testify. All witnesses are shown on the attached witness
list. Following testimony and discussion, the Chair closed
the public hearing and moved that the bill be left pending;
without objection, it was so ordered.
There being no further business, at 1:50 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