MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Thursday, March 20, 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 20, 1997 in the Lt.
Governor's Committee Room, Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator David Sibley, Chairman Senator Frank Madla
Senator David Cain, Vice Chairman
Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Rodney Ellis
Senator Chris Harris
Senator Tom Haywood
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Senator Jerry Patterson
Senator Florence Shapiro
Senator Eliot Shapleigh
*****
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 9:10 am. There
being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
The Chairman laid out SB 253 and recognized the author,
Senator Barrientos, to explain the bill. Senator Sibley sent
up a committee substitute and called Suzi Ray McClellan,
Office of Public Utility Counsel, to explain the committee
substitute and answer members' questions. Walter Hinojosa,
representing Texas AFL-CIO, testified in favor of the bill.
The Chairman read the names of persons registering for and on
the bill but not wishing to testify. All witnesses are shown
on the attached witness list.
Senator Lucio moved adoption of the committee substitute;
without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Harris moved
that SB 253 do not pass but that CSSB 253 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 Chairman advised that SB 760, relating to the same subject
as SB 253, would not be heard.
The Chairman laid out SB 641 and recognized the author,
Senator Harris, to explain the bill. Kelley Jones,
representing the Texas HMO Association, was called to respond
to members' questions. The Chairman read the names of
witnesses registering in favor of the bill but not wishing to
testify. Senator Harris moved that SB 641 be reported
favorably to the full 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.
Senator Ellis requested unanimous consent to certify the bill
for Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The Chairman laid out SB 217 which had been pending in
Committee, and recognized Becky Herron, a member of Senator
Zaffirini's staff, to explain Committee Amendment 1 to the
proposed committee substitute.
Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Becky Herron explained Committee Amendment 2, and Rhonda
Myron, representing the Texas Department of Insurance, was
called to respond to members' questions on the amendment.
Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment 2 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Senator Lucio requested unanimous consent to incorporate the
amendments into the proposed committee substitute; without
objection, it was so ordered. Senator Patterson then moved
that the new committee substitute be adopted; without
objection, it was so ordered. Senator Patterson moved that SB
217 do not pass but that CSSB 217 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.
There being no further business, at 9:50 am 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
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Barbara Henderson, Clerk