MINUTES
         
                        SENATE COMMITTEE ON JURISPRUDENCE
                            Monday, February 24, 1997
                                     9:30 am
                         Capitol Extension, Room E1.012
         
                                      *****
         
         
         
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 
         11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on 
         Jurisprudence was held on Monday, February 24, 1997 in the 
         Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.  
         
                                      *****
         
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT:
         Senator Rodney Ellis                    Senator Steve Ogden
         Senator Chris Harris
         Senator David Cain
         Senator Robert Duncan
         Senator Gregory Luna
         Senator Jeff Wentworth
         
                                      *****
         
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:30 am.
         
         The Chair laid out SB 241 and recognized the author, Senator 
         West, to explain the bill.  
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on 
         the attached list.  
         The Chair moved that SB 241 be left pending to await a quorum; 
         without objection it was so ordered.  
         
         The Chair laid out SB 400 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Nelson, to explain the bill.  
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on 
         the attached list.  
         
         There being a quorum present, the following business was 
         transacted.  
         
         Senator Duncan moved that SB 400 be reported favorably to the 
         full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be 
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 
         present not voting, and 1 absent.  
         Senator Duncan requested unanimous consent to certify the bill 
         for Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so 
         ordered.  
         
         Senator Duncan moved SB 241 be reported back to the senate 
         with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The 
 
         





         motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not 
         voting, and 1 absent.  
         Senator Harris requested unanimous consent to certify the bill 
         for Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so 
         ordered.  
         
         Senator Harris asked for unanimous consent to be shown voting 
         "aye" on SB 400. There being no objection, it was so ordered.
         
         The Chair laid out SB 507 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Nixon, to explain the bill.  
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on 
         the attached list.  
         Senator Ellis moved that SB 507 be left pending; without 
         objection, it was so ordered.
         
         
         The Chair laid out SB 334 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Harris, to explain the bill.  
         Senator Harris 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 Harris moved that SB 334, as amended, be reported back 
         to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be 
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 
         present not voting, and 1 absent.  
         Senator Harris requested unanimous consent to certify the bill 
         for Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so 
         ordered.  
         
         
         The Chair laid out SB 505 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Harris, to explain the bill.  
         Senator Harris 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 Harris moved that SB 505, as amended, be reported back 
         to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be 
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 
         present not voting, and 1 absent.  
         
         Senator Luna asked for unanimous consent to be shown voting 
         "aye" on SB 241, SB 400, SB 334. There being no objection, it 
         was so ordered.
         
         The Chair laid out SB 534 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Harris, to explain the bill.  
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on 
         the attached list.
         Senator Harris moved that SB 534 be reported favorably to the 
         full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be 
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 2 
         present not voting, and 1 absent.  
 
         





         
         
         
         The Chair laid out SB 452 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Duncan, to explain the bill.  
         Senator Duncan sent up a committee substitute; the Chair 
         recognized Senator Duncan to explain the difference between 
         the committee substitute and the bill as filed.  
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on 
         the attached list.  
         Senator Ellis moved that the committee substitute be adopted, 
         without objection, it was so ordered.
         Senator Duncan moved that SB 452 do not pass but that CSSB 452 
         be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it 
         do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a vote of 6 
         ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.  
         Senator Harris requested unanimous consent to certify the bill 
         for Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so 
         ordered.  
         
          
         The Chair laid out SB 453 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Duncan, to explain the bill.  
         Senator Duncan sent up a committee substitute; the Chair 
         recognized Senator Duncan to explain the difference between 
         the committee substitute and the bill as filed.  Senator Ellis 
         moved that the committee substitute be adopted, without 
         objection, it was so ordered.
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on 
         the attached list.  
         Senator Duncan moved that CSSB 453 be left pending; without 
         objection, it was so ordered.
         
         
         The Chair laid out SB 456 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Duncan, to explain the bill.  
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on 
         the attached list.  
         Senator Ellis moved that SB 456 be left pending; without 
         objection, it was so ordered.
         
         
         There being no further business, at 11:24 am Senator Ellis 
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of 
         the Chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.  
         
         
         
         
         
         ______________________                       
         Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair
         
         ______________________
         Helen Gonzalez, Clerk