MINUTES
         
                        SENATE COMMITTEE ON JURISPRUDENCE
                              Monday, March 3, 1997
                                     1:30 pm
                         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, March 3, 1997 in the Capitol 
         Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.  
         
                                      *****
         
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT:
         Senator Rodney Ellis                    Senator Robert Duncan
         Senator Chris Harris                    Senator Gregory Luna
         Senator David Cain                      Senator Steve Ogden
         Senator Jeff Wentworth
         
                                      *****
         
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:35 pm.  There being 
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted.  
         
         The following members arrived after the roll was called:  
         Senator Robert Duncan
         Senator Gregory Luna
         Senator Steve Ogden
         
         
         The Chair laid out SB 443 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Moncrief, to explain the bill.  
         Senator Harris sent up a committee substitute; the Chair 
         recognized Senator Moncrief 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 Ellis moved that CSSB 443 be left pending; without 
         objection, it was so ordered.
         
         
         The Chair laid out SB 611 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Carona, to explain the bill.  
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on 
         the attached list.  
         
         Senator Harris moved that SB 611 be reported favorably to the 
         full 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 0 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 551 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Brown, to explain the bill.  
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on 
         the attached list.  
         Senator Duncan moved that SB 551 be reported favorably to the 
         full 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 0 absent.  
         Senator Duncan requested unanimous consent to certify the bill 
         for Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so 
         ordered.  
         
         
         The Chair laid out SB 52, SB 18, SB 669, SB 670, and 
         recognized the author, Senator Shapiro, to explain the first 
         bill SB 52. 
         Senator Duncan sent up a committee substitute; the Chair 
         recognized Senator Shapiro 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 Ogden sent up committee amendment number one, the 
         chair recognized Senator Ogden to explain the amendment.
         Senator Ellis requested unanimous consent to incorporate the 
         amendment into the committee substitute.  Senator Ellis then 
         moved that the new committee substitute be adopted; there 
         being no objection, it was so ordered.  
         Senator Ellis moved that CSSB 52 be left pending; without 
         objection, it was so ordered.
         
         
         The Chair laid out SB 181 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Shapiro, to explain the bill.  
         Senator Duncan sent up a committee substitute; the Chair 
         recognized Senator Shapiro 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 Ellis moved that SB 181 be left pending; without 
         objection, it was so ordered. 
         
         
         The Chair laid out SB 669 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Shapiro, to explain the bill.  
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on 
         the attached list.  
 
         





         Senator Harris expressed concern over hearing any bill with 
         fiscal implication to the State.  
         Senator Ellis moved that SB 669 be left pending; without 
         objection, it was so ordered.
          
         
         The Chair laid out SB 670 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Shapiro, to explain the bill.  
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on 
         the attached list.  
         Senator Harris moved that SB 670 be reported favorably to the 
         full 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 0 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 607 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Wentworth, to explain the bill.  
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on 
         the attached list.  
         Senator Wentworth moved that SB 607 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 Harris requested unanimous consent to certify the bill 
         for Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so 
         ordered.  
         
         
         The Chair laid out SJR 19 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Wentworth, to explain the bill.  
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on 
         the attached list.  
         Senator Harris moved that SJR 19 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 Luna asked for unanimous consent to be shown voting 
         "aye" on SB 611.  There being no objection, it was so ordered.  
         
         Senator Wentworth asked for unanimous consent to be shown 
         voting "aye" on SB 551.  There being no objection, it was so 
         ordered.  
         
         
         The Chair laid out SB 349 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Shapiro, to explain the bill.  
         Senator Harris sent up a committee substitute; the Chair 
         recognized Senator Shapiro to explain the difference between 
         the committee substitute and the bill as filed.  Senator 
 
         





         Harris 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 Ellis moved that SB 349 be left pending; without 
         objection, it was so ordered.
         
         
         The Chair laid out SB 426and 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 426 be reported favorably to the 
         full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be 
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 
         present not voting, and 2 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 435 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 435 be reported favorably to the 
         full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be 
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 
         present not voting, and 2 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 497 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 497 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, 0 
         present not voting, and 3 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 504 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 504 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, 0 
         present not voting, and 3 absent.  
 
         





         Senator Cain requested unanimous consent to certify the bill 
         for Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so 
         ordered.  
         
         
         
         Senator Cain asked for unanimous consent to be shown voting 
         "aye" on SB 607 and SJR 19.  There being no objection, it was 
         so ordered.  
         
         
         There being no further business, at 4:35 pm Senator Ellis 
         moved that the Committee be recessed. Without objection, it 
         was so ordered.  
         
         
         
         
         
         ______________________
         Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair
         
         
         ______________________
         Helen Gonzalez, Clerk