MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Monday, January 27, 1997
1:30 pm
Senate Chamber
*****
Revised
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.11, a meeting of the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
was held on Monday, January 27, 1997 in the Senate Chamber at
Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator John Whitmire
Senator Florence Shapiro
Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Jane Nelson
Senator Jerry Patterson
Senator Eliot Shapleigh
Senator Royce West
*****
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
The Chair laid out SB 250 and recognized the author, Senator
Patterson, to explain the bill.
Representative Peggy Hamric, representing House of
Representatives, testified in favor of the bill.
Stephanie Palmer, representing Justice for All and herself,
testified in favor of the bill.
Marty Wing, representing herself, testified in favor of the
bill.
Lori Bible, representing People Against Violent Crime,
testified in favor of the bill.
Harriett Semander, representing herself, testified in favor of
the bill.
Suzan Cotellesse, representing Justice for All and herself,
testified in favor of the bill.
Alida Tovar, representing Justice for All, testified in favor
of the bill.
Ken Anderson, representing himself, testified in favor of the
bill.
Arthur C. "Cappy" Eads, representing himself, testified in
favor of the bill.
Tom O'Connell, representing Collin County District Attorney,
registered but did not testify in favor of the bill.
John Healey, representing Family and Friends of Gil Epstein,
testified in favor of the bill.
Gary T. Cohen, representing Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers
Association, testified in favor of the bill.
Diane Clements, representing Justice for All, testified in
favor of the bill.
Zahari Semander, representing himself, testified in favor of
the bill.
At 3:15 p.m, Senator Shapiro assumed the chair.
At 3:20 p.m, Senator Whitmire assumed the chair.
Mike K. Mason, representing himself, registered but did not
testify in favor of the bill.
Mark A. Dukes, representing himself, registered but did not
testify in favor of the bill.
Sam Fuller, representing Cut-N-Shoot Hog, registered but did
not testify in favor of the bill.
John Bridgeman, representing himself, registered but did not
testify in favor of the bill.
Shirley Parish, representing herself, testified in favor of
the bill.
Linda Kelley, representing herself and children, testified in
favor of the bill.
Whitson Clements, representing Justice for All, registered but
did not testify in favor of the bill.
Robert G. Carreiro, representing Justice for All, registered
but did not testify in favor of the bill.
Verna L. Carr, representing People Against Violent Crime,
registered but did not testify in favor of the bill.
Sterlene Donahue, representing Justice for All, registered but
did not testify in favor of the bill.
Linda Marin, representing Texas Citizens United for
Rehabilitation of Errants, testified in opposition to the
bill.
Victor Rodriguez, representing Texas Board of Pardons and
Paroles, testified on the bill.
Dr. Tony Fabelo, representing Criminal Justice Policy Council,
testified on the bill.
Garron Guszak, representing Legislative Budget Board,
testified on the bill.
Senator Patterson moved that SB 250 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.
There being no further business, at 4:45 p.m. Senator Whitmire
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the Chair.
______________________
Senator John Whitmire, Chair
______________________
Diana Lolley, Clerk