MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Tuesday, February 25, 1997
9:00 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 Criminal
Justice was held on Tuesday, February 25, 1997 in the Capitol
Extension, Room E1.012, 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 9:10 am. The following
business was transacted.
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
Senator Florence Shapiro
Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Jane Nelson
Senator Jerry Patterson
SB 67 by Moncrief
The Chair laid out SB 67 and recognized the author, Senator
Moncrief, to explain the bill.
David McNutt, representing Texas Department of Criminal Justice,
testified on the bill.
The Chair left SB 67 pending the presence of a quorum.
SB 160 by Brown
The Chair laid out SB 160 and recognized the author, Senator
Brown, to explain the bill.
Sherri Wallace, representing Dallas County District Attorney,
registered but did not testify in favor of the bill.
Robert Kepple, representing Texas District and County Attorneys
Association, testified on the bill.
The Chair left SB 160 pending the presence of a quorum.
SB 174 by Brown
The Chair laid out SB 174 and recognized the author, Senator
Brown, to explain the bill.
Jerome Aldrich, representing Brazoria County , testified in
favor of the bill.
The Chair left SB 174 pending the presence of a quorum.
SB 121 by Bivins
The Chair laid out SB 121 and recognized the author, Senator
Bivins, to explain the bill.
Senator West sent up a committee substitute; the Chair
recognized Senator Bivins to explain the difference between the
committee substitute and the bill as filed. Senator West moved
the committee substitute be adopted; without objection it was so
ordered.
Tom Krampitz, representing Texas District and County Attorneys
Association, testified on the bill.
David Baglagia, representing Travis County Sheriff's Office,
testified in favor of the bill.
Dan T. Richards, representing Travis County Sheriff's Office,
testified in favor of the bill.
The Chair directed that the record reflect that Senators Duncan
and Nelson be shown present.
A quorum was present.
Senator West moved that SB 121 not pass but that CSSB 121 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 0 absent.
SB 78 by Ellis
The Chair laid out SB 78 and recognized the author, Senator
Ellis, to explain the bill.
Mike Davis, representing State Fire Marshal's Office, registered
but did not testify on the bill.
Rev. B. W. McClendon, representing St. James Baptist Fellowship,
testified in favor of the bill.
Rev. Frank Garrett, Jr. , representing Bethel-St. Paul United
Baptist Church, testified in favor of the bill.
Bruce Casteel, representing Texas Department of Public
Safety/Texas Rangers, registered but did not testify in favor of
the bill.
William A. Bennie, representing Texas Rangers, registered but
did not testify in favor of the bill.
Kerry Baker, representing Hillel Foundation, testified in favor
of the bill.
Ken Bailey, representing Texas State Association of Fire
Fighters, registered but did not testify in favor of the bill.
Randy Cain, representing Texas Fire Chiefs Association,
registered but did not testify in favor of the bill.
The Chair directed that the record reflect that Senators
Patterson and Shapiro be shown present.
Senator West moved that SB 78 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.
The Chair moved that Senator Shapiro be shown voting aye on CSSB
121; without objection it was so ordered.
The Chair moved that Senator Patterson be shown voting aye on
CSSB 121; without objection it was so ordered.
SB 170 by West
The Chair laid out SB 170 and recognized the author, Senator
West, to explain the bill.
Lisa Toth, representing self, testified in favor of the bill.
Andy Kahan, representing City of Houston Mayor's Office,
testified in favor of the bill.
Sherri Wallace, representing John Vance, Criminal District
Attorney for Dallas County, testified in favor of the bill.
Senator West moved that SB 170 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.
SB 174 by Brown
Senator West moved that SB 174 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 West requested unanimous consent to certify the bill for
Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so
ordered.
SB 160 by Brown
Senator Shapiro moved that SB 160 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 Shapiro requested unanimous consent to certify the bill
for Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so
ordered.
SB 67 by Moncrief
Senator Patterson moved that SB 67 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 Patterson requested unanimous consent to certify the
bill for Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was
so ordered.
There being no further business, at 10:11 am Senator Shapiro
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the Chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
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Senator John Whitmire, Chair
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