MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
ON LEGISLATIVE & CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING
Monday, May 12, 1997
11:00 am
Senate Chamber
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee of the Whole
on Legislative & Congressional Redistricting was held on
Monday, May 12, 1997 in the Senate Chamber at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos Senator Frank Madla
Senator J.E. Brown
Senator Kenneth Armbrister
Senator Teel Bivins
Senator David Cain
Senator John Carona
Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Rodney Ellis
Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.
Senator Michael Galloway
Senator Chris Harris
Senator Tom Haywood
Senator Jon Lindsay
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Senator Gregory Luna
Senator Mike Moncrief
Senator Jane Nelson
Senator Drew Nixon
Senator Steve Ogden
Senator Jerry Patterson
Senator Bill Ratliff
Senator Florence Shapiro
Senator Eliot Shapleigh
Senator David Sibley
Senator Carlos Truan
Senator Jeff Wentworth
Senator Royce West
Senator John Whitmire
Senator Judith Zaffirini
Lt. Governor Bob Bullock
*****
The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:50 pm. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
none.
The Chair laid out the minutes from the April 22, 1997 meeting
and asked for any proposed revisions. There being none,
Senator Brown moved that the minutes be approved. The motion
prevailed without objection.
The Chair made brief opening remarks.
S.B. 1564 by Wentworth; S.J.R. 41 by Wentworth
The Chair laid out S.B. 1564 and S.J.R. 41 and recognized
Senator Wentworth to explain the bill and the resolution.
The Chair recognized Senators Truan and Moncrief to question
Senator Wentworth.
The Chair recognized Ms. Barbara Hankins of Austin,
representing the League of Women Voters of Texas, to testify
and present written testimony in support of the legislation.
The Chair recognized Ms. Suzy Woodford of Austin, representing
Common Cause of Texas, to testify in support of the
legislation.
The Chair recognized Mr. Mac McGuire of Austin, representing
himself, to testify and present written testimony in support
of the legislation.
There being no one else present wishing to testify in favor
of, against, or on the legislation, the Chair closed public
testimony.
The Chair recognized Senator Gallegos to question Senator
Wentworth.
The Chair recognized Senator Patterson to speak in support of
the legislation.
The Chair recognized Senator Armbrister to question Senator
Wentworth.
The Chair recognized Senator Truan for a parliamentary
inquiry. Senator Truan asked if it was the Chair's intent to
take a vote on the bills. The Chair replied that it was his
intention to leave the bills pending.
The Chair recognized Senator Wentworth to close on the bills.
Senator Wentworth indicated that he would like to have the
opportunity to make a motion to report the bill and the
resolution favorably to the Senate.
The Chair announced that the Committee would stand at ease for
two minutes.
The Chair called the Committee back to order.
The Chair refused to recognize Senator Wentworth for a motion
to report, since it was the Chair's intent to refer the
legislation to a special subcommittee. Pursuant to Committee
Rule 4, the Chair referred S.B. 1564 and S.J.R. 41 to a
special subcommittee whose members will be named at a later
date.
There being no further business to come before the Committee,
Senator Truan moved that the Committee of the Whole recess
pending the call of the Chair, and Rise and Report Progress.
The motion prevailed and the Committee recessed at 2:35 p.m.
_________________________________
_________________________________
Gonzalo Barrientos, Chair Kimberly
Herry, Clerk