MINUTES SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, TRADE & TECHNOLOGY Wednesday, May 14, 1997 1:00 p.m. Lt. Governor's Committee Room Public Hearing ***** Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on International Relations, Trade & Technology was held on Wednesday, May 14, 1997 in Lt. Governor's Committee Room, at Austin, Texas. ***** MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: Senator Carlos F. Truan, Chairman Senator Teel Bivins Senator John Carona, Vice-Chairman Senator Bill Ratliff Senator Kenneth Armbrister Senator David Sibley Senator Jon Lindsay Senator Steve Ogden Senator Eliot Shapleigh ***** Chairman Truan called the public meeting to order at 12:55 p.m. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted. Chairman Truan laid out HB 3380 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Lucio, Jr., to explain the bill. A discussion followed. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. The Chair moved that HB 3380 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection it was so ordered. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Carona moved HB 3380 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 3 absent. Senator Carona moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without objection, it was so ordered. Chairman Truan laid out HB 1391 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Barrientos, to explain the bill. A discussion followed. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. Senator Truan moved that HB 1391 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. The Chair laid out HB 2115 and recognized Senator Armbrister on behalf of the Senate sponsor, Senator Bivins, to explain the bill. A discussion followed. Senator Armbrister moved that HB 2115 be reported favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. By unanimous consent of the Committee, the vote was left open for the duration of the hearing. When the vote was closed at the end of the hearing, the motion carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 4 absent. Senator Carona moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without objection, it was so ordered. Chairman Truan laid out HB 1898 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Fraser, to explain the bill. A discussion followed. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. Senator Carona moved that HB 1898 be reported favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. By unanimous consent of the Committee, the vote was left open for the duration of the hearing. When the vote was closed at the end of the hearing, the motion carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 4 absent. Senator Lindsay moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without objection, it was so ordered. The Chair laid out HB 2025 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Carona, to explain the bill. A discussion followed. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. Senator Carona moved that HB 2025 be reported favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. By unanimous consent of the Committee, the vote was left open for the duration of the hearing. When the vote was closed at the end of the hearing, he motion carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 4 absent. Senator Carona moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without objection, it was so ordered. At 1:37 p.m. Vice-Chairman Carona assumed the chair, laid out HB 540 and recognized Senator Truan to explain the bill. A discussion followed. Senator Truan moved that HB 540 be reported favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. By unanimous consent of the Committee, the vote was left open for the duration of the hearing. When the vote was closed at the end of the hearing, the motion carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 4 absent. Senator Carona moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without objection, it was so ordered. At 1:39 p.m. Senator Truan resumed the chair and laid out HB 479, recognizing the Senate sponsor, Senator Lindsay, to explain the bill. A discussion followed. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. Senator Lindsay moved that HB 479 be reported favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. By unanimous consent of the Committee, the vote was left open for the duration of the hearing. When the vote was closed at the end of the hearing, the motion carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 4 absent. Senator Lindsay moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without objection, it was so ordered. The Chair laid out HB 2940 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Carona, to explain the bill. A discussion followed. Senator Carona moved that HB 2940 be reported favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. By unanimous consent of the Committee, the vote was left open for the duration of the hearing. When the vote was closed at the end of the hearing, the motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent. Senator Carona moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without objection, it was so ordered. Chairman Truan laid out HB 3246 and recognized Senator Carona on behalf of the Senate sponsor, Senator Madla, to explain the bill. A discussion followed. Senator Carona moved that HB 3246 be reported favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. By unanimous consent of the Committee, the vote was left open for the duration of the hearing. When the vote was closed at the end of the hearing, the motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent. Senator Carona moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without objection, it was so ordered. Chairman Truan recognized Senator Shapleigh to register his aye votes on the following bills: HB 479, HB 2025, HB 2115, HB 2940, HB 3246, HB 1898, HB 540, and HB 3380. The Chair closed and announced the votes and moved all bills reported favorably to the Local and Uncontested Calendar without objection. There being no further business, at 2:09 p.m. Senator Truan moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the Chair. Without objection, it was so ordered. ______________________ Senator Carlos F. Truan, Chair ______________________ Carla D. Buckner, Clerk