MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Tuesday, May 4, 1999
9:00 a.m.
Capitol Extension, Room E1.036
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance was
held on Tuesday, May 4, 1999 in the Capitol Extension, Room
E1.036, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Bill Ratliff None
Senator Carlos Truan
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
Senator John Carona
Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.
Senator Jon Lindsay
Senator Mike Moncrief
Senator Steve Ogden
Senator Royce West
*****
At 9:05 a.m. Senator West assumed the chair.
The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. There
being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
Senators Truan, Barrientos and Gallegos.
The Chair laid out HB 2067 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Fraser, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Fraser moved that HB 2067 be reported favorably to the
Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.
The motion carried with a vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present
not voting, and 2 absent.
At 9:10 a.m. Senator Moncrief assumed the chair.
The Chair laid out HB 2108 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator West, to explain the bill.
Senator West sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption;
without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator West
moved that HB 2108, as amended, be reported back to the Senate
with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The
motion carried with a vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not
voting, and 1 absent.
At 9:25 a.m. Senator West resumed the chair.
The Chair laid out HB 2406 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Madla, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Fraser moved that HB 2406 be reported favorably to the
Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.
The motion carried with a vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present
not voting, and 2 absent.
The Chair laid out HB 81 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Moncrief, to explain the bill.
There were no witnesses wishing to testify for, against or on
HB 81.
Senator Moncrief moved that HB 81 be reported favorably to the
Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.
The motion carried with a vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present
not voting, and 1 absent.
Senator Moncrief moved that the bill be recommended for
placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 871 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Harris, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Lindsay moved that HB 871 be reported favorably to the
Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.
The motion carried with a vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present
not voting, and 1 absent.
Senator Fraser moved that the bill be recommended for
placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 1878 and recognized the author, Senator
Duncan, to explain the bill.
Senator Duncan sent up a committee substitute; the Chair
recognized Senator Duncan to explain the difference between
the committee substitute and the bill as filed. Senator
Duncan moved adoption of the committee substitute, without
objection, it was so ordered.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Duncan moved that SB 1878 do not pass but that CSSB
1878 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation
that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a
vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.
The Chair laid out HB 579 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Wentworth, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
The Chair moved that HB 579 be left pending to await a quorum;
without objection it was so ordered. Upon arrival of a
quorum, Senator Moncrief moved that HB 579 be reported back to
the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed. The motion carried with a vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0
present not voting, and 1 absent.
Senator Moncrief moved that the bill be recommended for
placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 1520 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Wentworth, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
The Chair moved that HB 1520 be left pending to await a
quorum; without objection it was so ordered. Upon arrival of
a quorum, Senator Moncrief moved that HB 1520 be reported back
to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed. The motion carried with a vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0
present not voting, and 1 absent.
Senator Moncrief moved that the bill be recommended for
placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 1978 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Wentworth, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Moncrief moved that HB 1978 be reported favorably to
the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed. The motion carried with a vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0
present not voting, and 1 absent.
Senator Moncrief moved that the bill be recommended for
placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 2821 and recognized Senator Moncrief, in
the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.
Senator Moncrief sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Senator Moncrief sent up Committee Amendment 2 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Senator Moncrief moved that HB 2821, as amended, be reported
back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and
be printed. The motion carried with a vote of 10 ayes, 0
nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.
Senator Moncrief moved to reconsider the vote taken on HB
2821; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Moncrief then moved to withdraw Committee Amendment 2;
without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Ogden moved that HB 2821, as amended, be reported back
to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed. The motion failed with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 1
present not voting and 5absent.
Senator Fraser moved to reconsider the second vote taken on HB
2821; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Ogden moved that HB 2821, as amended, be reported back
to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed. The motion carried with a vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0
present not voting, and 2 absent.
The Chair laid out HB 1676 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Ratliff, to explain the bill.
Senator Ratliff sent up a committee substitute; the Chair
recognized Senator Ratliff to explain the difference between
the committee substitute and the bill as filed. Senator
Ratliff moved adoption of the committee substitute, without
objection, it was so ordered.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Ratliff moved that SB 1676 do not pass but that CSSB
1676 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation
that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a
vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.
Senator Ratliff moved that the bill be recommended for
placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 1161 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Ratliff, to explain the bill.
Senator Ratliff sent up a committee substitute; the Chair
recognized Senator Ratliff to explain the difference between
the committee substitute and the bill as filed. Senator
Ratliff moved adoption of the committee substitute, without
objection, it was so ordered.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Ratliff moved that HB 1161 do not pass but that CSHB
1161 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation
that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a
vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.
Senator Ratliff moved that the bill be recommended for
placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 1945 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Ratliff, to explain the bill.
Senator Ratliff sent up a committee substitute; the Chair
recognized Senator Ratliff to explain the difference between
the committee substitute and the bill as filed.
Senator Ratliff sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Senator Gallegos, Jr. sent up Committee Amendment 2 and moved
adoption The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 2 nays, 1
present not voting, and 0 absent.
Senator Ratliff moved adoption of the committee substitute as
amended. The Chair announced that the amendments would be
rolled into the committee substitute.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Ratliff moved that HB 1945 do not pass but that CSHB
1945 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation
that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a
vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 1 present not voting, and 2 absent.
The Chair laid out HB 2107 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Armbrister, to explain the bill.
Senator Lindsay sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Fraser moved that HB 2107, as amended, be reported
favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do
pass and be printed. The motion carried with a vote of 8
ayes, 0 nays, 1 present not voting, and 2 absent.
At 2:05 p.m. Senator Ogden assumed the chair.
The Chair laid out HB 1837 and recognized Senator West, in the
absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator West moved that HB 1837 be left pending; without
objection, it was so ordered.
At 2:40 p.m. Senator West resumed the chair.
The Chair laid out SB 1491 and recognized the author, Senator
Duncan, to explain the bill.
Senator Duncan sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Moncrief moved that SB 1491, as amended, be reported
back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and
be printed. The motion carried with a vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays,
0 present not voting, and 2 absent.
No action was taken on SB 182.
No action was taken on SB 1244.
There being no further business, at 2:45 p.m. Senator West
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the Chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Bill Ratliff, Chair
______________________
Patricia Hicks, Clerk