MINUTES 
          
                        SENATE COMMITTEE ON JURISPRUDENCE 
                             Monday, March 15, 1999 
                                     3:30 pm 
                         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  
         Jurisprudence was held on Monday, March 15, 1999 in the  
         Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Chris Harris                    Senator Rodney Ellis 
         Senator Gregory Luna                    Senator J. E. Brown 
         Senator Jeff Wentworth 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         Senator Harris, the Vice-Chair, called the meeting to order at  
         4:30 pm.  There being a quorum present, the following business  
         was transacted.   
          
         The following members arrived after the roll was called:   
         Senator Rodney Ellis 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 952 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Luna, to explain the bill.   
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
         The Chair moved that SB 952 be left pending to await a quorum;  
         without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a  
         quorum, Senator Luna moved that SB 952 be reported back to the  
         Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.   
         The motion carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present  
         not voting, and 1 absent.   
         Senator Luna moved that the bill be recommended for placement  
         on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was  
         so ordered.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 409 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Duncan, to explain the bill.   
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
         The Chair moved that SB 409 be left pending to await a quorum;  
         without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a  
         quorum, Senator Luna moved that SB 409 be reported back to the  
         Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.   
  
         The motion carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present  
         not voting, and 1 absent.  Senator Luna moved that the bill be  
         recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;  
         without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chair recognized Senator Duncan on SB 384 which was left  
         pending from a previous hearing.   
         Senator Luna sent up a committee substitute; the Chair  
         recognized Senator Duncan to explain the difference between  
         the committee substitute and the bill as filed.  Senator Luna  
         moved adoption of the committee substitute, without objection,  
         it was so ordered. 
         The Chair moved that SB 384 be left pending to await a quorum;  
         without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a  
         quorum, Senator Luna moved that SB 384 be reported back to the  
         Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.   
         The motion carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present  
         not voting, and 1 absent.  Senator Luna moved that the bill be  
         recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;  
         without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         At 4:35 pm Senator Luna assumed the chair.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 422 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Harris, to explain the bill.   
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
         The Chair moved that SB 422 be left pending to await a quorum;  
         without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a  
         quorum, Senator Harris moved that SB 422 be reported back to  
         the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be  
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 1 absent.   
         Senator Harris moved that the bill be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 547 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Harris, to explain the bill.   
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
         The Chair moved that SB 547 be left pending to await a quorum;  
         without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a  
         quorum, Senator Harris moved that SB 547 be reported back to  
         the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be  
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 1 absent.   
         Senator Harris moved that the bill be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 620 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Harris, to explain the bill.   
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
         The Chair moved that SB 620 be left pending to await a quorum;  
         without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a  
         quorum, Senator Luna moved that SB 620 be reported back to the  
         Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.   
         The motion carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present  
         not voting, and 1 absent.   
          
         At 4:43 pm Senator Harris assumed the chair.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 609 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Lindsay, to explain the bill.   
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
         Senator Luna moved that SB 609 be reported favorably to the  
         Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.   
         The motion carried with a vote of 3 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present  
         not voting, and 2 absent.   
         Senator Luna moved that the bill be recommended for placement  
         on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was  
         so ordered.   
          
         At 4:50 pm Senator Ellis assumed the chair.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 649 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Lindsay, to explain the bill.   
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
         Senator Ellis moved that SB 649 be left pending; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Ellis asked for unanimous consent that he be shown  
         voting Aye on SB 409, without objection it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 604 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Nelson, to explain the bill.   
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
         Senator Ellis moved that SB 604 be left pending; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 949 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Nelson, to explain the bill.   
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
         Senator Ellis moved that SB 949 be left pending; without  
  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         At 5:12 pm Senator Luna assumed the chair.   
          
         The Chair laid out SCR 21 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Ellis, to explain the bill.   
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
         Senator Ellis sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.   
         Senator Ellis moved that SCR 21, 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 3 ayes, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 2 absent.   
          
         Senator Ellis moved that the bill be recommended for placement  
         on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was  
         so ordered.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 232 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Ellis, to explain the bill.   
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
         Senator Ellis moved that SB 232 be left pending; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair recognized Senator Ellis on SB 229 which was left  
         pending from a previous hearing.   
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
         Senator Ellis moved that SB 229 be left pending; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         At 5:34 pm Senator Ellis assumed the chair.   
          
         There being no further business, at 5:35 pm Senator Ellis  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
         the Chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Kenneth Besserman, Clerk