MINUTES 
                                         
                      SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES 
                             Tuesday, March 2, 1999 
                                     2:00 pm 
                                 Senate Chamber 
                                         
                                      ***** 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Natural  
         Resources was held on Tuesday, March 2, 1999 in the Senate  
         Chamber at Austin, Texas.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator J.E. "Buster" Brown, Chair      Senator Bill Ratliff 
         Senator Kenneth Armbrister 
         Senator Gonzalo Barrientos 
         Senator Teel Bivins 
         Senator Tom Haywood 
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 2:10 pm.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted.   
          
         Senator Lucio moved that the Minutes from the previous hearing  
         be adopted.  There being no objection, it was so ordered.. 
          
         Senator Brown  laid out SB 463 and Senator Lucio explained the  
         bill in Senator Ogden's absence. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list. 
          
         Senator Lucio moved that SB 463 be reported favorably to the  
         full Senater 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 1 absent.  Senator Haywood moved that  
         SB 463 be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         At 2:25 pm, Senator Armbrister assumed the Chair and laid out  
         SB 142.  Senator Brown then explained the bill.  No testimony  
         was taken on the bill.  The bill was left pending until a  
         quorum was present. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 509 and Senator Brown explained the  
  
         bill.  No public testimony was taken on the bill.  The bill  
         was left pending until a quorum was present. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 287 and Senator Brown explained the  
         bill.  No testimony was taken on the bill.  
          
         Senator Brown moved that SB 287 be reported favorably to the  
         full Senate.  The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0  
         nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.  Senator Brown moved  
         that SB 287 be recommended for placement on the Local &  
         Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Brown moved that SB 142 be reported favorably to the  
         full 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 1 absent.  Senator Brown moved that SB  
         142 be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Brown moved that SB 509 be reported favorably to the  
         full 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 1 absent.  Senator Brown moved that SB  
         509 be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 272 and Senator Brown explained the  
         bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list. 
          
         Senator Brown sent up a Committee Substitute and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the substitute was adopted.  
         Senator Brown moved that CSSB 272 be reported favorably to the  
         full Senate.  The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0  
         nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 305 and Senator Brown explained the  
         bill. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list. 
          
         Senator Brown moved that SB 305 be reported favorably to the  
         full 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 1 absent.  Senator Brown moved that SB  
         305 be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was  so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 657 and Senator Brown explained the  
         bill. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
  
         the attached list. 
          
         Senator Brown sent up a Committee Substitute and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the substitute was adopted.   
         Senator Brown moved that CSSB 657 be reported favorably to the  
         full Senate.  The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0  
         nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.  Senator Brown moved  
         that CSSB 657 be recommended for placement on the Local &  
         Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 658 and Senator Brown explained the  
         bill. 
          
         Witness testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list. 
          
         Senator Brown moved that SB 658 be reported favorably to the  
         full 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 1 absent.  Senator Brown moved that SB  
         658 be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was  so ordered. 
          
         At 2:58 pm, Senator Brown assumed the Chair. 
          
         Senator Brown thanked the members for their work and approval  
         of the aforementioned bills that were related to SB1 from the  
         75th Legislature. 
          
         There being no further business, at 3:00 pm Senator Barrientos  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
         the Chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         ____________________________                       
         ________________________ 
         Senator J.E. "Buster" Brown, Chair                     Carol  
         McGarah, Clerk