MINUTES 
                                         
                      SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES 
                             Tuesday, March 16, 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 16, 1999 in the Senate  
         Chamber at Austin, Texas.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator J. E. "Buster" Brown, Chair     Senator Teel Bivins 
         Senator Kenneth Armbrister              Senator Bill Ratliff 
         Senator Gonzalo Barrientos 
         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 Barrientos moved that the Minutes from the previous  
         hearing be adopted.  There being no objection, it was so  
         ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 513 and Senator Carona explained the  
         bill.  Senator Barrientos sent up a Committee Substitute and  
         Senator Carona explained the differences. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list. 
          
         Testimony was closed and the bill was left pending. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 707 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Carona, to explain the bill.  Senator Brown sent up Committee  
         Amendment 1 and moved its adoption; without objection, the  
         amendment was adopted. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list. 
          
         Senator Brown moved that SB 707 be reported favorably to the  
  
         full 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 3 absent.   
         Senator Armbrister moved that SB 707 be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         At 3:40 pm, Senator Armbrister assumed the Chair. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 873 and Senator Brown explained the  
         bill.   
          
         Senator Brown sent up a Committee Substitute, explained the  
         differences, and moved its adoption; without objection; the  
         Substitute was adopted. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list. 
          
         Senator Brown moved that CSSB 873 be reported favorably to the  
         full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be  
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 2 absent.  Senator Brown moved that  
         CSSB 873 be recommended for placement on the Local &  
         Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.  
          
         The Chair laid out SB 874 and Senator Brown explained the  
         bill. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list. 
          
         Senator Brown moved that SB 874 be reported favorably to the  
         full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be  
         printed.  The motion carried witha vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 2 absent.  Senator Brown moved that SB  
         874 be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         There being no further business, at 4:10 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                           
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