MINUTES 
          
                      SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES 
                             Tuesday, April 13, 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, April 13, 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 2:20 pm.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 792 and Senator Nixon, the author,  
         explained the bill.   Senator Haywood sent up a Committee  
         Substitute and moved its adoption.  It was so ordered. 
          
         No public testimony was taken on the bill. 
          
         The bill was left pending, awaiting the arrival of a quorum. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1659 and Senator Jackson, the author,  
         explained the bill. 
          
         No public testimony was taken on the bill.   
          
         The bill was left pending, awaiting the arrival of a quorum. 
          
         The Chair laid out HCR 59 and Senator Jackson, the author,  
         explained the Resolution. 
          
         No public testimony was taken on the bill. 
          
         The Resolution was left pending, awaiting the arrival of a  
  
         quorum. 
          
         The Chair laid out HB 1303 and Senator Jackson, the author,  
         explained the bill.  Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment  
         One and moved its adoption; without objection, the Amendment  
         was adopted.  No public testimony was given on the bill.  The  
         bill was left pending, awaiting the arrival of a quorum. 
          
         The Chair laid out HB 1304 and Senator Jackson, the author,  
         explained the bill.  Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment  
         One and moved its adoption; without objection, the Amendment  
         was adopted.  No public testimony was given on the bill. The  
         bill was left pending, awaiting the arrival of a quorum. 
          
         The Chair laid out HB 952 and Senator Jackson explained the  
         bill for the author, Senator Whitmire. 
         No public testimony was given on the bill.  The bill was left  
         pending, awaiting the arrival of a quorum. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1560 and Senator Shapiro, the author,  
         explained the bill.  No public testimony was taken on the  
         bill.  The bill was left pending, awaiting the arival of a  
         quorum. 
          
         At 3:37 pm, Senator Lucio assumed the Chair and laid out HB  
         1283.  Senator Brown, the sponsor, explained the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list. 
          
         Testimony was closed and the bill was left pending, awaiting  
         the arrival of a quorum. 
          
         The Chair laid out HB 1848 and Senator Brown, the sponsor,  
         explained the bill.  No public testimony was given on the  
         bill.  The bill was left pending, awaiting the arrival of a  
         quorum. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1593 and Senator Brown sent up a  
         Committee Substitute, explained the differences to the  
         Substitute, and moved its adoption.  Without objection, the  
         Substitute was adopted.  
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list. 
          
         At 2:57 pm, Senator Bivins assumed the Chair. 
          
         Public testimony was closed and the bill was left pending,  
         awaiting the arrival of a quorum. 
          
         At 3:17 pm, Senator Brown assumed the Chair. 
          
         The Chair laid out CSSB 1265.  Senator Bivins gave the   
         Subcommittee on Ag report on CSSB 1265  to the Committee.   
  
         Senator Bivins explained the bill and moved adoption of the  
         Subcommittee Report; without objection, the Report was  
         adopted.  No public testimony was given and the bill was left  
         pending, awaiting the arrival of a quorum. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1168 and Senator Wentworth, the author,  
         explained the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         Public testimony was closed and the bill was left pending,  
         awaiting the arrival of a quorum. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1171 and Senator Wentworth, the author,  
         explained the bill.  No public testimony was given and the  
         bill was left pending, awaiting the arrival of a quorum. 
          
         At 3:28 pm, the Chair ordered the Committee to stand at ease. 
          
         At 4:02 pm, the Chair called the Committee to order and laid  
         out SB 1433.  Senator Duncan explained the bill.  No public  
         testimony was given and the bill was left pending, awaiting  
         the arrival of a quorum. 
          
         The Chair laid out the Subcommittee on Ag Report on SB 1183  
         and SB 1481 and recognized Senator Haywood for the explanation  
         and adoption of the Report; without objection, the Report was  
         adopted.  Senator Haywood moved that SB 1183 pass and 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 Lucio moved that SB 1183 be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Haywood moved that SB 1481 pass and be reported  
         favorably to the full Senate.  The motion carried with a vote  
         of  5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting and 2 absent.   
         Senator Haywood moved that SB 1481 be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         At 4:09 pm, Senator Barrientos assumed the Chair and laid out  
         a Subcommittee on Ag report on CSSB 1304.  Senator Brown sent  
         up a new Committee Substitute and explained it. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list. 
          
         Public testimony was closed and Senator Brown moved adoption  
         of the new Committee Substitute; without objection, the  
         Substitute was adopted.  Senator Brown moved that CSSB 1304  
         pass and be reported favorably to the full Senate.  The motion  
         carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting  
         and 2 absent.  Senator Barrientos moved that CSSB 1304 be  
  
         recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;  
         without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         At 4:20 pm, Senator Brown assumed the Chair. 
          
         The Chair laid out CSSB 792 and Senator Lucio moved that CSSB  
         792 pass and be reported favorably to the full Senate.  The  
         motion carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not  
         voting and 2 absent.  Senator Lucio moved that CSSB 792 be  
         recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;  
         without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1168 and Senator Barrientos moved that  
         it pass and be reported favorably to the full Senate.  The  
         motion carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not  
         voting and 2 absent.  Senator Barrientos moved that SB 1168 be  
         recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;  
         without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1171 and Senator Barrientos moved that  
         it pass and be reported favorably to the full Senate.  The  
         motion carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not  
         voting, and 2 absent.  Senator Barrientos moved that SB 1171  
         be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1433 and Senator Lucio moved that it  
         pass and be reported favorably to the full Senate.  The motion  
         carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting,  
         and 2 absent.  Senator Lucio moved that SB 1433 be recommended  
         for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
         The Chair laid out SB 1560 and Senator Lucio moved that it  
         pass and be reported favorably to the full Senate.  The motion  
         carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting,  
         and 2 absent.  Senator Haywood moved that SB 1560 be  
         recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;  
         without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out CSSB 1593 and Senator Barrientos moved that  
         it pass and be reported favorably to the full Senate.  The  
         motion carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not  
         voting, and 2 absent.  Senator Barrientos moved that CSSB 1593  
         be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1659 and Senator Lucio moved that it  
         pass and be reported favorably to the full Senate.  The motion  
         carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting,  
         and 2 absent.  Senator Barrientos moved that SB 1659 be  
         recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;  
         without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out HCR 59 and Senator Lucio moved that it pass  
         and be reported favorably to the full Senate.  The motion  
  
         carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting  
         and 2 absent.  Senator Lucio moved that HCR 59 be recommended  
         for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out HB 952 and Senator Barrientos moved that it  
         pass and be reported favorably to the full Senate.  The motion  
         carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting,  
         and 2 absent.  Senator Barrientos moved that HB 952 be  
         recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;  
         without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out HB 1303 as amended and Senator Haywood  
         moved that it pass and be reported favorably to the full  
         Senate.  The motion carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 2 absent.  Senator Haywood moved that  
         HB 1303, as amended, be recommended for placement on the Local  
         & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out HB 1304 as amended and Senator Lucio moved  
         that it pass and be reported favorably to the full Senate.   
         The motion carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present  
         not voting and 2 absent.  Senator Lucio moved that HB 1304, as  
         amended, be recommended for placement on the Local &  
         Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out HB 1848 and Senator Haywood moved that it  
         pass and be reported favorably to the full Senate.  The motion  
         carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting,  
         and 2 absent.  Senator Haywood moved that HB 1848 be  
         recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;  
         without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair referred SB 1852 to the Subcommittee on Groundwater  
         Districts. 
          
         Senator Barrientos moved that the Minutes from the previous  
         hearings be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Barrientos assumed the Chair and laid out HB 1283.   
         Witnesses were called to answer Senator Barrientos' questions. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list. 
          
         Senator Lucio moved that HB 1283 pass and be reported  
         favorably to the full Senate.  The motion carried with a vote  
         of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.   
          
         There being no further business, at 4:40 pm Senator Lucio  
         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