MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Tuesday, May 4, 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, May 4, 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 2:15 pm. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
Senator Haywood moved that the Minutes from the previous
hearings be adopted. There being no objection, it was so
ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 1244 and Senator Harris, the sponsor,
explained the bill. Senator Armbrister sent up Committee
Amendment One and moved adoption; without objection, the
Amendment was adopted. No public testimony was taken on the
bill. Senator Bivins moved that HB 1244, as amended, 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 Bivins moved that HB 1244, as amended,
be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 2:21 pm, Senator Armbrister assumed the Chair and laid out
HB 1732. Senator Harris, the sponsor, explained the bill.
Senator Bivins moved that HB 1732 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
Haywood moved that HB 1732 be recommended for placement on the
Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 3568 and Senator Jackson, the sponsor,
explained the bill.
No public testimony was taken on the bill and Senator Bivins
moved that HB 3568 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 Bivins moved that
HB 3568 be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 2:28 pm, Senator Brown assumed the Chair and laid out HB
1581. Senator Armbrister explained the bill for the sponsor,
Senator Duncan.
No public testimony was taken on the bill and Senator Lucio
moved that HB 1581 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 Bivins moved that HB
1581 be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 340 and Senator Bivins, the sponsor,
explained the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Bivins moved that HB 340 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
Bivins moved that HB 340 be recommended for placement on the
Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 690 and Senator Sibley, the sponsor,
explained the bill. Senator Armbrister sent up Committee
Amendments One and Two and moved adoption; without objection,
the Amendments were adopted.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Public testimony was closed and Senator Barrientos moved that
HB 690, as amended, 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 HB
690, as amended, be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 1479 and Senator Bivins, the sponsor,
explained the bill. Senator Bivins sent up a Committee
Substitute for HB 1479.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Public testimony was closed and the bill was left pending.
The Chair laid out HB 2631 and Senator Haywood explained the
bill for the sponsor, Senator Ellis.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Haywood moved that HB 2631 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.
The Chair laid out HB 1975 and Senator Bivins, the sponsor,
explained the bill.
Senator Bivins sent up Committee Amendments One and Two and
moved adoption; without objection, the Amendments were
adopted.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Bivins moved that HB 1975 as amended 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 Bivins moved that HB 1975 as amended be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;
without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 2407 and Senator Lucio, the sponsor,
explained the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Haywood sent up the Subcommittee on Agriculture Report
and moved adoption; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Lucio moved that HB 2407 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 HB 2407 be recommended for placement on the
Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 2104 and Senator Bivins, the sponsor,
explained the bill. Senator Armbrister sent up Committee
Amendment One and moved adoption; without objection, it was so
ordered. Senator Bivins moved that HB 2104 as amended 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 Bivins moved that HB 2104 as amended be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;
without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 3561 and Senator Barrientos explained
the bill for the sponsor, Senator Truan. Senator Barrientos
moved that HB 3561 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 Barrientos moved
that HB 3561 be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 1855 and Senator Barrientos explained
the bill for the author, Senator Bernsen. Senator Barrientos
moved that SB 1855 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 Barrientos moved
that SB 1855 be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 794 and Senator Barrientos explained the
bill for the sponsor, Senator Bernsen.
Senator Barrientos moved that HB 794 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
Barrientos moved that HB 794 be recommended for placement on
the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 2809 and Senator Bivins, the sponsor,
explained the bill.
No public testimony was taken on the bill and Senator Bivins
moved that HB 2809 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 Bivins moved that HB
2809 be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; wihtout objection, it was so ordered.
At 4:32 pm, Senator Bivins assumed the Chair and laid out HB
732. Senator Brown, the sponsor, explained the bill.
Senator Brown moved that HB 732 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 Armbrister
moved that HB 732 be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 1574 and Senator Brown, the sponsor,
explained the bill.
No public testimony was taken and the bill was left pending,
awaiting the arrival of a quorum.
At 4:40 pm, Senator Brown assumed the Chair and laid out HB
1625. Senator Armbrister, the sponsor, explained the bill and
moved that HB 1625 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 Armbrister moved
that HB 1625 be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 1574 and Senator Bivins moved that HB
1574 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 Bivins moved that HB 1574 be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;
without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 1479 and Senator Bivins sent up
Committee Amendment One and moved adoption; without objection,
the Amendment was adopted. Senator Bivins moved adoption of
the Substitute previously sent up; without objection, the
Substitute was adopted. Senator Bivins moved that Committee
Amendment One be rolled into a new Committee Substitute;
without objection, the new CSHB 1479 was adopted. Senator
Bivins moved that CSHB 1479 pass and be reported favorably to
the full Senate. The motion carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0
nays, 1 present not voting and 1 absent. Senator Bivins moved
that CSHB 1479 be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 1316 and Senator Armbrister, the author,
explained the bill. Senator Armbrister sent up a Committee
Substitute and moved its adoption, without objection, the
Substitute was adopted. Senator Armbrister sent up Committtee
Amendment One and moved adoption, without objection, the
Amendment was adopted. Senator Armbrister moved that the
Amendment be rolled into a new CSSB 1316; without objection,
the new CSSB 1316 was adopted. Senator Armbrister moved that
CSSB 1316 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 Armbrister moved that CSSB
1316 be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
There being no further business, at 4:53 pm Senator Lucio
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the Chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
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Senator J.E. "Buster" Brown, Chair Carol
McGarah
, Clerk