MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Tuesday, May 11, 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 11, 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.
Senator Barrientos moved that the minutes from the previous
hearing be adopted. There being no objection, it was so
ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 2977 and Senator Lindsay, the sponsor,
explained the bill. Senator Bivins sent up Committee
Amendment One and moved adoption; without objection, the
Amendment was adopted.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Public testimony was closed and Senator Barrientos moved that
HB 2977 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
2977 be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 3050 and left the bill pending before
the Committee, awaiting the arrival of a quorum.
The Chair laid out HB 3050 and Senator Barrientos moved that
HB 3050 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
3050 be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 2926 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 2926 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 2926 be recommended for placement on the
Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so
ordered.
At 2:38 pm, Senator Barrientos assumed the Chair and laid out
HB 1187. Senator Brown, the sponsor, explained the bill and
moved that HB 1187 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 Brown moved that HB
1187 be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 1552 and Senator Brown, the sponsor,
explained the bill. Public testimony was closed and Senator
Brown moved that HB 1552 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 Brown moved
that HB 1552 be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 3401 and Senator Haywood, the sponsor,
explained the bill. Public testimony was closed and Senator
Haywood moved that HB 3401 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 3401 be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 3481 and Senator Brown explained the
bill for the sponsor, Senator Madla.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Brown sent up Committee Amendment One and moved
adoption; without objection, the Amendment was adopted.
Senator Brown moved that HB 3481 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 Brown moved that HB 3481 be recommended for
placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 1654 and Senator Brown, the sponsor,
sent up a Committee Substitute. Senator Brown moved adoption
of the Committee Substitute; without objection, the Substitute
was adopted.
Witnesses registering and testifying on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Public testimony was closed and CSHB 1654 was left pending
before the Committee, awaiting the arrival of a quorum.
The Chair laid out HB 2815 and Senator Brown, the sponsor,
explained the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Brown sent up Committee Amendment One and moved
adoption; without objection, the Amendment was adopted. The
bill was left pending before the Committee, awaiting the
arrival of a quorum.
The Chair laid out HB 2816 and Senator Brown, the sponsor,
explained the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Brown sent up Committee Amendments One and Two and
moved their adoption; without objection, the Amendments were
adopted. The bill was left pending before the Committee,
awaiting the arrival of a quorum. At 3:15 pm, Senator Brown
assumed the Chair and ordered the Committee to stand at recess
until 3:45 pm.
At 4:05 pm, the Chair called the meeting to order and laid out
HB 480. Senator Armbrister, the sponsor, explained the bill
and public testimony was closed. The bill was left pending
before the Committee, awaiting the arrival of a quorum.
The Chair laid out HB 2205 and Senator Armbrister, the
sponsor, explained the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Public testimony was closed and Senator Armbrister moved that
HB 2205 pass and be reported favorably to the full Senate.
The motion carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present
not voting, and 3 absent. Senator Armbrister moved that HB
2205 be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 480 and Senator Armbrister moved that HB
480 pass and be reported favorably to the full Senate. The
motion carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not
voting and 3 absent. Senator Armbrister moved that HB 480 be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;
without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out CSHB 1654 and Senator Barrientos moved that
CSHB 1654 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 CS HB
1654 be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 2815 as amended and Senator Barrientos
moved that HB 2815 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 Barrientos
moved that HB 2815 as amended be recommended for placement on
the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 2816 as amended and Senator Barrientos
moved that HB 2816 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
Barrientos moved that HB 2816 as amended be recommended for
placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 3050 as amended and Senator Barrientos
moved that HB 3050 as amended have the previous vote on the
bill recalled to include Amendments One and Two of the bill;
without objection, the vote was recalled. Senator Barrientos
moved that HB 3050 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 Barrientos
moved that HB 3050 as amended be recommended for placement on
the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 1905 and Senator Gallegos, the author,
explained the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Public testimony was closed and Senator Armbrister moved that
SB 1905 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 SB
1905 be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 2147 and Senator Shapleigh, the sponsor,
explained the bill. The Chair sent up a Committee Substitute
and moved adoption; without objection, the Substitute was
adopted.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Armbrister moved that CSHB 2147 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 CSHB 2147 be recommended for placement
on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was
so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 2526 and Senator Armbrister, 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 Armbrister moved that
HB 2526 as amended 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 Armbrister moved
that HB 2526 as amended be recommended for placement on the
Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 3554 and Senator Barrientos explained
the bill for the sponsor, Senator Bernsen.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Public testimony was closed and Senator Barrientos moved that
HB 3554 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
3554 be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 3818 and Senator Wentworth, the sponsor,
explained the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Public testimony was closed and Senator Barrientos moved that
HB 3818 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
3818 be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 2572 and Senator Wentworth, the sponsor,
explained the bill. Senator Armbrister sent up Committee
Amendment One and moved adoption; without objection, it was so
ordered.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Armbrister moved that HB 2572 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 Armbrister moved that HB 2572 as amended be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;
without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 2960 and Senator Armbrister, the
sponsor, explained the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Public testimony was closed and Senator Armbrister moved that
HB 2960 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
2960 be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 3462 and Senator Armbrister, the
sponsor, explained the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Public testimony was closed and Senator Armbrister moved that
HB 3462 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 Armbrister moved that HB
3462 be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 3277 and Senator Haywood sent up the
Subcommittee on Ag report for adoption; without objection, the
Report was adopted. Senator Armbrister, the sponsor,
explained the bill and closed public testimony. Senator
Armbrister moved that HB 3277 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 3277 be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 846 and Senator Brown, the sponsor, sent
up a Committee Substitute. Senator Brown moved adoption of
the Committee Substitute; without objection, the Substitute
was adopted. Senator Armbrister sent up Committee Amendment
One and moved adoption; without objection, the Amendment was
adopted. Senator Brown sent up Committee Amendment Two and
moved adoption; without objection, the Amendment was adopted.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Public testimony was closed and Senator Brown moved that
Amendments One and Two be rolled into a new Committee
Substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator
Brown moved that CSHB 846 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 Brown moved
that CSHB 846 be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 801 and Senator Armbrister, the sponsor,
explained the bill. Senator Armbrister sent up a Committee
Substitute and moved adoption; without objection, the
Substitute was adopted.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Armbrister moved that CSHB 801 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.
There being no further business, at 5:16 pm Senator Armbrister
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