MINUTES SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & COMMERCE Tuesday, March 6, 2001 9:00 a.m. Lt. Governor's Committee Room ***** Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce was held on Tuesday, March 6, 2001, in the Lt. Governor's Committee Room ***** MEMBERS PRESENT: Senator David Sibley, Chairman Senator Troy Fraser, Vice Chairman Senator John Carona Senator Mike Jackson Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. Senator Eliot Shapleigh Senator Leticia Van de Putte ***** The Chairman called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: The chairman laid out SB866 and SB867 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bills. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bills are shown on the attached list. The chairman moved that the public testimony on SB 866 and SB 867 be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Shapleigh sent up Committee Amendment 1 to SB866 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Nelson explained the amendment; Senator Carona requested unanimous consent to roll the amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Carona then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Carona moved that SB866 do not pass but that CSSB866 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Shapleigh sent up Committee Amendment 1 to SB 867 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Nelson explained the amendment. Senator Shapleigh moved that SB866, as amended, be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Carona moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. The chairman laid out SB377 and recognized the author, Senator Shapiro, to explain the bill. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. The chairman moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Van de Putte moved that SB377 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Shapleigh moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. The chairman laid out SB341 and recognized the author, Senator Carona, to explain the bill. Senator Carona sent up a committee substitute and explained the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. Senator Carona moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. The chairman moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Chairman Sibley moved that SB341 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. The chairman laid out SB431 and recognized the author, Senator Carona, to explain the bill. Senator Carona sent up a committee substitute and explained the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. Senator Carona moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. The chairman moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Carona moved that SB431 do not pass but that CSSB431 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Shapleigh welcomed the Director of the Mexico office of the Texas Department of Economic Development, Julio Bastarrachea, to the hearing and invited him to join the members during the meeting. The chairman laid out SCR21 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, to explain the bill. Arthur T. Moreno, representing TDH/Offices of Border Health, Austin, Texas, registered on the bill but did not testify. The chairman moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Lucio moved that SCR21 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Lucio moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. The chairman laid out SB693 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, to explain the bill. David Durden, representing Texas Department of Insurance, testified on the bill. Bob Huxel, representing Farmers Insurance Group, registered in favor of the bill but did not testify. The chairman moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Lucio requested unanimous consent to roll the amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Lucio then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Lucio moved that SB693 do not pass but that CSSB693 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. Senator Lucio moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. At 10:50 a.m. Chairman Sibley moved that the committee stand recessed until one hour after adjournment of the Senate; without objection, it was so ordered. At 2:05 p.m. the committee reconvened. The chairman laid out SB365 and recognized the author, Senator Armbrister, to explain the bill. Senator Sibley sent up a committee substitute; Senator Armbrister explained the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. The chairman moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Sibley moved that SB365 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. The chairman laid out SB366 and recognized the author, Senator Armbrister, to explain the bill. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. The chairman moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Lucio moved that SB366 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Jackson moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. The chairman laid out SB965 and recognized the author, Senator Jackson, to explain the bill. Witnesses registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. Senator Lucio moved that SB965 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Jackson moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. At 3:40 p.m. Senator Jackson assumed the chair, laid out SB712 and recognized the author, Senator Sibley, to explain the bill. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. The chairman moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Sibley moved that SB712 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Sibley moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. The chairman laid out SB990 and recognized the author, Senator Sibley, to explain the bill. Diane Moellenberg, representing Texas Department of Insurance, registered on the bill but did not testify. The chairman moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Sibley moved that SB990 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Sibley moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. At 3:55 p.m. Senator Sibley resumed the chair and laid out SB584 by Senator Carona which was pending in Committee. Senator Carona explained the committee substitute previously sent up and moved adoption; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Carona moved that SB584 do not pass but that CSSB584 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Carona moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. At 3:58 p.m. Senator Jackson assumed the chair, laid out SB991 and recognized the author, Senator Sibley, to explain the bill. There were no witnesses testifying or registering on the bill. Senator Sibley moved that SB991 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Sibley moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. At 4:00 p.m. Senator Sibley resumed the chair, laid out SB393 and recognized the author, Senator Carona, to explain the bill. Senator Carona sent up a proposed committee substitute and explained the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. Senator Carona then sent up Committee Amendment 1, explained the amendment and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. At 4:15 p.m. Senator Jackson assumed the chair and testimony on SB 393 continued. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. The chairman moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Jackson moved that SB393 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. The Chairman announced that the following bills were referred to the Subcommittee on Border Affairs: SCR 5 SB 905 There being no further business, at 4:47 p.m. Senator Jackson moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chairman. Without objection, it was so ordered. ___________________________ Senator David Sibley, Chairman ___________________________ Barbara Henderson, Clerk