MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & COMMERCE
Tuesday, March 18, 2003
9:00 a.m.
Betty King Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20
*****
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 18, 2003, in the Betty King
Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Troy Fraser, Chairman None
Senator Kip Averitt, Vice Chairman
Senator Kenneth Armbrister
Senator Kim Brimer
Senator Craig Estes
Senator Mike Jackson
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Senator Leticia Van de Putte
Senator Tommy Williams
*****
Chairman Fraser called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. There
being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
The Chairman laid out SB 611 and recognized the author, Senator
Nelson, 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 SB 611
be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that
it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record
vote of 9 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.
The Chairman laid out SB 533 and recognized the author, Senator
Carona. Senator Fraser sent up a committee substitute; Senator
Carona 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. Chairman Fraser moved that SB 533 be left pending;
without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chairman laid out SB 935 and recognized the author, Senator
Jackson, to explain the bill. There were no witnesses on the
bill. Senator Jackson moved that SB 935 be reported favorably
to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0
nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Jackson moved
that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chairman read Motions in Writing submitted by Senator Estes
and Senator Van de Putte requesting unanimous consent to be
shown voting aye on SB 611; and Senator Williams and Senator
Lucio voting aye on SB 935. Without objection, it was so
ordered.
At 10:10 a.m. Senator Jackson assumed the chair laid out SB 127,
pending in committee, and recognized the author, Senator Fraser.
Senator Jackson sent up a proposed committee substitute; Senator
Fraser explained the difference between the committee substitute
and the bill as filed. Senator Brimer sent up Committee
Amendment 1 to the proposed committee substitute and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator
Armbrister requested unanimous consent to roll the amendment
into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so
ordered. Senator Brimer then moved that the new committee
substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Brimer moved that SB 127 do not pass but that CSSB 127
be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it
do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote
of 9 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.
Senator Fraser resumed the chair and laid out SB 14, pending in
committee. Chairman Fraser laid out a proposed committee
substitute for consideration by the members, and recognized the
author, Senator Jackson. Jose Montemayor, Commissioner, Texas
Department of Insurance, was called to testify and respond to
members' questions. The Chairman laid out the proposed time
line for SB 14, requesting all members to file any amendments to
the committee substitute in the committee office by 2:00 p.m.,
Wednesday, March 19. Amendment copies would be distributed to
members' offices by 5:00 p.m. Wednesday. At the meeting on
Thursday, March 20, the committee would consider amendments to
the substitute. The Chairman then moved that SB 14 be left
pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chairman laid out SB 115, pending in committee, and
recognized Senator Jackson, in the absence of the author,
Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill. Senator Jackson
moved that SB 115 be reported favorably to the Senate with the
recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion
carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not
voting, and 0 absent.
The Chairman read Motions in Writing submitted by Senator Estes
requesting unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 127;
and by Senator Averitt requesting unanimous consent to be shown
voting aye on SB 935 and SB 115. Without objection, it was so
ordered.
Chairman Fraser moved that SB 126 and SB 128 be laid on the
table subject to call. Without objection, it was so ordered.
At 10:58 a.m. the Chairman moved that the committee stand
recessed until adjournment of the Senate; without objection, it
was so ordered. The committee would reconvene at the Chairman's
desk upon adjournment.
At 12:58 p.m. the committee reconvened. The Chairman read a
Motion in Writing submitted by Senator Van de Putte requesting
unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 935, SB 115 and
CSSB 127. There being no objection, it was so ordered.
There being no further business, at 1:00 p.m. Chairman Fraser
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chairman. Without objection, it was so ordered.
__________________________
Senator Troy Fraser, Chairman
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Barbara Henderson, Clerk