MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & COMMERCE
Tuesday, March 25, 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 25, 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 9:04 a.m. There
being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
The Chairman laid out SB 1090 and recognized the author, Senator
Carona, to explain the bill. Senator Lucio 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. Senator Lucio moved
adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was
so ordered. Senator Lucio moved that SB 1090 do not pass but
that CSSB 1090 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 Jackson later moved that the vote
on CSSB 1090 be reconsidered; without objection, it was so
ordered. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 1 nay,
0 present not voting, and 0 absent.
The Chairman laid out SB 533, pending in committee, and
recognized the author, Senator Carona. Chairman Fraser advised
that a committee substitute had been laid out in the previous
hearing, and moved adoption of the committee substitute; without
objection the substitute was adopted. Senator Brimer moved that
SB 533 do not pass but that CSSB 533 be reported back to the
Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.
The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nay, 0
present not voting, and 1 absent.
The Chairman laid out SB 580 and recognized the author, Senator
Jackson, to explain the bill. Witnesses registering for the
bill, but not testifying, are shown on the attached list.
Senator Jackson moved that SB 580 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 laid out SB 996 and recognized the author, Senator
Williams, 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 Williams moved that SB
996 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 Williams moved that the bill be recommended for
placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The Chairman laid out SB 351 and recognized Senator Brimer, in
the absence of the author, to explain the bill. Senator Brimer
sent up a committee substitute and explained the difference
between the 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. The Chairman moved that
SB 351 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 10:08 a.m. Senator Armbrister assumed the chair, laid out SB
1280 and recognized the author, Senator Fraser, to explain the
bill. The Chairman called Chairman Becky Klein, Public Utility
Commission, to respond to members' questions concerning the
bill.
Senator Fraser resumed the chair and read Motions in Writing
submitted by Senator Williams requesting unanimous consent to be
shown voting aye on SB 774; Senator Averitt voting aye on SB
1090; Senator Armbrister voting aye on SB 580, CSSB 533, and
CSSB 1090; and Senator Van de Putte voting aye on CSSB 533, SB
774, SB 996 and CSSB 1090. Without objection, it was so
ordered.
At 10:58 a.m. the Chairman moved that the committee stand
recessed until 15 minutes after adjournment of the Senate, and
that testimony on SB 1280 would continue at that time. Without
objection, it was so ordered.
At 2:05 p.m. the committee reconvened with Senator Averitt in
the chair. Public testimony on SB 1280 continued. At 3:15
p.m. Senator Estes assumed the chair. 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 Fraser moved that SB 1280
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 3 absent.
Senator Fraser moved that the bill be recommended for placement
on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was
so ordered.
Senator Fraser resumed the chair. There being no further
business, at 3:40 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
__________________________
Barbara Henderson, Clerk