MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & COMMERCE
Tuesday, May 13, 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, May 13, 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
*****
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 9:02 a.m. with
Senator Averitt in the chair. The following business was
transacted:
The Chairman laid out HB 2172 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Lucio, to explain the bill. The witness registering on
the bill is shown on the attached list. The Chairman moved that
the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so
ordered. The Chairman moved that HB 2172 be left pending to
await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. Upon
arrival of a quorum, the Chairman moved that HB 2172 be left
pending.
The Chairman laid out HB 135 and recognized Senator Lucio, in
the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.
Witnesses 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
HB 135 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it
was so ordered. Upon arrival of a quorum, the Chairman moved
that HB 135 be left pending.
The Chairman laid out HB 1056 and recognized Senator Lucio, in
the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. The
witness registering on the bill is shown on the attached list.
The Chairman moved that the public testimony be closed; without
objection, it was so ordered. The Chairman moved that HB 1056
be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so
ordered. Upon arrival of a quorum, the Chairman moved that HB
1056 be left pending.
The Chairman laid out HB 1232 and recognized Senator Lucio, in
the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. The
witness registering on the bill is shown on the attached list.
The Chairman moved that the public testimony be closed; without
objection, it was so ordered. The Chairman moved that HB 1232
be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so
ordered. Upon arrival of a quorum, the Chairman moved that HB
1232 be left pending.
The Chairman laid out HB 1526 and recognized Senator Lucio, in
the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. The
witness registering on the bill is shown on the attached list.
The Chairman moved that the public testimony be closed; without
objection, it was so ordered. The Chairman moved that HB 1526
be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so
ordered. Upon arrival of a quorum, the Chairman moved that HB
1526 be left pending.
The Chairman laid out HB 2200 and recognized Senator Lucio, in
the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. There
were no witnesses registered on the bill. The Chairman moved
that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was
so ordered. The Chairman moved that HB 2200 be left pending to
await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. Upon
arrival of a quorum, the Chairman moved that HB 2200 be left
pending.
The Chairman laid out HB 1496 and recognized Senator Estes, in
the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.
Witnesses 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
HB 1496 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it
was so ordered. Upon arrival of a quorum, the Chairman moved
that HB 1496 be left pending.
The Chairman laid out SCR 48 and recognized Senator Estes, in
the absence of the author, to explain the bill. Witnesses
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 assumed the
chair and moved that SCR 48 be left pending to await a quorum;
without objection, it was so ordered. Upon arrival of a quorum,
Senator Van de Putte sent up a committee substitute and moved
adoption. Without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Van de
Putte then moved that SCR 48 do not pass but that CSSCR 48 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. Senator Van
de Putte moved that the bill be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;
without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chairman laid out SB 1341 and recognized Senator Estes, in
the absence of the author, to explain the bill. Senator Brimer
laid out a proposed committee substitute. Witnesses 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 1341 be left pending to
await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. Upon
arrival of a quorum, Senator Armbrister moved that the proposed
committee substitute be withdrawn; without objection, it was so
ordered. Senator Jackson then sent up a new committee
substitute and explained the difference between the committee
substitute and the bill as filed. Senator Jackson moved
adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was
so ordered. Senator Jackson then moved that SB 1341 do not pass
but that CSSB 1341 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 HB 849, pending in committee, and
recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Jackson. Senator Jackson
explained a committee substitute and Committee Amendment 1 laid
out in a previous hearing. Senator Jackson then laid out
Committee Amendment 2. The Chairman reopened public testimony,
and Les Findeisen, representing Texas Motor Transportation
Association, testified in favor of the bill. The Chairman moved
that the public testimony again be closed; without objection, it
was so ordered. The Chairman moved that HB 849 be left pending
to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. Upon
arrival of a quorum, the Chairman moved that HB 849 be left
pending.
At 9:50 a.m. Senator Averitt moved that the committee stand
recessed until after adjournment of the Senate; without
objection, it was so ordered.
During the Senate session, Senator Fraser moved that the posting
rule be suspended to enable the committee to reconvene at his
desk upon adjournment. Without objection, it was so ordered.
At 2:12 p.m. the committee reconvened at Senator Fraser's desk
in the Senate Chamber. The aforementioned actions on bills laid
out prior to the 9:50 a.m. recess were taken.
There being no further business, at 2:18 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