MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Wednesday, April 9, 2003
8:00 a.m.
Capitol Extension, Room E1.036
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance was
held on Wednesday, April 9, 2003, in the Capitol Extension, Room
E1.036, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Teel Bivins Senator John Whitmire
Senator Judith Zaffirini
Senator Kip Averitt
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
Senator Kim Brimer
Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Kyle Janek
Senator Jane Nelson
Senator Steve Ogden
Senator Florence Shapiro
Senator Eliot Shapleigh
Senator Todd Staples
Senator Royce West
Senator Tommy Williams
*****
The chair called the meeting to order at 8:10 a.m. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
The chair laid out SB 1005 and recognized the author, Senator
West, to explain the bill. Senator Barrientos sent up a
committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator West to
explain the difference between the committee substitute and the
bill as filed. The committee substitute was adopted without
objection. Senator Shapleigh moved that SB 1005 do not pass but
that CSSB 1005 be reported back to the Senate with the
recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion
carried with a record vote of 12 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not
voting, and 3 absent.
The chair laid out SB 966 and recognized the author, Senator
Averitt, to explain the bill. Witnesses testifying and
registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. The
chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without
objection, it was so ordered. Senator Janek moved that SB 966
be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that
it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record
vote of 13 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.
The chair laid out SB 855 and recognized the author, Senator
Madla, to explain the bill. Senator West sent up Committee
Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment
was adopted. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill
are shown on the attached list. The chair moved that the public
testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Zaffirini moved to roll the amendment into the bill;
without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Barrientos moved
that SB 855 do not pass but that CSSB 855 be reported back to
the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 13 ayes, 0
nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. Senator Barrientos
moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 325 and recognized the author, Senator
Armbrister, to explain the bill. Witnesses testifying and
registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. The
chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without
objection, it was so ordered. Senator Shapleigh moved that SB
325 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation
that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a
record vote of 13 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2
absent. Senator Zaffirini moved that the bill be recommended
for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
At 9:00 a.m. Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 896 and recognized the author, Senator
Bivins, to explain the bill. Senator Bivins sent up a committee
substitute; the chair recognized Senator Bivins to explain the
difference between the committee substitute and the bill as
filed. Senator Bivins moved adoption of the committee
substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator
Bivins moved to reconsider the vote on the committee substitute;
there was no objection. Senator Bivins sent up Committee
Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment
was adopted. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill
are shown on the attached list. The chair moved that the public
testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Bivins requested unanimous consent to roll the amendment
into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so
ordered. Senator Bivins then moved that the committee
substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Bivins moved that SB 896 do not pass but that CSSB 896
be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it
do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote
of 13 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. Senator
Bivins moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the
Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so
ordered. The following Members asked unanimous consent to be
shown voting aye on CSSB 896: Senator Averitt and Senator
Brimer.
At 9:22 a.m. Senator Bivins resumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 340 and recognized the author, Senator
Staples, to explain the bill. The bill was left pending from a
previous hearing. Senator Staples sent up Committee Amendment
1. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown
on the attached list. The chair moved that the public testimony
be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator
Staples moved to reconsider the vote on the committee
substitute; there was no objection. Senator Staples sent up
Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the
amendment was adopted. Senator Staples requested unanimous
consent to roll the amendments into a committee substitute;
without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Staples then
moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without
objection, it was so ordered. Senator Staples moved that SB 340
do not pass but that CSSB 340 be reported back to the Senate
with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The
motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present
not voting, and 3 absent. The following Member asked unanimous
consent to be shown voting aye on CSSB 340: Senator Brimer.
At 10:01 p.m. Senator Bivins moved that the committee stand
recessed subject to the call of the chair.; without objection,
it was so ordered.
At 3:30 p.m. the committee reconvened.
Testimony was given on the following agencies with witnesses on
the attached list:
Article III - Public Education
Workgroup presentation was given by Senator Shapiro
Texas Education Agency - Committee adopted workgroup
recommendations. The motion carried with a record vote of 10
ayes, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent. The following
Members asked unanimous consent to be shown voting aye: Senator
Janek and Senator Nelson.
State Board for Educator Certification - Workgroup
recommendations left pending until the following morning to
await a quorum.
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired - Workgroup
recommendations left pending until the following morning to
await a quorum.
Texas School for the Deaf - Workgroup recommendations left
pending until the following morning to await a quorum.
There being no further business, at 5:30 p.m. Senator Bivins
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Teel Bivins, Chair
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Stephanie Hoover, Clerk