MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION
Wednesday, March 26, 2003
1:00 p.m. or upon adjournment
Senate Chamber
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Government
Organization was held on Wednesday, March 26, 2003, in the
Senate Chamber at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Rodney Ellis Senator Teel Bivins
Senator Jeff Wentworth Senator John Whitmire
Senator Kenneth Armbrister
Senator Kim Brimer
Senator Bill Ratliff
*****
The chair called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. A quorum
already being established, the following business was
transacted:
The chair laid out SB 266 and recognized the author, Senator
Lucio, Jr., to explain the bill. Senator Brimer sent up a
committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Lucio to
explain 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 chair moved that the public
testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Due
to some concerns, Senator Ellis moved that the committee
substitute is not adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Ellis moved that SB 266 be left pending; without
objection, it was so ordered.
At 2:35 p.m. Senator Wentworth assumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 1060 and recognized the author, Senator
Ellis, to explain the bill. Witnesses testifying and registering
on the bill are shown on the attached list. Senator Ellis sent
up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Ellis to
explain the difference between the committee substitute and the
bill as filed. The chair moved that the public testimony be
closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Wentworth
moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection,
it was so ordered. Senator Ellis moved that SB 1060 do not pass
but that CSSB 1060 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.
The chair laid out SB 282 and recognized Senator Ellis, in the
absence of the author, Senator Jackson, to explain the bill.
The witnesses that testified and registered on the bill during
the March 19th Government Organization Committee's hearing are
shown on the attached list. The chair moved that the public
testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Armbrister sent up Amendment #1 and asked that it be
rolled into the bill with the previously rolled in amendment
from the March 19th Government Organization Committee's hearing;
without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Ellis then moved
that the committee substitute; without objection, it was so
ordered. Senator Ellis then moved that the committee substitute
be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator
Armbrister moved that SB 282 do not pass but that CSSB 282 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 Ellis
moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 284 and recognized Senator Ellis, in the
absence of the author, Senator Lucio, to explain the bill. The
witnesses that testified and registered on the bill during the
March 19th Government Organization Committee's hearing are shown
on the attached list. The chair moved that the public testimony
be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator
Armbrister moved that SB 284 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 Ellis moved that the bill be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;
without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Ellis resumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 286 and recognized the author, Senator
Shapleigh, 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 Armbrister sent up a
committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Shapleigh to
explain the difference between the committee substitute and the
bill as filed. Senator Ellis moved adoption of the committee
substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator
Wentworth sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption;
without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Wentworth
requested unanimous consent to roll the amendment into the
committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Ellis then moved that the new committee substitute be
adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator
Armbrister had a concern; Senator Ellis moved that SB 286 be
left pending for a week; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 571 and recognized the author, Senator
Shapleigh, 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 Wentworth sent up a
committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Shapleigh to
explain the difference between the committee substitute and the
bill as filed. Senator Ellis moved adoption of the committee
substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Ellis
moved that SB 571 be left pending; without objection, it was so
ordered.
At 3:10 p.m. Senator Armbrister assumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 388 and recognized the author, Senator
Ellis, to explain the bill. Senator Ellis sent up a committee
substitute; the chair recognized Senator Ellis to explain the
difference between the committee substitute and the bill as
filed. Senator Armbrister 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 chair moved that the public testimony be closed;
without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Ellis moved that
SB 388 do not pass but that CSSB 388 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 Ellis moved that the
bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Ellis resumed the chair.
At 3:35 p.m. Senator Wentworth assumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 1147 and recognized the author, Senator
Shapleigh, 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 Ellis resumed the chair.
Senator Wentworth sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved
adoption; without
objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Wentworth
requested unanimous consent to roll the amendments into a
committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Ellis moved that SB 1147 be left pending; without
objection, it was so ordered.
There was no action taken on the following bill(s):
SB 95
SB 915
The following senators sent "motion in writing" to be shown
voting "aye" on the following bills:
Senator Bivins
SB 282
SB 284
SB 388
SB 1060
Senator Ratliff
SB 282
SB 1060
Senator John Whitmire
SB 282
SB 284
SB 388
SB 1060
There being no further business, Senator Ellis moved that the
Committee be recessed. Without objection, it was so ordered.
_______________________
Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair
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Karen Domino, Clerk