MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION
Wednesday, April 9, 2003
1:00 p.m.
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, April 9, 2003, in the Senate
Chamber at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Rodney Ellis None
Senator Jeff Wentworth
Senator Kenneth Armbrister
Senator Teel Bivins
Senator Kim Brimer
Senator Bill Ratliff
Senator John Whitmire
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The chair called the meeting to order at 2:50 p.m. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
Senator Wentworth
Senator Bivins
Senator Whitmire
The chair laid out SB 285 and recognized the author, Senator
Nelson, to explain the bill. Senator Armbrister sent up a
committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nelson 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. No witnesses
registered to testify on the bill. The chair moved that the
public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so
ordered. Senator Armbrister moved that SB 285 do not pass but
that CSSB 285 be reported back 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 Armbrister moved that the bill be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;
without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 1113 and recognized the author, Senator
Nelson, to explain the bill. Senator Armbrister sent up a
committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nelson 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. No
witnesses registered to testify on the bill. The chair moved
that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was
so ordered. Senator Ellis moved that SB 1113 be left pending;
without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 281 and recognized the author, Senator
Nelson, to explain the bill. Senator Armbrister sent up a
committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nelson 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. 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 moved
that SB 281 do not pass but that CSSB 281 be reported back 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 Armbrister
moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 1694 and recognized the author, Senator
Shapiro, 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 Brimer moved that SB 1694
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 Brimer moved that the bill be recommended for placement
on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was
so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 280 and recognized the author, Senator
Nelson, to explain the bill. Senator Armbrister sent up a
committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nelson 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.
Senator Armbrister sent up Committee Amendment 1; then pulled it
down. 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 moved that SB 280 do not pass but that CSSB 280 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 1449 and recognized the author, Senator
Harris, to explain the bill. Senator Wentworth sent up a
committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Harris to
explain the difference between the committee substitute and the
bill as filed. Senator Wentworth 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 Brimer
moved that SB 1449 do not pass but that CSSB 1449 be reported
back 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 Brimer moved
that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Wentworth assumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 919 and recognized the author, Senator
Whitmire, 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 Whitmire
moved that SB 919 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 Whitmire moved that the bill be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;
without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 1418 and recognized Senator Whitmire, in
the absence of the author, Senator Ratliff, to explain the bill.
Senator Whitmire sent up a committee substitute; the chair
recognized Senator Whitmire to explain the difference between
the committee substitute and the bill as filed.
Senator Ellis resumed the chair.
Senator Ellis moved adoption of the committee substitute;
without objection, it was so ordered. No witnesses registered to
testify on the bill. The chair moved that the public testimony
be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator
Whitmire moved that SB 1418 do not pass but that CSSB 1418 be
reported back 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
Whitmire moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the
Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The chair laid out SB 1701 and recognized the author, Senator
Wentworth, to explain the bill. Senator Wentworth sent up a
committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Wentworth 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 Ellis
sent up Committee Amendment 2 and moved adoption; without
objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Wentworth
requested unanimous consent to roll the amendments into the
committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Wentworth moved that SB 1701 do not pass but that CSSB
1701 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 Wentworth moved that the bill be recommended for
placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 1634 and recognized the author, Senator
Staples, to explain the bill.
Senator Whitmire sent up a committee substitute; the chair
recognized Senator Staples 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. No witnesses registered to testify on the bill. The
chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without
objection, it was so ordered. Senator Ellis moved that SB 1634
be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 283 and recognized the author, Senator
Jackson, to explain the bill. Senator Brimer sent up a
committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Jackson 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 Whitmire assumed the chair.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Armbrister assumed the chair.
The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without
objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Whitmire sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved
adoption. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 1
nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Whitmire
requested unanimous consent to roll the amendment into the
committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Armbrister moved that SB 283 do not pass but that CSSB
283 be reported back 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 Armbrister moved that the bill be recommended for
placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 1892 and recognized the author, Senator
Hinojosa, to explain the bill. No witnesses registered to
testify on the bill. The chair moved that the public testimony
be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Brimer
moved that SB 1892 be reported favorably 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 Armbrister moved that the bill be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;
without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Armbrister assumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 1048 and recognized the author, Senator
Ellis, 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 moved that SB
1048 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
The following Senators sent "motions in writing" to be shown
voting "aye" on the following bills:
Senator Armbrister:
SB 280
SB 1449
SB 919
SB 1418
SB 1701
Senator Bivins:
SB 280
SB 281
SB 285
SB 919
SB 1418
SB 1449
SB 1694
SB 1701
SB 1892
There being no further business, Senator Ellis moved that the
Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.
Without objection, it was so ordered.
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Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair
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Karen Domino, Clerk