MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE AFFAIRS
Thursday, April 3, 2003
8:00 a.m.
Capitol Extension, Room E1.028
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on State Affairs
was held on Thursday, April 3, 2003, in the Capitol Extension,
Room E1.028, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Bill Ratliff Senator Frank Madla
Senator Todd Staples
Senator Kenneth Armbrister
Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Rodney Ellis
Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Chris Harris
Senator Jane Nelson
*****
Chairman Ratliff called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. There
being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
The chairman laid out SB 7 and recognized the author, Senator
Wentworth, to explain the bill. Senator Staples sent up a
committee substitute; the chairman recognized Senator Wentworth
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 chairman moved that
the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so
ordered. Senator Staples moved adoption of the committee
substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator
Ratliff moved that SB 7 be left pending to await a quorum;
without objection, it was so ordered. When the committee
reconvened at the chairman's desk upon adjournment of the
senate, the chairman laid out SB 7. Senator Staples moved that
SB 7 do not pass but that CSSB 7 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, 1 nay, 0 present
not voting, and 1 absent.
The chairman laid out SB 1088 and recognized the author, Senator
Staples, 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 Ratliff moved that SB
1088 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it
was so ordered. When the committee reconvened at the chairman's
desk upon adjournment of the senate, the chairman laid out SB
1088. Senator Staples moved that SB 1088 be reported favorably
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 Staples moved
that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chairman laid out SB 984 and recognized the author, Senator
Wentworth, 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 Ratliff moved that SB 984 be left pending to
await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. When the
committee reconvened at the chairman's desk upon adjournment of
the senate, the chairman laid out SB 984. Senator Harris moved
that SB 984 be reported favorably 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 Harris moved that the bill be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;
without objection, it was so ordered.
The chairman laid out SB 1087 and recognized the author, Senator
Staples, 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 Ratliff moved that SB 1087 be left pending to
await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. When the
committee reconvened at the chairman's desk upon adjournment of
the senate, the chairman laid out SB 1087. Senator Staples
moved that SB 1087 be reported favorably 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 Staples moved that the bill be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;
without objection, it was so ordered.
The chairman laid out SB 993 and recognized the author, Senator
Armbrister, to explain the bill. Senator Armbrister sent up a
committee substitute; the chairman recognized Senator Armbrister
to explain the difference between the committee substitute and
the bill as filed. 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 Armbrister moved adoption of the committee substitute;
without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Ratliff moved
that SB 993 be left pending; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The chairman laid out SB 703 and recognized the author, Senator
Jackson, to explain the bill. Senator Staples sent up Committee
Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment
was adopted. 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 Staples
requested unanimous consent to roll the amendment into a
committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Ratliff moved that SB 703 be left pending to await a
quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. When the
committee reconvened at the chairman's desk upon adjournment of
the senate, the chairman laid out SB 703. Senator Harris moved
that SB 703 do not pass but that CSSB 703 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 Harris moved
that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Staples assumed the chair and laid out SB 1331. Senator
Staples recognized the author, Senator Ratliff, to explain the
bill. Witnesses testifying on the bill are shown on the
attached list. Senator Staples moved that the public testimony
be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator
Staples moved that SB 1331 be left pending to await a quorum;
without objection, it was so ordered. When the committee
reconvened at the chairman's desk upon adjournment of the
senate, Senator Staples (in the chair) laid out SB 1331. Senator
Ratliff moved that SB 1331 be reported favorably 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 Ratliff moved that the bill
be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 9:50 a.m. Senator Ratliff moved that the committee stand
recessed until after adjournment of the Senate; without
objection, it was so ordered.
Upon adjournment of the senate (Chairman Ratliff, during the
senate session, requested and was granted unanimous consent to
meet at his desk instead of in E1.028), the committee reconvened
at the chairman's desk. The following bills were disposed of at
that time: SB 7, SB 703, SB 984, SB 1087, SB 1088, and SB 1331.
The actions are explained above. As pending business, the
chairman laid out SB 1091. Senator Harris sent up a committee
substitute and moved its adoption; without objection, it was so
ordered. Senator Harris moved that SB 1091 do not pass but that
CSSB 1091 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 Harris moved that the bill be recommended for
placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
There being no further business, Senator Ratliff moved that the
Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chairman.
Without objection, it was so ordered.
________________________
Senator Bill Ratliff, Chairman
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Nancy B. Macken, Clerk