MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE AFFAIRS
Tuesday, May 13, 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 State Affairs
was held on Tuesday, May 13, 2003, in the Capitol Extension,
Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Bill Ratliff None
Senator Todd Staples
Senator Kenneth Armbrister
Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Rodney Ellis
Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Chris Harris
Senator Frank Madla
Senator Jane Nelson
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Chairman Ratliff called the meeting to order at 8:12 a.m. There
being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
Chairman Ratliff passed the gavel to Senator Staples. Senator
Staples laid out as pending business HB 4. Chairman Ratliff
sent up a committee substitute; Senator Staples recognized
Chairman Ratliff to explain the difference between the new
committee substitute and the previous version.
With Chairman Ratliff back in the chair, Senator Duncan sent up
Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the
amendment was adopted.
Senator Duncan sent up Committee Amendment 2 and moved adoption;
without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Senator Duncan sent up Committee Amendment 3 and moved adoption;
without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Senator Duncan sent up Committee Amendment 4 and moved adoption;
without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Senator Duncan sent up Committee Amendment 5. Chairman Ratliff
moved to leave CA 5 pending; without objection, it was so
ordered. During the afternoon session, Chairman Ratliff laid
out CA 5 and Senator Duncan moved adoption. The motion carried
with a record vote of 6 ayes, 3 nays, 0 present not voting, and
0 absent.
Senator Duncan sent up Committee Amendment 6. Chairman Ratliff
moved to leave CA 6 pending; without objection, it was so
ordered. During the afternoon session, Senator Duncan sent up
Committee Amendment 6a and moved adoption; without objection,
the amendment was adopted.
Senator Duncan sent up Committee Amendment 7. Chairman Ratliff
moved to leave CA 7 pending; without objection, it was so
ordered.
Senator Madla sent up Committee Amendment 8 and moved adoption;
without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Senator Madla sent up Committee Amendment 9 and moved adoption;
without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Senator Madla sent up Committee Amendment 10. Chairman Ratliff
moved to leave CA 10 pending; without objection, it was so
ordered. During the afternoon session, Chairman Ratliff laid
out CA 10 and Senator Madla moved adoption; without objection,
the amendment was adopted.
Senator Nelson sent up Committee Amendment 11. Chairman Ratliff
moved to leave CA 11 pending; without objection, it was so
ordered.
Senator Staples sent up Committee Amendment 12 and moved
adoption. The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 2
nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.
Senator Staples sent up Committee Amendment 13. Chairman
Ratliff moved to leave CA 13 pending; without objection, it was
so ordered.
At 10:44 a.m., Senator Ratliff moved that the committee stand
recessed until after adjournment of the Senate; without
objection, it was so ordered. Senator Staples assumed the chair
several times during the morning session for brief periods of
time.
At 2:25 p.m. the committee reconvened, and Chairman Ratliff laid
out Committee Amendment 13. Once again, CA 13 was left pending
without objection.
Senator Staples sent up Committee Amendment 14 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Senator Staples sent up Committee Amendment 15 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Senator Duncan sent up Committee Amendment 16 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Senator Harris sent up Committee Amendment 17. Chairman Ratliff
moved to leave CA 17 pending; without objection, it was so
ordered.
Senator Harris sent up Committee Amendment 18. Chairman Ratliff
moved to leave CA 17 pending; without objection, it was so
ordered.
Senator Harris sent up Committee Amendment 19. Chairman Ratliff
moved to leave CA 17 pending; without objection, it was so
ordered.
Senator Armbrister sent up Committee Amendment 20 and moved
adoption. The motion carried by a record vote of 4 ayes, 3
nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.
Senator Armbrister sent up Committee Amendment 21. Chairman
Ratliff moved to leave CA 21 pending; without objection, it was
so ordered.
Senator Armbrister sent up Committee Amendment 22 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Senator Armbrister sent up Committee Amendment 23 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Senator Armbrister sent up Committee Amendments 24, 25, and 26.
All were withdrawn by the author. Committee Amendments 27-34
were pulled by the author and never laid before the committee.
Chairman Ratliff sent up Committee Amendment 35 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Chairman Ratliff sent up Committee Amendment 36 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Chairman Ratliff announced that the following Committee
Amendments had been withdrawn by their respective authors: 6,
7, 11, 13, 17, 18, 19, and 21.
Chairman Ratliff requested unanimous consent to roll the
amendments into a committee substitute; without objection, it
was so ordered. Chairman Ratliff then moved that the committee
substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.
Chairman Ratliff moved that HB 4 do not pass but that CSHB 4 be
reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do
pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9
ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.
The chairman laid out HJR 3 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Nelson, 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. Mr. Mike Hull (TAPA) was asked
by Senator Nelson to come forward and answer a question. At the
conclusion of Mr. Hull's response, Senator Nelson moved that HJR
3 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 2
absent.
There being no further business, at 4:05 p.m., Chairman Ratliff
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
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Senator Bill Ratliff, Chairman
______________________
Nancy B. Macken, Clerk