MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Tuesday, March 11, 2003
9:00 a.m.
Senate Chamber
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Health &
Human Services was held on Tuesday, March 11, 2003, in the
Senate Chamber at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jane Nelson None
Senator Kyle Janek
Senator John Carona
Senator Bob Deuell
Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.
Senator Jon Lindsay
Senator Bill Ratliff
Senator Royce West
Senator Judith Zaffirini
*****
The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:06 a.m. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
Senator Janek moved that the minutes from the previous hearing
be approved; without objection, the minutes were approved by
unanimous consent.
The Chair moved that the Committee limit the public testimony to
3 minutes of the non-invited witnesses; without objection, the
motion carried.
At 9:07 a.m., Senator Janek assumed the chair.
The Chair laid out Senate Bill 418 and recognized its author,
Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.
Senator Nelson explained the bill and announced that she had a
committee substitute that she would like to have sent up.
Senator Deuell sent up a committee substitute and yielded to the
author, Senator Nelson, to explain the committee substitute.
The Chair opened the floor for public testimony. Witnesses
testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached
list.
The Chair announced a clarification on a witness card that was
turned in by Steve Hazlewood of Dow Chemical who registered in
favor of the bill. The card indicated that Dow Chemical was for
the bill except for the elimination of ERISA preemption.
The Chair closed public testimony.
The Chair recognized Senator Nelson for a motion.
Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute for
Senate Bill 418; without objection, the motion carried.
The Chair recognized Senator Nelson for a motion.
Senator Nelson moved that Senate Bill 418 do not pass but that
the committee substitute for Senate Bill 418 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
nays, and 2 absent.
At 10:44 a.m., Senator Nelson resumed the chair and announced
that the Committee would stand recessed subject to the call of
the Chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
At 1:15 p.m., the Committee reconvened.
The Chair laid out Senate Bill 572 and recognized its author,
Senator Harris, to explain the bill.
Senator Harris explained the bill.
The Chair opened the floor for public testimony. Witnesses
testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached
list.
The Chair closed public testimony.
The Chair announced that Senate Bill 572 would be left pending.
The Chair laid out Senate Bill 752 and recognized its author,
Senator Harris, to explain the bill.
Senator Harris explained the bill.
The Chair opened the floor for public testimony. Witnesses
testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached
list.
The Chair closed public testimony.
The Chair announced that Senate Bill 752 would be left pending.
The Chair laid out Senate Bill 486 by Senator Zaffirini and
recognized Senator Ratliff to explain the bill.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Minutes
Tuesday, March 11, 2003
page 3
Senator Ratliff explained the bill.
The Chair opened the floor for public testimony. Witnesses
testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached
list.
The Chair closed public testimony.
The Chair announced that Senate Bill 486 would be left pending.
The Chair laid out Senate Bill 564 by Senator West and
recognized Senator Deuell to explain the bill.
Senator Deuell explained the bill.
The Chair opened the floor for public testimony. Witnesses
testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached
list.
The Chair closed public testimony.
The Chair announced that Senate Bill 564 would be left pending.
The Chair laid out Senate Bill 567 by Senator West and
recognized Senator Deuell to explain the bill.
Senator Deuell explained the bill.
The Chair opened the floor for public testimony. Witnesses
testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached
list.
The Chair closed public testimony.
The Chair announced that Senate Bill 567 would be left pending.
The Chair recalled Senate Bill 486, which had previously been
left pending, and recognized Senator Janek for a motion.
Senator Janek moved that Senate Bill 486 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
nays, and 2 absent. Senators Lindsay and Zaffirini asked to be
shown voting aye; without objection, the motion carried.
The Chair laid out Senate Bill 564, which had previously been
left pending, and recognized Senator Carona for a motion.
Senator Carona moved that Senate Bill 564 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
nays, and 1 absent. Senators Lindsay and Zaffirini asked to be
shown voting aye; without objection, the motion carried.
Senator Deuell moved that Senate Bill 564 be recommended for the
Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, the motion
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Minutes
Tuesday, March 11, 2003
page 4
carried.
The Chair recalled Senate Bill 567, which had previously been
left pending, and recognized Senator Carona for a motion.
Senator Carona moved that Senate Bill 567 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
nays, and 1 absent. Senators Lindsay and Zaffirini asked to be
shown voting aye; without objection, the motion carried.
Senator Deuell moved that Senate Bill 567 be recommended for the
Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, the motion
carried.
The Chair recalled Senate Bill 572, which had previously been
left pending, and recognized Senator Janek for a motion.
Senator Janek moved that Senate Bill 572 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
nays, and 1 absent. Senators Lindsay and Zaffirini asked to be
shown voting aye; without objection, the motion carried.
The Chair moved, at the request of Senator Harris, that Senate
Bill 572 be recommended for the Local & Uncontested Calendar;
without objection, the motion carried.
The Chair recalled Senate Bill 752, which had previously been
left pending.
Senator Ratliff moved that Senate Bill 752 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
nays, and 1 absent. Senators Lindsay and Zaffirini asked to be
shown voting aye; without objection, the motion carried.
The Chair moved, at the request of Senator Harris, that Senate
Bill 572 be recommended for the Local & Uncontested Calendar;
without objection, the motion carried.
The Chair moved, at the request of Senator Zaffirini, that
Senate Bill 486 be recommended for Local and Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, the motion carried.
There being no further business, at 2:06 p.m. Senator Nelson
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Jane Nelson, Chair
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Minutes
Tuesday, March 11, 2003
page 5
______________________
Cheri Huddleston, Clerk