MINUTES
Monday, March 24, 2003
10:00 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 Infrastructure Development
and Security Committee was held on Monday, March 24, 2003, in
the Capitol Extension, Room E1.028, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Steve Ogden Senator Eliot Shapleigh
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
Senator Bob Deuell
Senator Rodney Ellis
Senator Jon Lindsay
Senator Frank Madla
Senator Florence Shapiro
Senator Jeff Wentworth
*****
The chair called the meeting to order at 10:02 a.m. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
The committee heard invited testimony by John Nichols, Texas
Capitol Fire Marshal, regarding evacuation procedures for the
Capitol Complex.
Senator Ellis moved adoption of the minutes from the previous
hearing held on March 17, 2003; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The chair referred the following bills regarding license plates
to the Special Select Subcommittee for further consideration:
SB 874 by Deuell, relating to Texas State Rifle Association
license plates; SB 908 by Lindsay, relating to the issuance of
"Be a Blood Donor" license plates; creating an account and
advisory committee; SB 960 by Duncan, relating to the issuance
of cotton boll license plates to benefit the scholarship program
of Texas Cotton Producers, Inc.;
SB 1142 by Madla, relating to the issuance of special license
plates benefitting Los
Compadres of the San
Antonio Missions
National Historical
Park; SB 1231 by
Estes, relating to the
issuance
of special "United We Stand" license plates; SB 1233 by
Williams, relating to the issuance of "Choose Life" license
plates and to the creation of the Choose Life account in the
general revenue fund; SB 1270 by Armbrister, relating to fees in
connection with waterfowl and wetland conservation special
license plates; SB 1334 by Barrientos, relating to special Texas
Music license plates to support the activities of Austin Music
Foundation, Inc., a Texas non-profit corporation, and other
Texas-based non-profit members of its Affiliates Program; and
SB 1345 by Jackson, relating to the issuance of Space Shuttle
Columbia license plates to benefit the Aviation and Space
Foundation of Texas.
The chair referred the following bills regarding homeland
security public
information to the
Special Select
Subcommittee for further
consideration: SB 647
by Wentworth, relating
to excepting from
required public
disclosure under the
public information law
the assessments of a
utility's vulnerability
to intentional acts of
harm; SB 711 by
Jackson, relating to the
application of
the public information law to certain emergency preparedness
plans of a county; SB 762 by Lindsay, relating to the
application of the open meetings law and the public information
law to meetings and information regarding certain security plans
of a municipal hospital, a hospital district, or a health
department; SB 763 by Lindsay, relating to the application of
the open meetings law and the public information law to certain
meetings and information regarding plans for responding to an
act of terrorism; SB 764 by Lindsay, relating to the application
of the open meetings law and the public information law to
meetings and information of certain governmental bodies relating
to the security of a port in this state; SB 809 by Harris,
relating to the application of the public information law to
information pertaining to the security or vulnerability of the
infrastructure, buildings, or operations of an airport; SB 872
by Wentworth, relating to the application of the open meetings
law and the public information law to meetings and information
regarding certain plans, including emergency prevention or
response plans and engineering or architectural plans; and SB
980 by Wentworth, relating to the authority of the Public
Utility Commission of Texas or the Railroad Commission of Texas
to conduct a closed meeting to deliberate a security threat or
disaster.
The chair laid out SB 410, relating to the financing and
construction of highways, and recognized the author, Senator
Lucio, Jr., to explain the bill. The chair laid out SJR 21,
proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature
to provide for the issuance of bonds for improvements to the
state highway system, and recognized the author, Senator Lucio,
Jr., to explain the bill. Witnesses testifying and registering
on the bills are shown on the attached list. The chair moved
that the public testimony on SB 410 and SJR 21 be closed;
without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Ogden moved that
SB 410 and SJR 21 be left pending; without objection, it was so
ordered.
At 10:24 a.m. Senator Barrientos assumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 1083, relating to the issuance of bonds
and other public securities secured by the state highway fund
and the financing and construction of highways, and recognized
the author, Senator Ogden, to explain the bill. The chair laid
out SJR 44, proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the
legislature to provide for the issuance of bonds and other
public securities secured by the state highway fund for
improvements to the state highway system, and recognized the
author, Senator Ogden, to explain the bill. Witnesses testifying
and registering on the bills are shown on the attached list.
The chair moved that the public testimony on SB 1083 and SJR 44
be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator
Barrientos moved that SB 1083 and SJR 44 be left pending;
without objection, it was so ordered.
Minutes
Monday, March 24, 2003
page 4
The chair laid out SB 1082, relating to loans from the permanent
school fund for the acquisition of rights-of-way for the state
highway system, and recognized the author, Senator Ogden, to
explain the bill. Senator Ogden sent up a committee substitute;
the chair recognized Senator Ogden to explain the difference
between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. Senator
Ogden moved adoption of the committee substitute; without
objection, it was so ordered. The chair laid out SJR 43,
proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the Texas
Department of Transportation to borrow money from the permanent
school fund to finance the acquisition of rights-of-way, and
recognized the author, Senator Ogden, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bills are shown on
the attached list. The chair moved that the public testimony on
SB 1082 and SJR 43 be closed; without objection, it was so
ordered. Senator Barrientos moved that SB 1082 and SJR 43 be
left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 11:44 a.m. Senator Ogden resumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 1063 and recognized the author, Senator
Shapiro, to explain the bill. Witnesses testifying and
registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
At 11:46 a.m. Senator Barrientos assumed the chair. Senator
Barrientos moved that SB 1063 be left pending; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 1064 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 Barrientos moved that SB
1064 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 12:04 p.m. Senator Ogden resumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 756 by Nelson, relating to a declaration
of a local state of disaster by certain joint airport boards,
which had been left pending from a previous hearing. Senator
Lindsay moved that SB 756 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 Wentworth moved that the bill
be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 12:09 p.m. Senator Barrientos assumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 345 by Ogden, relating to motor vehicle
windshield and window sunscreening devices, which had been left
Minutes
Monday, March 24, 2003
page 5
pending from a previous hearing. The chair recognized Senator
Ogden to explain the difference between a committee substitute
he sent up at a previous hearing, and the bill as filed.
Senator Ogden moved adoption of the committee substitute;
without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Ogden moved that
SB 345 do not pass but that CSSB 345 be reported back to the
Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.
The motion carried with a record voted of 8 ayes, 0 nay, 0
present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Ogden moved that the
bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 945 by Ogden, relating to the manner of
issuance of a driver's license or personal identification
certificate by the Department of Public Safety, which had been
left pending from a previous hearing. Senator Lindsay moved
that SB 945 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.
The chair laid out SB 946 by Ogden, relating to certain
requirements for obtaining a driver's license for persons
completing certain driver education courses, which had been left
pending from a previous hearing. The chair recognized Senator
Ogden to explain the difference between a committee substitute
he sent up at a previous hearing and the bill as filed. Senator
Ogden moved adoption of the committee substitute; without
objection, it was so ordered. Senator Lindsay moved that SB 946
do not pass but that CSSB 946 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.
At 12:16 p.m. Senator Ogden resumed the chair.
The following committee members requested unanimous consent to
be shown voting aye on
SB 756: Senator Deuell and Senator Ellis. Without objection,
it was so ordered.
The following committee members requested unanimous consent to
be shown voting aye on CSSB 345: Senator Deuell, Senator Ellis,
and Senator Wentworth. Without objection, it was so ordered.
The following committee members requested unanimous consent to
be shown voting aye on
SB 945: Senator Deuell, Senator Ellis, and Senator Wentworth.
Without objection, it was so ordered.
The following committee members requested unanimous consent to
be shown voting aye on CSSB 946: Senator Ellis and Senator
Wentworth. Without objection, it was so ordered.
Minutes
Monday, March 24, 2003
page 6
There being no further business, at 12:19 p.m. Senator Ogden
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Steve Ogden, Chair
______________________
Amy Schwartz, Clerk