MINUTES
Committee on Veteran Affairs &
Military Installations
Wednesday, May 7, 2003
1:30 p.m. (or upon adjournment of the Senate--whichever is
later)
Betty King Committee Room
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Texas Senate Committee on Veteran
Affairs and Military Installations was held on Wednesday, May 7,
2003, in the Betty King Committee Room (2E.20) of the State
Capitol Building, behind the Senate Chamber, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Leticia Van de Putte, Chair Senator Frank Madla
Senator Craig Estes, Vice Chair Senator Eliot Shapleigh
Senator Troy Fraser
*****
The Chair called the hearing to order at 4:22 p.m.,
pursuant to the RECESS of the Committee's last
regularly-posted hearing, which was held on
Wednesday, April 23, 2003.
The Chair requested that former Texas State
Representative John R. Cook, Attorney at Law,
currently present to testify relative to a bill on
today's agenda, to lead the audience, the members,
and the Committee staff, in the Pledge of
Allegiance to the American Flag. Mr. Cook did so.
The Chair laid before the Committee House Bill No.
545, by Representative Wohlgemuth, ET AL., and
called upon its Senate sponsor, Senator Jeff
Wentworth, to explain the bill. Senator Wentworth
did so.
The Vice Chair offered a complete committee
substitute for House Bill No. 545 (Legislative
Council Inventory number 78R14919 JRD-D). The
Chair laid before the Committee the complete
committee substitute for House Bill No. 545 and
called upon Senator Wentworth to explain the
differences between the proposed substitute and the
engrossed version of House Bill No. 545. Senator
Wentworth did so.
The Chair recognized The Honorable John R. Cook,
Attorney, representing Title Data, Inc., to testify
IN FAVOR OF the complete Committee Substitute for
House Bill No. 545. Mr. Cook did so.
The Chair recognized The Honorable Nancy Rister,
County Clerk of Williamson County, and representing
the Texas County and Districts Clerks Association,
to testify IN FAVOR OF the Committee Substitute for
House Bill No. 545. Ms. Rister did so.
Senator Fraser now present (4:31 p.m.) and--as a
consequence--a quorum was now present for the very
first time.
Ms. Rister continued her testimony.
The Chair noted that Mr. Seth Mitchell,
Intergovernmental Services Manager, Bexar County
Commissioners Court, had registered IN FAVOR OF
House Bill No. 545 and--although present--Mr.
Mitchell did not wish to actually testify.
The Chair asked if there were any other persons
present wishing to testify for, against, or on, the
Committee Substitute for House Bill No. 545. There
was no response. The Chair announced that public
testimony relative to the Committee Substitute for
House Bill No. 545 would now be closed.
The Chair noted the presence of a quorum and asked
that the Clerk call the roll. The Clerk did so,
and it was officially ascertained that the Chair,
the Vice Chair, and Senator Fraser were present and
constituted a quorum of the Committee.
On motion of the Vice Chair, the Committee voted (3
YEAS--Chair Van de Putte, Vice Chair Estes and
Fraser; 0 NAYS; 2 ABSENT--Madla and Shapleigh; and
0 PNV) to favorably report the Committee Substitute
for House Bill No. 545--in lieu of the engrossed
House Bill No. 545--back to the full Senate with
the recommendation that it do pass.
On motion of the Vice Chair, and without objection,
the Committee Substitute for House Bill No. 545 was
recommended for placement upon the Local and
Uncontested Calendar.
The Chair laid before the Committee House Bill No.
405, by Representative Miller, ET AL., and called
upon its Senate sponsor, Senator Troy Fraser, a
member of the Committee, to explain the bill.
Senator Fraser did so.
The Chair noted that Ms. Jane Caldwell, Director,
Grants/Special Programs, Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board, had registered ON House Bill
No. 405 and--although present--Ms. Caldwell did not
wish to actually testify.
The Chair asked if there were any other persons
present wishing to testify for, against, or on,
House Bill No. 405. There was no response. The
Chair announced that public testimony relative to
House Bill No. 405 would now be closed.
Senator Fraser requested that House Bill No. 405 be
left pending before the Committee. The Chair
announced that House Bill No. 405 would be left
pending.
The Chair laid before the Committee House Bill No.
591, by Representative Delisi, ET AL., and called
upon its Senate sponsor, Senator Troy Fraser, a
member of the Committee, to explain the bill.
Senator Fraser did so.
No witness registration cards were received by the
Committee relative to House Bill No. 591.
The Chair asked if there were any persons present
wishing to testify for, against, or on, House Bill
No. 591. There was no response. The Chair
announced that public testimony relative to House
Bill No. 591 would now be closed.
On motion of Senator Fraser, the Committee voted (3
YEAS--Chair Van de Putte, Vice Chair Estes and
Fraser; 0 NAYS; 2 ABSENT--Madla and Shapleigh; and
0 PNV) to favorably report House Bill No. 591 back
to the full Senate with the recommendation that it
do pass.
On motion of Senator Fraser, and without objection,
House Bill No. 591 was recommended for placement
upon the Local and Uncontested Calendar.
The Chair laid before the Committee House Bill No.
174, by Representative Howard, ET AL., and called
upon its Senate sponsor, Senator Craig Estes, Vice
Chair of the Committee, to explain the bill. The
Vice Chair did so.
No witness registration cards were received by the
Committee relative to House Bill No. 174.
The Chair asked if there were any persons present
wishing to testify for, against, or on, House Bill
No. 174. There was no response. The Chair
announced that public testimony relative to House
Bill No. 174 would now be closed.
On motion of the Vice Chair, the Committee voted (3
YEAS--Chair Van de Putte, Vice Chair Estes and
Fraser; 0 NAYS; 2 ABSENT--Madla and Shapleigh; and
0 PNV) to favorably report House Bill No. 174 back
to the full Senate with the recommendation that it
do pass.
On motion of the Vice Chair, and without objection,
House Bill No. 174 was recommended for placement
upon the Local and Uncontested Calendar.
The Chair asked that Vice Chair Estes temporarily
preside over the Committee. The Vice Chair did so.
The Vice Chair laid before the Committee House Bill
No. 1221, by Representative Telford, ET AL., and
called upon its Senate sponsor, Senator Leticia Van
de Putte, Chair of the Committee, to explain the
bill. The Chair did so.
The Vice Chair recognized Mr. Allen Broussard, UI
Planner/Analyst, Texas Workforce Commission, to
testify ON House Bill No. 1221. Mr. Broussard did
so.
The Vice Chair asked if there were any other
persons present wishing to testify for, against, or
on, House Bill No. 1221. There was no response.
The Vice Chair announced that public testimony
relative to House Bill No. 1221 would now be
closed.
On motion of the Chair, the Committee voted (3
YEAS--Chair Van de Putte, Vice Chair Estes and
Fraser; 0 NAYS; 2 ABSENT--Madla and Shapleigh; and
0 PNV) to favorably report House Bill No. 1221 back
to the full Senate with the recommendation that it
do pass.
On motion of the Chair, and without objection,
House Bill No. 1221 was recommended for placement
upon the Local and Uncontested Calendar.
The Chair resumed presiding over the Committee.
The Chair laid before the Committee the minutes of
the Committee's formal meeting held at the Chair's
desk in the Senate Chamber on Tuesday, April 22,
2003. On motion of Senator Fraser, and without
objection, those minutes were approved.
The Chair laid before the Committee the minutes of
the previous regularly-posted hearing of the
Committee which had been held on Wednesday, April
23, 2003. On motion of Senator Fraser, and without
objection, those minutes were approved.
There being no further business, the Chair, at 4:49
p.m., RECESSED the Committee subject to the call of
the Chair.
_____________________________________________
LETICIA VAN DE PUTTE, R.Ph., Chair
______________________________________________
GREGORY D. WATSON, Committee Clerk