MINUTES 
                                           
                            SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE 
                              Wednesday, May 18, 2005 
                                     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 Finance was  
         held on Wednesday, May 18, 2005, in the Capitol Extension, Room  
         E1.036, at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Steve Ogden                     Senator Kip Averitt 
         Senator Judith Zaffirini                Senator John Whitmire 
         Senator Gonzalo Barrientos 
         Senator Kim Brimer 
         Senator Bob Deuell 
         Senator Robert Duncan 
         Senator Kyle Janek 
         Senator Jane Nelson 
         Senator Florence Shapiro 
         Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
         Senator Todd Staples 
         Senator Royce West 
         Senator Tommy Williams 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 8:06 a.m. The following  
         business was transacted:   
          
         The chair laid out HB 26 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.  There being no  
         witnesses, the chair moved that the public testimony be closed;  
         without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Ogden moved that  
         HB 26 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it  
         was so ordered.   
          
         Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.   
          
         The chair laid out HB 3001 and recognized Senator Ogden, in the  
         absence of the Senate sponsor, 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 Ogden moved that  
         HB 3001 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         Senator Ogden resumed the chair.   
  
         The chair laid out HB 905 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Williams, 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 Ogden moved that HB 905 be  
         left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out HB 1901 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Williams, 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 Ogden moved that HB 1901  
         be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out HB 860 and recognized Senator Zaffirini, in  
         the absence of the Senate sponsor, 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 Ogden  
         moved that HB 860 be left pending to await a quorum; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out HB 312 and recognized Senator Zaffirini, in  
         the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.   
          
         Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.   
          
         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 Ogden  
         moved that HB 312 be left pending to await a quorum; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         Senator Ogden resumed the chair.   
          
         At 8:39 a.m. Senator Ogden moved that the Committee stand  
         recessed until 9:00 a.m.; without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Committee reconvened at 9:08 a.m. 
          
         The roll was called. 
          
         A quorum was established. 
          
         The chair laid out HB 26, which had been left pending earlier in  
         the hearing.  Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 26 be reported  
         favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass  
         and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 12  
         ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator  
         Shapiro, Senator Shapleigh, Senator Staples, and Senator West  
         requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Zaffirini moved that the  
  
         bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out HB 312, which had been left pending earlier  
         in the hearing.  Senator Janek moved that HB 312 be reported  
         favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass  
         and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 11  
         ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 4 absent.  Senator  
         Shapiro, Senator Shapleigh and Senator Staples requested  
         unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it  
         was so ordered.  Senator Barrientos moved that the bill be  
         recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;  
         without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out HB 860, which had been left pending earlier  
         in the hearing.  Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 860 be reported  
         favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass  
         and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 12  
         ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator  
         Zaffirini moved that the bill be recommended for placement on  
         the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out HB 905, which had been left pending earlier  
         in the hearing.  Senator Williams moved that HB 905 be reported  
         favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass  
         and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 12  
         ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.   
          
         The chair laid out HB 1901, which had been left pending earlier  
         in the hearing.  Senator Williams moved that HB 1901 be reported  
         favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass  
         and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 11  
         ayes, 0 nay, 1 present not voting, and 3 absent.   
          
         There being no further business, at 9:17 a.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 Jeter, Clerk