MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON JURISPRUDENCE
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
9:00 a.m.
Capitol Extension, Room E1.016
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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Jurisprudence was held on Wednesday, October 11, 2006, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.
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MEMBERS PRESENT: |
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MEMBERS ABSENT: |
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Senator Jeff Wentworth Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr. Senator John Carona Senator Chris Harris |
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Senator Robert Duncan Senator Juan Hinojosa Senator Royce West |
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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:13 a.m. The following business was transacted:
The chair gave opening remarks.
The chair laid out Interim Charge 1: Examine and make recommendations relating to the jurisdiction of statutory county courts, including the development of standardized language for Chapter 25, Government Code, to confer specific types of jurisdiction on statutory county courts and to ensure the statutes are clear and concise.
The following witnesses testified:
The Honorable Rusty Ladd, Judge, County Court at Law No. 1, Lubbock County
The Honorable Alfonso Charles, Judge, County Court at Law No. 2, Gregg County
The Honorable Lamar McCorkle, Judge, 133rd District Court, Harris County
Bob Wessels, Criminal Courts Administrator, Harris County
Sally Emerson, Attorney, Texas Family Law Foundation
The chair called roll. There was a quorum present.
Senator Harris moved approval of the minutes from the previous meeting held on August, 24, 2006; without objection, it was so ordered.
Testimony continued on Interim Charge 1.
The following witness testified:
Susan Norman, Attorney and Counselor at Law
The chair laid out Interim Charge 2: Examine and make recommendations to improve court oversight of fiduciaries appointed to make financial and personal decisions for wards as well as those appointed to administer an estate or trust.
The following witnesses testified:
The Honorable Guy Herman, Judge, Probate Court No. 1, Travis County
David Wukoson, Lawyer
Michael Epstein, Houston
Robert Alpert, Houston
At 11:32 a.m. Senator Gallegos, Jr. assumed the chair.
At 11:35 a.m. Senator Wentworth resumed the chair.
Testimony continued on Interim Charge 2.
The following witnesses testified:
Roman Alpert, Houston
The Honorable Michael Wood, Judge, Probate Court No. 2, Harris County
At 12:19 p.m. Senator Wentworth moved that the committee stand recessed until 1:30 p.m; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 1:33 p.m. the committee reconvened.
Testimony continued on Interim Charge 2.
The following witnesses testified:
Glenn Karisch, Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section, State Bar of Texas
Alvin Golden, Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section, State Bar of Texas
Susan Norman, Attorney and Counselor at Law
Jon Sisco, Montgomery
Carolyn Taub, Houston
Susan Conte, Houston
Rod Hardie, Pearland
Gus Tamborello, Probate Attorney, Harris County
Russell Verney, Dallas
Van Brookshire, Coldspring
Joseph Conte, Houston
There being no further business, at 4:45 p.m. Senator Gallegos, Jr. moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
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Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chair
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Stephanie Hoover, Clerk