MINUTES 
                                           
                    SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION 
                             Monday, February 28, 2005 
                           1:30 p.m. or upon adjournment 
                           Capitol Extension, Room E1.012 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Government  
         Organization was held on Monday, February 28, 2005, in the  
         Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Rodney Ellis                    None 
         Senator Kevin Eltife 
         Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr. 
         Senator Chris Harris 
         Senator Mike Jackson 
         Senator Jane Nelson 
         Senator John Whitmire 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 2:33 p.m.  The  
         following business was transacted:   
          
         The chair laid out SB 213 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Shapleigh, to explain the bill.  Senator Harris sent up a  
         committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Shapleigh to  
         explain the difference between the committee substitute and the  
         bill as filed.  The chair moved adoption of the committee  
         substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Witnesses  
         testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached  
         list.   
          
         The chair laid out SB 288 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Shapleigh, to explain the bill.  Witnesses testifying and  
         registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.   
          
         The chair moved that the roll be called. A quorum was present. 
          
         The chair moved that the public testimony be closed for SB213  
         and SB288; without objection, it was so ordered.  The chair  
         moved that SB 288 be left pending; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         Senator Harris moved that SB 213 do not pass but that CSSB 213  
         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 and 0 nays.   
          
         Senator Harris moved that the bill be recommended for placement  
         on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was  
         so ordered.   
          
         At 2:47 p.m. Senator Eltife assumed the chair.   
          
         The chair laid out SB 233 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Ellis, to explain the bill.  Senator Ellis sent up a committee  
         substitute; the chair recognized Senator Ellis to explain the  
         difference between the committee substitute and the bill as  
         filed.  Senator Ellis moved adoption of the committee  
  
         substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The following members arrived after the roll was called:   
         Senator Whitmire and Senator Gallegos.   
          
         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 Ellis  
         moved that SB 233 be left pending; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         At 3:12 p.m. Senator Ellis resumed the chair.   
          
         The chair laid out SB 286 and recognized Senator Whitmire, in  
         the absence of the author, to explain the bill.  Senator  
         Wentworth, the author, arrived and was recognized to explain the  
         bill. Senator Eltife sent up a committee substitute; the chair  
         recognized Senator Wentworth to explain the difference between  
         the committee substitute and the bill as filed.  Senator Eltife  
         moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection,  
         it was so ordered.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the  
         bill are shown on the attached list.  The chair referred SB 286  
         to a subcommittee for further consideration.  The chair  
         appointed Senator Eltife as chair of the subcommittee and  
         Senators Jackson and Whitmire as members of the subcommittee.   
          
         The chair laid out SB 406 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Jackson, 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.  The chair moved that SB 406 be  
         left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.     
          
         The chair laid out SB 407 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Jackson, to explain the bill.  Senator Jackson sent up a  
         committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Jackson to  
         explain the difference between the committee substitute and the  
         bill as filed.  The chair moved adoption of the committee  
         substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  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.  The chair moved that SB  
         407 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         Senator Nelson, Senator Whitmire, and Senator Gallegos asked for  
         unanimous consent be shown for CSSB 213 without objection it was  
         so ordered. 
          
         There being no further business, at 4:41 p.m. The chair moved  
         that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the  
         chair after the clerk finished reading the names of the  
         witnesses for the record.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         _____________________________ 
         Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair 
          
         _____________________________ 
         Vanessa McMahan, Clerk