MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION
Monday, March 14, 2005
1:30 p.m.
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, March 14, 2005, in 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 4:15 p.m. The
following business was transacted:
The chair laid out SB 415 and recognized the author, Senator
Shapleigh, to explain the bill.
The chair moved that the roll be called. A quorum was present.
Senator Gallegos, Jr. sent up Committee Amendment 1. Senator
Shapleigh explained the amendment, and Senator Gallegos, Jr.
moved adoption. Without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Senator Gallegos, Jr. requested unanimous consent to roll the
amendment into a 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.
Senator Gallegos, Jr. moved that SB 415 as amended be favorably
reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do
pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6
ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator
Jackson moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the
Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The chair laid out SB 288 which was left pending during the
GOC's hearing on February 28th.
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
Senator Chris Harris
Senator John Whitmire
Senator Whitmire asked to be shown voting aye for SB 415 as
amended. Without objection it was so ordered.
Senator Ellis offered Committee Amendment 1 and an amendment to
the amendment and moved that Committee Amendment 1 as amended be
adopted; without objection, the amendment as amended was
adopted. Senator Ellis requested unanimous consent to roll the
amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it was
so ordered.
Senator Whitmire moved that SB 288, as amended, 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, 0
nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Whitmire moved
that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; Senator Jackson objected, so the motion
failed.
The chair laid out SB 399 and recognized the author, Senator
Madla, to explain the bill. Senator Whitmire sent up a
committee substitute and moved adoption; without objection, it
was so ordered. The chair recognized Senator Madla to explain
the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as
filed. 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 Eltife moved that CSSB 399 be reported favorably to the
Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.
The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nay, 0
present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Eltife moved that the
bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 483 and recognized the author, Senator
Staples, 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 Eltife moved that SB 483
be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that
it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record
vote of 7 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.
Senator Eltife moved that the bill be recommended for placement
on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was
so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 164 and recognized the author, Senator
Wentworth, 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 Harris moved that SB 164
be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that
it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record
vote of 7 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.
Senator Harris moved that the bill be recommended for placement
on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was
so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 140 and recognized the author, Senator
Wentworth, to explain the bill.
Senator Whitmire moved that he leave his vote with the chair for
the rest of the hearing. 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. Senator Eltife
moved that SB 140 be reported favorably to the Senate with the
recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion
carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not
voting, and 0 absent. Senator Eltife moved that the bill be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;
without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 402 and recognized the author, Senator
Nelson, to explain the bill. Senator Nelson sent up Committee
Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment
was adopted. Senator Nelson requested unanimous consent to roll
the amendment into a 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.
Senator Nelson moved that SB 402, as amended, 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, 0
nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Nelson moved
that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 403 and recognized the author, Senator
Nelson, to explain the bill. Senator Nelson sent up a committee
substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nelson to explain the
difference between the committee substitute and the bill as
filed. Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee
substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Nelson
moved that SB 403 do not pass but that CSSB 403 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, 0
nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Nelson moved
that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out CSSB 407 that was left pending during the
GOC's hearing on February 28th. Senator Jackson sent up
Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the
amendment was adopted. Senator Jackson requested unanimous
consent to roll the amendment into a committee substitute;
without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Jackson moved
that SB 407 do not pass but that CSSB 407 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, 0
nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Jackson moved
that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 5:00 p.m. Senator Eltife assumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 464 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. 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 464 do not pass but that CSSB 464 be reported back to the
Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.
The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0
present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Ellis moved that the
bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 5:13 p.m. Senator Ellis resumed the chair.
There being no further business, at 5:14 p.m. Senator Ellis
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
_____________________________
Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair
_____________________________
Vanessa McMahan, Clerk