MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION
Monday, April 4, 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, April 4, 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
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The chair called the meeting to order at 3:50 p.m. The
following business was transacted:
The chair laid out CSSB 286. The chair moves to reopen testimony
there being no objection, it was so ordered.
The chair moved that the roll call be called. A quorum was
present.
The chair recognized Senator Eltife to deliver the subcommittee
report on the new committee substitute to SB 286. The chair sent
up the committee substitute and recognized Senator Wentworth to
explain the difference between the original committee substitute
and the new committee substitute. Witnesses testifying and
registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. The
chair moved that the public testimony be closed.
Senator Eltife made a motion that the vote by which the original
committee substitute to SB 286 was adopted be reconsidered;
without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Eltife made a
motion that the original committee substitute be withdrawn;
without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Eltife made a
motion that the new committee substitute be adopted; without
objection, it was so ordered. Senator Eltife sent up amendment 1
to CSSB286, moved adoption, and Senator Eltife requested
unanimous consent to roll the amendment into a new committee
substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator
Eltife moved SB 286 do not pass, but that the committee
substitute to 286 as amended be reported favorably to the Senate
with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The
motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present
not voting, and 1 absent.
The chair laid out SB 418 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 public testimony be closed; without
objection, it was so ordered. Senator Jackson moved that SB 418
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 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.
Senator Whitmire moved that he be shown voting aye for SB 418
and the committee substitute to SB286. Without objection it was
so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 405 and recognized the author, Senator
Jackson, to explain the bill. Senator Jackson sent up a
committee substitute and moved adoption without objection, it
was so ordered. The chair recognized Senator Jackson 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. Senator Gallegos, Jr. sent up
Committee Amendment 1. Senator Gallegos, Jr. withdrew Committee
Amendment 1. Senator Gallegos, Jr. sent up Committee Amendment
2. Senator Gallegos, Jr. withdrew Committee Amendment 2. Senator
Gallegos, Jr. sent up Committee Amendment 3. Senator Gallegos,
Jr. withdrew Committee Amendment 3. Senator Gallegos, Jr. sent
up Committee Amendment 4. Senator Gallegos, Jr. withdrew
Committee Amendment 4. Senator Nelson sent up Committee
Amendment 5. The chair recognized Senator Nelson to explain
Committee Amendment 5. Senator Ellis moved that Committee
Amendment 5 be left pending to await a quorum; without
objection, it was so ordered. The chair moved that the public
testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Eltife moved that he be shown voting aye for SB418.
Without objection it was so ordered.
Senator Ellis moved that SB 405 be left pending to await a
quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 420 and explained the bill, in the absence
of the author. 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 420 be left pending; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 422 and recognized the author, Senator
Jackson, to explain the bill.
At 5:24 p.m. Senator Jackson assumed the chair.
At 6:55 p.m. Senator Nelson assumed the chair.
At 7:07 p.m. Senator Ellis resumed 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 Ellis moved that
SB 422 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
There being no further business, at 7:24 p.m. Senator Ellis
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
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Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair
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Vanessa McMahan, Clerk