MINUTES SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION Wednesday, April 20, 2005 11:00 a.m. or upon adjournment Betty King Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20 ***** 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 Wednesday, April 20, 2005, in the Betty King Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20, 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 12:33 p.m. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: The chair called up the CSSB 408. Senator Ellis sent up Committee Amendment 4 and explained Committee Amendment 4. Senator Ellis withdrew Committee Amendment 4. The following members arrived after roll was called: Senator Nelson, Senator Jackson, and Senator Harris. Senator Eltife sent up Committee Amendment 5. The chair recognized Senator Eltife to explain the amendment. Senator Eltife moved adoption. The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. Senator Eltife requested unanimous consent to roll the amendment into the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Eltife then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Eltife moved that SB 408 do not pass but that CSSB 408 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 he be shown voting with the chair for all bills heard during the hearing; without objection it was so ordered. The chair laid out HB 773 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Armbrister, to explain the bill. Senator Eltife sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Eltife requested unanimous consent to roll the amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Eltife then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; 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 HB 773 do not pass but that CSHB 773 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. The chair called up SB 1651. The chair referred the bill to a subcommittee. The Senator appointed Senator Harris as the chair, and Senators Eltife and Gallegos as members. The chair called up SB 422. Senator Jackson moved that the committee substitute that was sent up at a previous hearing be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Jackson sent up Committee Amendment 1, which was explained at a previous hearing, and moved adoption; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Jackson sent up Committee Amendment 3 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Jackson requested unanimous consent to roll the amendments into the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Jackson then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Jackson moved that SB 422 do not pass but that CSSB 422 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. The chair called up SB 1382. Senator Eltife moved that SB 1382 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 Eltife moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Harris moved that he be shown voting with the chair on all of the bills that were voted on during the hearing; without objection, it was so ordered. The chair called up SB 409. Senator Nelson moved that SB 409 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 Nelson moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. There being no further business, at 12:51 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