MINUTES 
                                           
                    SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES 
                               Thursday, May 12, 2005 
                                     9:00 a.m. 
                             Capitol Extension, E1.016 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Health &  
         Human Services was held on Thursday, May 12, 2005, in the Senate  
         Chamber at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Jane Nelson                     Senator Kenneth  
         Armbrister 
         Senator Kyle Janek                      Senator John Carona  
         Senator Bob Deuell                      Senator Judith Zaffirini 
         Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr. 
         Senator Jon Lindsay 
         Senator Royce West 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m.  The  
         following business was transacted:   
          
         At 9:11 a.m., Senator Lindsay assumed the chair.   
          
         The Chair laid out House Bill 916 and recognized the sponsor,  
         Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.   
          
         Senator Nelson sent up a committee substitute.  The Chair  
         recognized Senator Nelson to explain the difference between the  
         substitute and the bill as filed. 
          
         Witnesses registering on the bill are shown on the attached  
         list. 
          
         The Chair announced that the bill would be left pending. 
          
         The Chair laid out House Bill 2680 and recognized the sponsor,  
         Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.   
          
         Senator Nelson sent up Committee Amendment 1 and explained the  
         amendment. 
          
         Witnesses registering on the bill are shown on the attached  
         list. 
          
         The Chair announced that the bill would be left pending. 
  
         At 9:15 a.m., Senator Nelson resumed the chair. 
          
         The Chair laid out House Bill 877, sponsored by Senator Madla,  
         and recognized Senator Lindsay to explain the bill.   
          
         The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses  
         testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached  
         list.     
          
         The Chair closed public testimony. 
          
         The Chair announced that the bill would be left pending. 
          
         The Chair laid out House Bill 1126, sponsored by Senator Madla,  
         and recognized Senator Lindsay to explain the bill.   
          
         Senator Lindsay sent up a committee substitute.  The Chair  
         recognized Senator Lindsay to explain the difference between the  
         substitute and the bill as filed. 
          
         Witnesses registering on the bill are shown on the attached  
         list.     
          
         The Chair closed public testimony. 
          
         The Chair announced that the bill would be left pending. 
          
         The Chair laid out House Bill 1316 and recognized the sponsor,  
         Senator Deuell, to explain the bill.   
          
         The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses  
         testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached  
         list.     
          
         The Chair closed public testimony. 
          
         The Chair announced that the bill would be left pending. 
          
         The Chair laid out House Bill 798 and recognized the sponsor,  
         Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill.   
          
         The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses  
         testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached  
         list.     
          
         The Chair closed public testimony. 
          
         The Chair announced that the bill would be left pending. 
          
         The Chair laid out House Bill 850 and recognized the sponsor,  
         Senator Deuell, to explain the bill.   
          
         The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses  
         testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached  
         list.     
          
         The Chair closed public testimony. 
          
         The Chair announced that the bill would be left pending. 
          
         The Chair laid out House Bill 1558 and recognized the sponsor,  
         Senator Janek, to explain the bill.   
          
         The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses  
         testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached  
         list.     
          
         The Chair closed public testimony. 
          
         The Chair announced that the bill would be left pending. 
          
         At 10:00 a.m., Senator Janek assumed the chair. 
          
         The Chair laid out House Bill 2579, sponsored by Senator  
         Zaffirini, and recognized Senator Nelson to explain the bill.   
          
         Senator Nelson sent up a committee substitute.  The Chair  
         recognized Senator Nelson to explain the difference between the  
         substitute and the bill as filed. 
          
         The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses  
         testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached  
         list.     
          
         The Chair closed public testimony. 
          
         The Chair announced that the bill would be left pending. 
          
         At 10:05 a.m., Senator Nelson resumed the chair. 
          
         The Chair laid out Senate Bill 518, by Senator Ellis, and  
         recognized Senator Ellis' staff  to explain the bill.   
          
         Senator Nelson sent up a committee substitute.  The Chair  
         recognized Senator Ellis' staff to explain the difference  
         between the substitute and the bill as filed. 
          
         Witnesses registering on the bill are shown on the attached  
         list.     
          
         At 10:10 a.m., a quorum was established. 
          
         Senator West moved adoption of the minutes from the previous  
         hearings held on May 3, 2005 and May 6, 2005; without objection,  
         it was so ordered.   
          
         Senator West moved that SB 518 do not pass but that CSSB 518 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 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent. 
          
         Senator West moved that the bill be recommended for placement on  
         the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so  
  
         ordered. 
          
         The Chair recalled HB 798 which had previously been left  
         pending. 
          
         Senator Janek moved that HB 798 be reported favorably to the  
         Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.   
         The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 3 absent. 
          
         Senator Janek moved that the bill be recommended for placement  
         on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was  
         so ordered. 
          
         The Chair recalled HB 877 which had previously been left  
         pending. 
          
         Senator Janek moved that HB 877 be reported favorably to the  
         Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.   
         The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 3 absent. 
          
         At 10:12 a.m., Senator Janek assumed the chair. 
          
         The Chair recalled HB 916 which had previously been left  
         pending. 
          
         Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute which  
         had previously been laid out; without objection, it was so  
         ordered. 
          
         Senator Nelson moved that HB 916 do not pass but that CSHB 916  
         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 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent. 
          
         Senator Nelson moved that the bill be recommended for placement  
         on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was  
         so ordered. 
          
         At 10:14 a.m., Senator Nelson resumed the chair. 
          
         The Chair recalled HB 1126 which had previously been left  
         pending. 
          
         The Chair moved adoption of the committee substitute which had  
         previously been laid out; without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Janek moved that HB 1126 do not pass but that CSHB 1126  
         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 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent. 
          
         Senator Janek moved that the bill be recommended for placement  
         on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was  
         so ordered. 
          
         The Chair recalled HB 1316 which had previously been left  
         pending. 
          
         Senator Deuell moved that HB 1316 be reported favorably to the  
         Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.   
         The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 3 absent. 
          
         The Chair recalled HB 1558 which had previously been left  
         pending. 
          
         Senator Janek moved that HB 1558 be reported favorably to the  
         Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.   
         The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 3 absent. 
          
         Senator Janek moved that the bill be recommended for placement  
         on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was  
         so ordered. 
          
         The Chair recalled HB 2579 which had previously been left  
         pending. 
          
         The Chair moved adoption of the committee substitute which had  
         previously been laid out; without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Janek moved that HB 2579 do not pass but that CSHB 2579  
         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 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent. 
          
         Senator Janek moved that the bill be recommended for placement  
         on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was  
         so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out House Bill 1685 and recognized the sponsor,  
         Senator Ellis, to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses registering on the bill are shown on the attached  
         list. 
          
         Senator Gallegos moved that HB 1685 be reported favorably to the  
         Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.   
         The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 3 absent. 
          
         Senator Gallegos moved that the bill be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         At 10:20 a.m., Senator Janek assumed the chair. 
          
         The Chair recalled HB 2680 which had previously been left  
         pending. 
          
         Senator Nelson moved adoption of Committee Amendment 1 which had  
         previously been laid out; without objection, it was so ordered.   
  
         Senator Nelson then moved that the amendment be rolled into a  
         committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.   
         Senator Nelson then moved adoption of the committee substitute;  
         without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Nelson moved that HB 2680 do not pass but that CSHB 2680  
         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 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent. 
          
         At 10:21 a.m., Senator Nelson resumed the chair. 
          
         With no other business to come before the Committee, at 10:22  
         a.m., the Chair announced that the Committee would stand in  
         recess subject to the call of the Chair. 
          
         _____________________________ 
         Senator Jane Nelson, Chair 
          
         _____________________________ 
         Travis Broussard, Clerk