MINUTES SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS & MILITARY INSTALLATIONS Wednesday, May 18, 2005 1:30 p.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 Veteran Affairs & Military Installations was held on Wednesday, May 18, 2005, in the Betty King Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20, at Austin, Texas. ***** MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: Senator Leticia Van de Putte Senator Craig Estes Senator Troy Fraser Senator Kel Seliger Senator Eliot Shapleigh ***** The chair called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: The chair recognized Patrick Hoffman, who led the Committee in the pledge of allegiance. The following members arrived after the roll was called: Senator Kel Seliger Senator Seliger moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on May 13, 2005; without objection, it was so ordered. The chair laid out HB 2931 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Fraser, to explain the bill. There being no witnesses testifying for, on, or against the bill, the chair moved that the public testimony be closed. Without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Fraser moved that HB 2931 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Fraser moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Shapleigh moved to reconsider the vote by which HB 2931 was passed in order to reopen public testimony. 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 Fraser moved that HB 2931 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Fraser moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. The chair laid out HB 1318 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Jackson, to explain the bill. There being no witnesses testifying for, on, or against the bill, the chair moved that the public testimony be closed. Without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Seliger moved that HB 1318 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 3 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. The subcommittee report on HB 2335 was laid out by Senator Shapleigh. Senator Shapleigh was recognized to explain the subcommittee report on HB 2335. Senator Shapleigh sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Shapleigh sent up Committee Amendment 2 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Shapleigh requested unanimous consent to roll the amendments into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Shapleigh 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 Shapleigh moved that HB 2335 do not pass but that CSHB 2335 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. There being no further business, at 2:00 p.m. Senator Van de Putte moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered. _____________________________ Senator Leticia Van de Putte, Chair _____________________________ Sara Gonzalez, Clerk