SENATE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING COMMITTEE: State Affairs TIME & DATE: 8:00AM, Tuesday, April 18, 2006 PLACE: Senate Chamber CHAIR: Senator Robert Duncan ___________________________________________________________________________ The Committee will meet to take invited and public testimony on the following interim charges: Interim Charge 3 Study and make recommendations on how election officials could verify the identity of a voter without hindering a person's right to vote. Include an analysis of the extent to which individuals are casting multiple votes because of any lack of voter identification verification. Make recommendations on how the state could improve its vote-by-mail system to ensure the authenticity of those ballots. Interim Charge 6 Study and review current law on the doctrine of eminent domain, including the U.S. Supreme Court case in Kelo v. City of New London. Monitor the implementation of S.B. 7 (79th Legislature, 2nd Called Session) and make any necessary recommendations as to the use of eminent domain for economic development purposes and the issue of what constitutes adequate compensation for property taken through the use of eminent domain. * Determine whether a constitutional amendment is prudent and/or necessary to protect private property owners from condemnations for economic development purposes. * Determine which state, regional, and local governmental entities have eminent domain powers and how those powers may be used. Make recommendations regarding their necessity, fairness, and effectiveness. * Study the public policy implications relating to Chapter 2007, Government Code, Private Real Property Rights Preservation Act, its effectiveness in protecting private property rights, and the current impact of regulatory takings on private property owners. Interim Charge 8 Study the prevalence, legality and ethics of entities that actively lobby the Legislature to impact the lawmaking process while that entity is in any way a recipient of state funds. ___________________________________________________________________________