MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & COMMERCE
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
9:00 a.m.
Betty King Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20
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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce was held on Tuesday, March 13, 2007, in the Betty King Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20, at Austin, Texas.
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MEMBERS PRESENT: |
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MEMBERS ABSENT: |
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Senator Troy Fraser, Chairman Senator Chris Harris, Vice Chairman Senator Kevin Eltife Senator Craig Estes Senator Kyle Janek Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. Senator Leticia Van de Putte Senator Kirk Watson |
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Senator Kip Averitt |
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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:04 a.m.
The chair laid out SB 978 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, 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.
The roll was called at 9:09 a.m. A quorum was present.
Senator Watson moved that SB 978 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Watson moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 849 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill. Witnesses 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 SB 849 be left pending temporarily; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 9:30 a.m. Senator Harris assumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 484, pending business, and recognized the author, Senator Fraser, to explain the bill. Senator Watson sent up Committee Amendment 1 and explained the amendment. Senator Watson then moved adoption of Committee Amendment 1; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Watson requested unanimous consent to roll the amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Watson then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Watson moved that SB 484 do not pass but that CSSB 484 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 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.
At 9:40 a.m. Senator Fraser resumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 495 and recognized the author, Senator Van de Putte, 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 Van de Putte moved that SB 495 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Van de Putte moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 849, pending business, and recognized Senator Van de Putte, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. Senator Van de Putte sent up Committee Amendment 1 and explained the amendment. Senator Van de Putte then moved adoption of Committee Amendment 1; without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Van de Putte requested unanimous consent to incorporate the amendment into the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Van de Putte then moved that the new committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Van de Putte moved that SB 849 do not pass but that CSSB 849 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Van de Putte moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 541 and recognized the author, Senator West, 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 Watson moved that SB 541 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Watson moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 548 and recognized Senator Estes, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. Senator Estes sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Estes to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. 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 SB 548 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Estes moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Estes then moved that SB 548 do not pass but that CSSB 548 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Estes moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chairman read Motions in Writing requesting unanimous consent to be shown voting aye submitted by the following: Senator Harris on CSSB 849; Senator Eltife on SB 495, CSSB 849, SB 978, and CSSB 484; Senator Janek on SB 978, CSSB 484, SB 495, CSSB 849, SB 541, and CSSB 548; Senator Van de Putte on SB 541; Senator Lucio on SB 978, CSSB 484, SB 541, and CSSB 548. Without objection, it was so ordered. These votes are reflected in the final votes on the aforementioned bills.
There was no action taken for the following bill:
SB 935
There being no further business, at 10:11 a.m. Chairman Fraser moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chairman. Without objection, it was so ordered.
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Senator Troy Fraser, Chairman
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Tatum Reagan, Clerk