MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & COMMERCE

Monday, October 6, 2008

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 Monday, October 6, 2008, in the Betty King Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Troy Fraser, Chair Senator Chris Harris, Vice Chair Senator Kip Averitt Senator Craig Estes Senator Leticia Van de Putte Senator Kirk Watson		Senator Kevin Eltife Senator Kyle Janek Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:04 a.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

Chairman Fraser made opening remarks regarding Charge #6 on the number of state business licenses and the need and cost for each license.

 

The following testified before the committee:

William H. Kuntz, Executive Director, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation

Leslie Pettijohn, Commissioner, The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner

Mark Majek, Director of Operations, Texas Board of Nursing

 

Senator Watson assumed the chair.  

 

Senator Fraser resumed the chair.

 

At 9:38 a.m. Senator Fraser closed public testimony on Charge #6.

 

Senator Fraser made opening remarks regarding Charge #3 on current industry practice and regulation associated with the siting of wind turbines.

 

The following testified before the committee:

Jerry Patterson, Commissioner, General Land Office

Barry Smitherman, Chairman, Public Utility Commission of Texas

Kent Saathoff, VP System Planning and Operation, Electric Reliability Council of Texas

 

The following witnesses testified as a panel:

Mark Stroeher, County Judge, Gillespie County

Paul Sadler, Executive Director, The Wind Coalition

Robert Garvin, FPL Energy

Tom "Smitty" Smith, Director, Public Citizen

John Barrett, Farmer, Coastal Habitat Alliance

John Calaway, Chief Development Officer, Babcock and Brown

 

The following testified before the committee:

Dr. John D. Dunn, Representing himself

Robert Weatherford, President, Save Our Scenic Hill Country Environment, Inc.

Dr. Patricia A. Lapoint, Representing herself

Raymond McDaniel, Representing himself

Lawrence Guyton, Representing himself

 

Senator Watson assumed the chair. 

 

Dave Nix, Real Estate Agent, Dawson County Wind Energy Coalition

John Sandstrom, Representing himself

 

Senator Fraser resumed the chair. 

 

Gary Key, Representing himself

Jimmy Gaines, Rancher, Texas Landowners Council

J. Vincent Meyer, Representing himself

Paul Burns, Representing himself

Cyrus Reed, Director, Sierra Club

 

At 1:03 p.m. Senator Fraser closed public testimony on Charge #3.

 

There being no further business, at 1:04 p.m. Senator Fraser moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Troy Fraser, Chair

 

 

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Tatum Reagan, Clerk