MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

9:30 a.m.

Capitol Extension, Room E1.028

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations was held on Wednesday, March 14, 2007, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.028, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Royce West Senator Robert Nichols Senator Dan Patrick Senator Jeff Wentworth		Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.

 

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Senator Robert Nichols, the acting chair, called the meeting to order at 9:35 a.m.  The following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out SB 462 and recognized the author, Senator Harris, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Patrick sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Harris 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 Nichols moved that SB 462 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Wentworth moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Wentworth then moved that SB 462 do not pass but that CSSB 462 be reported back 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. 

 

Senator Wentworth 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 Patrick assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 524 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Wentworth sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Seliger 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 Patrick moved that SB 524 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Patrick moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Patrick then moved that SB 524 do not pass but that CSSB 524 be reported back 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. 

 

Senator Patrick moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 525 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, 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 Patrick moved that SB 525 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Patrick moved that SB 525 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. 

 

Senator Patrick moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 526 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, 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 Patrick moved that SB 526 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Patrick moved that SB 526 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. 

 

Senator Patrick moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 680 and recognized the author, Senator Williams, 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 Patrick moved that SB 680 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Patrick moved that SB 680 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 688 and recognized the author, Senator Shapleigh, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Wentworth sent up Committee Amendment 1 and the Chair recognized Senator Shapleigh to explain the amendment. 

 

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 Patrick requested unanimous consent to adopt committee amendment 1; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Patrick then requested to roll the amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Patrick then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Patrick moved that SB 688 do not pass but that CSSB 688 be reported back 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. 

 

Senator Patrick moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 682 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Wentworth sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Hegar 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 Patrick moved that SB 682 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Wentworth moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Wentworth then moved that SB 682 do not pass but that CSSB 682 be reported back 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. 

 

Senator Wentworth moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 683 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, 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 Patrick moved that SB 683 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Wentworth moved that SB 683 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. 

 

Senator Wentworth moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 684 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Wentworth sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Hegar 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 Patrick moved that SB 684 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Wentworth moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Wentworth then moved that SB 684 do not pass but that CSSB 684 be reported back 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. 

 

Senator Wentworth moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 619 and recognized the author, Senator Jackson, 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 Patrick moved that SB 619 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Wentworth moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Wentworth moved that CSSB 619 be left pending. 

 

The chair laid out SB 940 and recognized the author, Senator Wentworth, 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 Patrick moved that SB 940 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Wentworth moved that SB 940 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. 

 

Senator Wentworth moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 826 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. 

 

There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

Senator Patrick moved that SB 826 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 chair laid out SB 542 and recognized the author, Senator West, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Wentworth sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator West 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 Wentworth moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Wentworth moved that  CSSB 542 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 10:35 a.m. Senator West resumed the chair. 

 

Senator Wentworth moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on March 7, 2007; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 605 and recognized Senator Wentworth, in the absence of the author, 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 Wentworth moved that SB 605 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. 

 

Senator Wentworth moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 10:40 a.m. Senator West moved that the committee stand recessed subject to the call of the Chair; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

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Senator Royce West, Chairman

 

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Tiffany White, Committee Clerk