MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

Wednesday, March 21, 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 21, 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 Mario Gallegos, Jr. Senator Jeff Wentworth

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:31 a.m. 

 

The chair laid out SB 976 and recognized the author, Senator Brimer, 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 West moved that SB 976 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator West moved that SB 976 be left pending. 

 

The chair laid out SB 351 and recognized the author, Senator Ellis, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Patrick sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Ellis 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 West moved that SB 351 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 352 and recognized the author, Senator Ellis, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Patrick sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Ellis 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 352 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.   

 

The chair laid out SB 360 and recognized Senator Ellis, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Patrick sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Ellis 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 360 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 162 and recognized the author, Senator Shapiro, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Patrick sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Shapiro 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 162 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 653 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 Nichols moved that SB 653 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.  

 

At 10:00 a.m. Senator West moved that the committee stand recessed until 10:15 a.m; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 10:16 a.m. the committee reconvened.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

Senator Nichols moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on March 14, 2007; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 10:17 a.m. Senator Nichols assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 542 and recognized the author, Senator West, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator West sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator West sent up Committee Amendment 2 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 

 

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 West requested unanimous consent to roll the amendments into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator West then moved that the new committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator West moved that SB 542 do not pass but that CSSB 542 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. 

 

At 10:20 a.m. Senator West resumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 772 and recognized the author, Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill. 

 

The Chair postponed further consideration of SB 772; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The Chair laid out SB 162 and Senator Patrick moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Patrick moved that SB 162 do not pass but that CSSB 162 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 351 and Senator Patrick moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Patrick moved that SB 351 do not pass but that CSSB 351 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 Nichols moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The Chair laid out SB 352 and Senator Patrick moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Patrick moved that SB 352 do not pass but that CSSB 352 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 Nichols moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.  

 

The Chair laid out SB 360 and Senator Patrick moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Patrick moved that SB 360 do not pass but that CSSB 360 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 Nichols moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

The chair laid out SB 653 and Senator Nichols moved that SB 653 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 Nichols moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 323 and Senator Patrick moved that SB 323 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 Nichols moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 401 and Senator Patrick moved that SB 401 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 recalled SB 772 and recognized Senator Van de Putte.

 

Senator Nichols sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Van de Putte 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 772 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 779 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 Nichols moved that SB 779 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 Nichols moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 948 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 948 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 Nichols moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 243 and recognized Senator Nichols, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Nichols sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nichols to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. 

 

At 10:46 a.m. Senator West moved that the committee stand recessed until 30 minutes after adjournment of the Senate; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 1:45 p.m. the committee reconvened. 

 

There being no further business, at 1:45 p.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, Chair

 

 

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Tiffany White, Clerk