MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

Wednesday, April 4, 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, April 4, 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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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:40 a.m.  The following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out SB 976 and recognized the author, Senator Brimer, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Wentworth sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Brimer 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 976 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 SB 976 do not pass but that CSSB 976 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. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1463 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill. 

 

At 9:52 a.m. Senator Wentworth assumed the chair. 

 

Senator Patrick 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 Wentworth moved that SB 1463 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Patrick moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Patrick moved that SB 1463 do not pass but that CSSB 1463 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. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1752 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 Wentworth moved that SB 1752 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Patrick moved that SB 1752 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 1236 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, 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 1236 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Wentworth moved that SB 1236 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 1501 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, 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. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Wentworth moved that SB 1501 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 1502 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, 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. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Wentworth moved that SB 1502 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 1165 and recognized the author, Senator Estes, to explain the bill. 

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. 

 

Senator Wentworth moved that SB 1165 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Patrick moved that SB 1165 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 1157 and recognized Senator Estes, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. 

 

At 10:19 a.m. Senator West resumed the chair. 

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Wentworth moved that SB 1157 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator West moved that SB 1157 be left pending. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1535 and recognized Senator Estes, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Wentworth 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 West moved that SB 1535 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Patrick moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Patrick moved that SB 1535 do not pass but that CSSB 1535 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 10:26 a.m. Senator Wentworth assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1271 and recognized the author, Senator West, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator West moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator West moved that SB 1271 do not pass but that CSSB 1271 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out SB 1618 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 West moved that SB 1618 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator West moved that SB 1618 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

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

 

The chair laid out SB 1405 and recognized the author, Senator Wentworth, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Wentworth sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Wentworth 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 SB 1405 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator West moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator West moved that SB 1405 do not pass but that CSSB 1405 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. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1575 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 Wentworth moved that SB 1575 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Wentworth moved that SB 1575 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. 

 

At 10:45 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. 

 

At 1:46 p.m. Senator Patrick assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 979 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 West sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator West to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator West moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 2:31 p.m. Senator Nichols assumed the chair. 

 

Senator West moved that SB 979 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator West moved that SB 979 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 968 and recognized the author, Senator West, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator West sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator West to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator West moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator West sent up Committee Amendment 1 and recognized Senator West to explain the amendment.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator West moved adoption of the amendment; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator West requested unanimous consent to roll the amendment into a new 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 968 do not pass but that CSSB 968 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 West moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 3:44 p.m. Senator West resumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1104 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. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Patrick moved that SB 1104 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 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 1765 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill. 

 

At 3:45 p.m., a quorum was established. 

 

Senator Patrick moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on March 28, 2007; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

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 sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 

 

Senator Nichols requested unanimous consent to roll the amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Nichols then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Nichols moved that SB 1765 do not pass but that CSSB 1765 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

 

There being no further business, at 3:55 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