MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

Wednesday, April 25, 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 25, 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 Jeff Wentworth, the acting chair, called the meeting to order at 9:45 a.m., the following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out SB 2022 and recognized the author, Senator Williams, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Wentworth sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Williams to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Wentworth moved adoption of the committee substitute; 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 Wentworth moved that SB 2022 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Wentworth moved that SB 2022 do not pass but that CSSB 2022 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 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 2002 and recognized the author, Senator Estes, 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.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Wentworth moved adoption of the committee substitute; 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 Wentworth moved that SB 2002 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Wentworth moved that SB 2002 do not pass but that CSSB 2002 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 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 2003 and recognized the author, Senator Estes, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

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 2003 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Patrick moved that SB 2003 be left pending. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1510 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, Jr., to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

At 9:54 a.m., a quorum was established.

 

Senator Nichols moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on April 23, 2007; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

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

 

Senator West moved that SB 1510 be left pending to get clarification on the bill; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Patrick moved that SB 1510 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 1183 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Wentworth moved that SB 1183 do not pass but that CSSB 1183 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 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 1379 and recognized the author, Senator Shapleigh, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Nichols sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Shapleigh to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Nichols moved adoption of the committee substitute; 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 Wentworth moved that SB 1379 do not pass but that CSSB 1379 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. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1380 and recognized the author, Senator Shapleigh, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Nichols sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Shapleigh to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Nichols moved adoption of the committee substitute; 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 1380 do not pass but that CSSB 1380 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 1243 and recognized the author, Senator Duncan, 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 1243 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 subcommittee report on SB 1588 was laid out by Senator West.  Senator Shapleigh was recognized to explain the subcommittee report on SB 1588.  Senator Wentworth then moved adoption of the subcommittee report; there being no objection, it was so ordered. 

 

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

 

The subcommittee report on SB 822 was laid out by Senator Wentworth.  Senator Wentworth was recognized to explain the subcommittee report on SB 822.  Senator Nichols then moved adoption of the subcommittee report; there being no objection, it was so ordered. 

 

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 1889 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, 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 1889 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 1778 and recognized the author, Senator Wentworth, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Wentworth moved that SB 1778 do not pass but that CSSB 1778 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 Wentworth moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 10:54 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 4:26 p.m. the committee reconvened. 

 

At 4:27 p.m. Senator Nichols assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out HB 239 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 HB 239 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 West moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 1780 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 HB 1780 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 West moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 1947 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 HB 1947 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 4:36 p.m. Senator West assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1331 and recognized Senator Patrick, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator West moved that SB 1331 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Patrick moved that SB 1070 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. 

 

Senator Nichols moved that SB 1960 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. 

 

Senator Nichols moved that SB 1990 do not pass but that the previously adopted CSSB 1990 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. 

 

Senator Nichols moved that SB 2008 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. 

 

Senator Nichols moved that SB 1957 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. 

 

At 5:02 p.m. Senator West moved that the committee stand at ease; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 5:17 p.m. the committee reconvened. 

 

There being no further business, at 5:17 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