MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

Monday, April 30, 2007

10:00 a.m.

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

 

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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 Monday, April 30, 2007, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Royce West

Senator Robert Nichols

Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.

Senator Dan Patrick

Senator Jeff Wentworth

 

None

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 10:16 a.m.  The following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out SB 2020 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill. 

 

At 10:17 a.m., a quorum was established. 

 

Senator Nichols moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on April 30, 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 Gallegos, Jr. moved that SB 2020 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 679 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill. 

 

There were no public witnesses wishing to testify on this bill.

 

Senator Nichols moved that HB 679 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 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 HB 398 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Nichols, 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 HB 398 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 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 1993 and recognized the author, Senator Nichols, to explain the bill. 

 

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 1993 do not pass but that CSSB 1993 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 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 HB 1390 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 Nichols moved that HB 1390 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 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 HB 1717 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Nichols sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Hegar to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.  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 moved that HB 1717 do not pass but that CSHB 1717 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 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 1212 and recognized the author, Senator Gallegos, Jr., to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Gallegos, Jr. sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Gallegos, Jr. to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Gallegos, Jr. 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 Gallegos, Jr. moved that SB 1212 do not pass but that CSSB 1212 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, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1227 and recognized the author, Senator Gallegos, Jr., 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 1227 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1444 and recognized the author, Senator Gallegos, Jr., to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Gallegos, Jr. sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Gallegos, Jr. to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Gallegos, Jr. 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 Gallegos, Jr. moved that SB 1444 do not pass but that CSSB 1444 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 Gallegos, Jr. moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 2026 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 2026 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 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 1004 and recognized Senator Wentworth, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

At 11:19 a.m. Senator Gallegos, Jr. 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 Gallegos, Jr. moved that SB 1004 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Wentworth moved that SB 1004 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 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 2032 and recognized Senator Wentworth, in the absence of the author, 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.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Wentworth moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Wentworth moved that SB 2032 do not pass but that CSSB 2032 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. 

 

At 11:33 a.m. Senator Gallegos, Jr. moved that the committee stand recessed until after adjournment of the Senate; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Pursuant to a motion made by Senator Nichols to suspend Senate posting rules, 11.10 and 11.18, Senator West reconvened the committee at 6:10 p.m. at his desk.

 

On a matter of pending business, the chair laid out SB 270 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.  Senator Wentworth moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Wentworth moved that SB 270 do not pass but that CSSB 270 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, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. 

 

On a matter of pending business, the chair laid out SB 1978 and recognized Senator West, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Nichols moved that SB 1978 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. 

 

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

 

On a matter of pending business, the chair laid out SB 1991 and recognized Senator West, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Nichols moved that SB 1991 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. 

 

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

 

On a matter of pending business, the chair laid out SB 1999 and recognized Senator West, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

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 1999 do not pass but that CSSB 1999 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. 

 

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

 

There being no further business, at 6:20 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