MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Monday, April 2, 2007

9:00 a.m.

Capitol Extension, Room E1.036

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance was held on Monday, April 2, 2007, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Steve Ogden Senator Judith Zaffirini Senator Kip Averitt Senator Bob Deuell Senator Robert Duncan Senator Kevin Eltife Senator Troy Fraser Senator Juan Hinojosa Senator Kyle Janek Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. Senator Jane Nelson Senator Florence Shapiro Senator Royce West Senator John Whitmire Senator Tommy Williams		None

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:11 a.m.  The following business was transacted: 

 

The roll was called, and a quorum was established.

 

The chair laid out SB 679 and recognized the author, Senator Williams, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Zaffirini 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 Williams moved that SB 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 14 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Ogden, Senator Averitt, Senator Fraser, Senator Shapiro, and Senator Whitmire requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Williams moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 5 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Deuell, 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 Deuell moved that HB 5 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 6 absent.  Senator West moved to reconsider the vote by which HB 5 was reported; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 5 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1719 and recognized the author, Senator Ogden, 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 Ogden moved that SB 1719 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1758 and recognized the author, Senator Janek, to explain the bill. 

Senator Janek sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Janek to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Janek 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 Janek moved that SB 1758 do not pass but that CSSB 1758 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 4 absent.  Senator Ogden, Senator Averitt, and Senator Whitmire requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 242 and recognized Senator Nelson, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.  Senator Nelson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nelson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Nelson 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 Nelson moved that SB 242 do not pass but that CSSB 242 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.  Senator Ogden, Senator Averitt, Senator Shapiro, Senator West, and Senator Whitmire requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Nelson moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 595 and recognized Senator Eltife, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.  Senator Eltife sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Eltife to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Eltife 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. 

 

Senator Ogden resumed the chair. 

 

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

Senator Ogden moved that SB 595 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 796 and recognized the author, Senator Janek, to explain the bill. 

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

 

Senator Zaffirini 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 Janek moved that SB 796 do not pass but that CSSB 796 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 13 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.  Senator Averitt, Senator Shapiro, Senator West, Senator West, Senator Whitmire, and Senator Williams requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Janek moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Ogden resumed the chair. 

 

At 10:25 a.m. Senator Ogden moved that the Committee stand recessed until 11:00 a.m.  Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden reconvened the Committee at 11:01 a.m.

 

At 11:01 a.m. Senator Ogden moved that the Committee stand recessed for 5 minutes.  Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden reconvened the Committee at 11:07 a.m.

 

The roll was called, and a quorum was present.

 

The chair laid out as pending business, SB 1.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. 

 

Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair. 

 

Senator Ogden moved to reconsider the votes by which all previously adopted recommendations and riders regarding Article XI had been adopted.  Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden resumed the chair. 

 

Senator Lucio moved to reconsider the vote by which the rider regarding Article IX, Redirection of Resources to Address Frew v. Hawkins had been previously adopted.  Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Duncan laid out a substitute rider regarding Article IX, Redirection of Resources to Address Frew v. Hawkins.  Senator Duncan moved to adopt the substitute rider regarding Article IX, Redirection of Resources to Address Frew v. Hawkins.  The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 6 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. 

 

Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair. 

 

Senator Ogden laid out substitute recommendations and riders regarding Article XI.  Senator Ogden moved that the substitute recommendations and riders regarding Article XI be adopted in lieu of all previously adopted recommendations and riders regarding Article XI.  The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 3 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

Senator Ogden resumed the chair. 

 

Senator Ogden moved that SB 1 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

There being no further business, at 12:09 p.m. Senator Ogden moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Steve Ogden, Chair

 

 

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Amy Jeter, Clerk