MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Monday, April 23, 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 23, 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 9:03 a.m.  The following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out SJR 10 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 Ogden moved that SJR 10 be left pending to await public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1935 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 Ogden moved that SB 1935 be left pending to await public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SJR 51 and recognized the author, Senator Wentworth, to explain the bill.  Senator Ogden moved that SJR 51 be left pending to await public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1576 and recognized the author, Senator Wentworth, to explain the bill.  Senator Eltife 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 Ogden moved that SB 1576 be left pending to await public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SJR 23 and recognized the author, Senator Nichols, to explain the bill. 

Senator Ogden moved that SJR 23 be left pending to await public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 575 and recognized the author, Senator Nichols, to explain the bill.  Senator Ogden moved that SB 575 be left pending to await public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Nelson assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 2031 and recognized the author, Senator Ogden, to explain the bill.  Senator Ogden moved that SB 2031 be left pending to await public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Ogden resumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 2033 and recognized Senator Eltife, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.  Senator Eltife sent up Committee Amendment 1.  Senator Ogden moved that SB 2033 be left pending to await public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 2015 and recognized Senator Averitt, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.  Senator Ogden moved that SB 2015 be left pending to await public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The roll was called, and a quorum was established.

 

The chair laid out SJR 14 and recognized the author, Senator Patrick, to explain the bill.  Senator Ogden moved that SJR 14 be left pending to await public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

The chair laid out SB 347 and recognized the author, Senator Patrick, to explain the bill.  Senator Ogden moved that SB 347 be left pending to await public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SJR 15 and recognized the author, Senator Patrick, to explain the bill.  Senator Ogden moved that SJR 15 be left pending to await public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 348 and recognized the author, Senator Patrick, to explain the bill.  Senator Ogden moved that SB 348 be left pending to await public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SJR 39 and recognized the author, Senator Patrick, to explain the bill. 

Senator Ogden 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 Ogden moved that SJR 39 be left pending to await public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1099 and recognized the author, Senator Patrick, to explain the bill.  Senator Ogden 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 Ogden moved that SB 1099 be left pending to await public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 737, which had been left pending at a previous hearing.  Senator Williams moved that SB 737 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  Senator Duncan and Senator Fraser 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 SB 769, which had been left pending at a previous hearing.  Senator Zaffirini sent up a committee substitute , in lieu of a committee substitute sent up at a previous hearing; the chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Ogden moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 769 do not pass but that CSSB 769 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, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.  Senator Duncan and Senator Fraser requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

                                                                                                           

The chair laid out SB 947, which had been left pending at a previous hearing.  Senator Ogden moved adoption of a committee substitute sent up at a previous hearing; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Averitt moved that SB 947 do not pass but that CSSB 947 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  Senator Duncan and Senator Fraser requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 992, which had been left pending at a previous hearing.  Senator Nelson moved that SB 992 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  Senator Duncan and Senator Fraser 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 1185, which had been left pending at a previous hearing.  Senator Ogden requested unanimous consent to roll an amendment adopted at a previous hearing into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Ogden then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Nelson moved that SB 1185 do not pass but that CSSB 1185 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  Senator Duncan and Senator Fraser requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Ogden moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   

 

The chair laid out SB 1332, which had been left pending at a previous hearing.  Senator Ogden moved adoption of a committee substitute sent up at a previous hearing; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator West moved that SB 1332 do not pass but that CSSB 1332 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  Senator Duncan and Senator Fraser requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.  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 1615, which had been left pending at a previous hearing.  Senator Averitt moved adoption of Committee Amendment 1, sent up at a previous hearing; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Ogden requested unanimous consent to incorporate the amendment into the committee substitute laid out at a previous hearing; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Ogden then moved that the new committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Averitt moved that SB 1615 do not pass but that CSSB 1615 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  Senator Duncan, Senator Fraser, and Senator West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Averitt moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1719, which had been left pending at a previous hearing.  Senator Ogden moved that SB 1719 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 Duncan, Senator Fraser, and Senator West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden resumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1886, and the adopted committee substitute for SB 1886, both of which had been left pending at a previous hearing.  Senator Williams moved that SB 1886 do not pass but that CSSB 1886 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 Duncan, Senator Fraser, and Senator West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 2033, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing.  Senator Williams moved adoption of Committee Amendment 1 sent up earlier in the hearing; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Williams requested unanimous consent to roll the amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  

 

The chair laid out SJR 10, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing.  Senator Janek moved adoption of the committee substitute sent up earlier in the hearing; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1935, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing.  Senator Janek moved adoption of the committee substitute sent up earlier in the hearing; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1576, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing.  Senator Lucio moved adoption of the committee substitute sent up earlier in the hearing; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SJR 39, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing.  Senator Ogden moved adoption of the committee substitute sent up earlier in the hearing; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1099, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing.  Senator Ogden moved adoption of the committee substitute sent up earlier in the hearing; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 931 and recognized the author, Senator Jackson, to explain the bill. Senator Zaffirini sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Jackson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment 1.  Senator Ogden moved that SB 931 be left pending to await public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 390 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill.  Senator Averitt sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Hegar to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Ogden moved that SB 390 be left pending to await public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SJR 17 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill.  Senator Ogden moved that SJR 17 be left pending to await public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 391 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill.  Senator Ogden moved that SB 391 be left pending to await public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Public testimony was taken on the following bills:  SB 2033, SB 2015, SJR 10, SB 1935, SJR 51, SB 1576, SB 931, SB 390, SJR 17, SB 391, SJR 23, SB 575, SJR 14, SB 347, SJR 15, SB 348, SJR 39, and SB 1099.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bills are shown on the attached list.  The chair moved that the public testimony on the bills be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Ogden moved that the following bills be left pending:  SB 2033, SB 2015, SJR 10, SB 1935, SJR 51, SB 1576, SB 931, SB 390, SJR 17, SB 391, SJR 23, SB 575, SJR 14, SB 347, SJR 15, SB 348, SJR 39, SB 1099, and SB 2031; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

There was no action taken for the following bill(s):  SJR 61 and SJR 65.

 

There being no further business, at 1:13 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