MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JURISPRUDENCE

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

1:30 p.m.

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

 

*****

 

 

 

Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Jurisprudence was held on Wednesday, February 28, 2007, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

*****

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jeff Wentworth Senator Juan Hinojosa Senator John Carona Senator Chris Harris Senator Kirk Watson		Senator Robert Duncan Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.

 

*****

 

The chair called the meeting to order at 1:31 p.m.  The following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out SB 325 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.

 

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 Harris moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Harris moved that SB 325 do not pass but that CSSB 325 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 2 absent. 

 

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

 

At 1:35 p.m. the committee stood at ease to await the arrival of a quorum.

 

At 1:46 p.m. the committee reconvened. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out SB 355 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 355 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 3 absent. 

 

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

 

At 1:50 p.m. Senator Wentworth resumed the chair. 

 

The clerk called roll.  There was a quorum present.

 

Senator Watson moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on February 21, 2007; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 1:51 p.m. Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 378 and recognized the author, Senator Wentworth, to explain the bill.  

 

Senator Harris 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 Watson sent up Committee Amendment 1. 

 

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 Watson moved adoption of Committee Amendment 1; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 

 

Senator Watson moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Watson requested unanimous consent to roll the amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Wentworth moved that SB 378 do not pass but that CSSB 378 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 2 absent. 

 

At 3:20 p.m. Senator Wentworth resumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 237 and recognized the author, Senator Shapiro, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 237 do not pass but that CSSB 237 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 2 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out SB 343 and recognized the author, Senator Carona, 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 Carona moved that SB 343 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 2 absent. 

 

Senator Carona 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 3:25 p.m. Senator Wentworth moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________

Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chair

 

 

_____________________________

Stephanie Hoover, Clerk