MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JURISPRUDENCE

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

1:30 p.m. or upon adjournment

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 Jurisprudence was held on Wednesday, March 7, 2007, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

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

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m.  The following business was transacted:

 

The chair laid out SB 43 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, 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. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 43 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. 

 

The chair laid out SB 291 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Watson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nelson 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 Hinojosa moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.   

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 291 do not pass but that CSSB 291 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 Hinojosa moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 47 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Watson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nelson 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. 

 

The clerk called roll.  There was a quorum present.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on February 28, 2007; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

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

 

Senator Watson moved that SB 47 do not pass but that CSSB 47 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 496 and recognized the author, Senator Duncan, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Wentworth sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Duncan to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Duncan 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 Duncan moved that SB 496 do not pass but that CSSB 496 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 Hinojosa moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 497 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 Duncan moved that SB 497 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 Duncan moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 488 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Wentworth moved that SB 488 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 549 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, 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 549 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SJR 22 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Wentworth moved that SJR 22 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 303 and recognized the author, Senator Harris, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Harris sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Harris to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Harris 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 Harris moved that SB 303 do not pass but that CSSB 303 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 304 and recognized the author, Senator Harris, 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. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Harris moved that SB 304 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 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 433 and recognized the author, Senator Harris, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Harris sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Harris 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 433 do not pass but that CSSB 433 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 3:27 p.m. Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 406 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. 

 

At 3:40 p.m. Senator Wentworth resumed the chair. 

 

At 3:41 p.m. Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair. 

 

Senator Wentworth moved that SB 406 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 Wentworth moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 3:42 p.m. Senator Wentworth resumed the chair. 

 

Senator Duncan was shown voting aye on the following bills:  SB 303, SB 406 and SB 433.

 

There being no further business, at 3:44 p.m. Senator Wentworth moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chair

 

 

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Stephanie Hoover, Clerk