MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION
Monday, March 12, 2007
11:00 a.m.
Betty King Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20
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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Government Organization was held on Monday, March 12, 2007, in the Betty King Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20, at Austin, Texas.
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MEMBERS PRESENT: |
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MEMBERS ABSENT: |
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Senator Rodney Ellis Senator Glenn Hegar Senator Kim Brimer Senator Mike Jackson Senator Jane Nelson Senator John Whitmire |
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Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr. |
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Senator Hegar, acting chair, called the meeting to order at 11:03 a.m. The following business was transacted:
Senator Hegar laid out SB 640 and recognized the author, Senator West, to explain the bill.
Senator Hegar moved that that roll be called at 11:06 a.m. A quorum was present.
Senator Whitmire sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator West to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Whitmire 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.
At 11:11a.m. Senator Ellis assumed the chair.
Senator Nelson moved that SB 640 do not pass but that CSSB 640 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.
The chair laid out SB 470 and recognized the author, Senator Brimer, to explain the bill.
Senator Brimer sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Brimer to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Brimer moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Brimer moved that SB 470 do not pass but that CSSB 470 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Brimer moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 11:16 a.m. Senator Hegar assumed the chair.
Senator Hegar laid out SB 717 and recognized the author, Senator Ellis, to explain the bill.
Senator Hegar moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Ellis moved that SB 717 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Whitmire moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Hegar laid out SB 608 and recognized the author, Senator Ellis, to explain the bill.
Senator Ellis sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Ellis to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Ellis 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 Ellis moved that SB 608 do not pass but that CSSB 608 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Ellis moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 11:31 a.m. Senator Ellis resumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 393 and recognized the author, Senator Patrick, to explain the bill.
The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Ellis moved that SB 393 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 11:34 a.m. Senator Hegar assumed the chair.
Senator Hegar laid out SB 247 and recognized the author, Senator Ellis, to explain the bill.
Senator Ellis sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Ellis 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. Senator Hegar moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 12:50 p.m. Senator Ellis resumed the chair.
There being no further business, at 12:51 p.m. Senator Ellis moved that the Committee stand at ease subject to call of the chair; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair suspended Senate Rules 11.10, 11.13, and 11.18 on the Senate Floor to continue the public hearing of the Senate Committee on Government Organization that was held on Monday, March 12, 2007. The continuation of the hearing was held in the Senate Chamber at Austin, Texas.
At 3:20 p.m. the committee reconvened.
At 3:20 p.m. Senator Hegar assumed the chair.
Senator Hegar called up SB 247. Senator Ellis moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Ellis sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Ellis sent up Committee Amendment 2 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Ellis requested unanimous consent to incorporate the amendments into the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Ellis then moved that the new committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Ellis moved that SB 247 do not pass but that CSSB 247 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.
At 3:22 p.m. Senator Ellis resumed the chair.
The chair called up CSSB 640. Senator Hegar moved that CSSB 640 be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
There being no further business, at 3:23 p.m. Senator Ellis moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
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Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair
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Marisol Rodriguez, Clerk