MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION

Monday, April 2, 2007

1:30 p.m. or upon adjournment

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, April 2, 2007, in the Betty King Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Rodney Ellis

Senator Glenn Hegar

Senator Kim Brimer

Senator Mike Jackson

Senator Jane Nelson

Senator John Whitmire

 

Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 2:30 p.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out SB 909 and recognized the author, Senator Whitmire, to explain the bill. 

Senator Whitmire sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 

 

At 2:32 p.m. Senator Hegar assumed the chair.

 

Senator Ellis sent up Committee Amendment 2 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.  Senator Ellis sent up Committee Amendment 3 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 

 

At 2:34 p.m. Senator Ellis resumed the chair. 

 

Senator Whitmire moved to reconsider the vote by which Committee Amendment 2 was adopted; without objection, it was ordered.

 

At 2:48 p.m. Senator Hegar assumed the chair. 

 

Senator Ellis moved to withdraw Committee Amendment 2; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 2:48 p.m. Senator Ellis resumed the chair.

 

Senator Whitmire moved to reconsider the vote by which Committee Amendment 3 was adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 2:48 p.m. Senator Hegar assumed the chair.

 

Senator Ellis moved to withdraw Committee Amendment 3; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 2:49 p.m. Senator Ellis resumed the chair. 

 

Witnesses testifying and/or 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 Whitmire sent up Committee Amendment 4 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.  Senator Whitmire sent up Committee Amendment 5 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.  Senator Whitmire requested unanimous consent to roll the amendments into a new committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Whitmire then moved that the new committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Whitmire moved that SB 909 do not pass but that CSSB 909 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 Whitmire moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 674 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill. 

Witnesses testifying and/or 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 HB 674 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 Nelson moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 675 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill. 

Witnesses testifying and/or 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 HB 675 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 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 1533 and recognized the author, Senator Fraser, to explain the bill. 

Senator Nelson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Fraser 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/or 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 1533 do not pass but that CSSB 1533 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 Hegar moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1933 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill. 

Senator Hegar sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Watson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Hegar moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Witnesses testifying and/or 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 1933 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 588 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill. 

Witnesses testifying and/or 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 588 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 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 1310 and recognized the author, Senator Wentworth, to explain the bill. 

Senator Nelson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Wentworth to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Witnesses testifying and/or 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 chair moved that SB 1310 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

Senator Hegar assumed the chair at 3:51 p.m.

 

Senator Hegar laid out SB 1036 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 Hegar moved that SB 1036 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.  The chair moved that SB 1036 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Ellis resumed the chair at 3:53 p.m.

 

The chair laid out SB 1805 and recognized Senator Hegar, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.  Witnesses testifying and/or 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 1805 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.  The chair moved that SB 1805 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair called up SB 445.

 

Senator Hegar sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Hegar, in the absence of the author, to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  The chair moved that SB 445 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.   

 

 

At 3:55 p.m. Senator Ellis moved that the committee stand at ease subject to call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________

Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair

 

 

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Marisol Rodriguez, Clerk