MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

1:00 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 Natural Resources was held on Tuesday, March 13, 2007, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Kip Averitt Senator Craig Estes Senator Kim Brimer Senator Bob Deuell Senator Kevin Eltife Senator Glenn Hegar Senator Juan Hinojosa Senator Mike Jackson Senator Kel Seliger Senator Carlos Uresti		Senator Robert Duncan

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 1:04 p.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out SB 573 and recognized the author, Senator Brimer, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Uresti sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.  Senator Brimer requested unanimous consent to roll Committee Amendment 1 into the original bill to create a new 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 Averitt moved that SB 573 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 455 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill. 

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 455 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Estes assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 12.

 

Senator Averitt, having sent up a committee substitute at a previous hearing, 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 Averitt moved that SB 12 do not pass but that CSSB 12 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

Senator Averitt resumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 775 and recognized the author, Senator Jackson, to explain the bill. 

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 775 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 535 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 Averitt moved that SB 535 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 564 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill. 

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 564 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 748 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill. 

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 748 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Estes assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out HB 542 and recognized Senator Averitt, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. 

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Averitt moved that HB 542 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nay,  present not voting, and 3 absent. 

 

The chair laid out SB 675 and recognized the author, Senator Averitt, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Averitt sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Averitt to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. 

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 675 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 3 and recognized the author, Senator Averitt, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Averitt sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Averitt 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. 

 

Senators Hegar and Eltife laid out committee amendments for the members' review, no vote or motion was made regarding the amendments.

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 3 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Averitt resumed the chair. 

 

There being no further business, Senator Averitt moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Kip Averitt, Chair

 

 

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Teddy Carter, Clerk