MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Thursday, April 12, 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 Thursday, April 12, 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 Robert Duncan Senator Kevin Eltife Senator Glenn Hegar Senator Juan Hinojosa Senator Mike Jackson Senator Carlos Uresti		Senator Kel Seliger

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 4:25 p.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 585. 

 

Senator Eltife moved that SB 585 be reported favorably 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 Brimer moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 1037.

 

Senator Duncan sent up a committee substitute at a previous committee hearing.  Senator Duncan moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Duncan moved that SB 1037 do not pass but that CSSB 1037 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 Duncan moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 1312.  A committee substitute had been adopted at a previous hearing.

 

Senator Brimer moved that SB 1312 do not pass but that CSSB 1312 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 Jackson moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 1383.  Senator Eltife moved to reconsider the vote by which a previous committee substitute had been adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

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

 

Senator Eltife moved that SB 1383 do not pass but that CSSB 1383 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 Eltife moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 1458. 

 

Senator Eltife moved that SB 1458 be reported favorably 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 Eltife moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 1459. 

 

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

 

Senator Eltife moved that SB 1459 do not pass but that CSSB 1459 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 Duncan moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 1461. 

 

Senator Deuell sent up a committee substitute; the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed had been explained at a previous hearing.  Senator Deuell moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Deuell moved that SB 1461 do not pass but that CSSB 1461 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 Deuell moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 1659. 

 

Senator Hinojosa sent up a committee substitute; the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed had been explained at a previous hearing.  Senator Hinojosa moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 1659 do not pass but that CSSB 1659 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 Hinojosa moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 1790. 

 

Senator Jackson moved that SB 1790 be reported favorably 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. 

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 596.

 

Senator Uresti moved that SB 596 be reported favorably 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 Uresti moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 1351.  A committee substitute had been adopted at a previous hearing. 

 

Senator Hegar moved that SB 1351 do not pass but that CSSB 1351 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 Hegar moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 1509. 

 

Senator Eltife moved that SB 1509 be reported favorably 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 Eltife moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 707 and recognized Senator Hinojosa, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 707 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 642.  A committee substitute had been adopted at a previous hearing. 

 

Senator Jackson moved that SB 642 do not pass but that CSSB 642 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 

 

The chair laid out SB 574 and recognized the author, Senator Brimer, to explain the bill.  Senator Brimer moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was reported favorably from committee, without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Brimer moved that SB 574 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 1762 and recognized the author, Senator Shapleigh, 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 adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 1762 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Jackson assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1692 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 Jackson moved that SB 1692 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1833 and recognized the author, Senator Duncan, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

Senator Jackson moved that SB 1833 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1524 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 Jackson moved that SB 1524 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 1311 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Janek, 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 Jackson moved that HB 1311 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 1312 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Janek, 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 Jackson moved that HB 1312 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Averitt resumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1396 and recognized the author, Senator Williams, 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 1396 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 359 and recognized the author, Senator Williams, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Averitt 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. 

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 359 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1932 and recognized Senator Hegar, in the absence of the author, 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 1932 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Hegar assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1668 and recognized the author, Senator Averitt, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 1668 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1669 and recognized the author, Senator Averitt, 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 1669 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

There was no action taken for the following bill(s): SB 1128 by Hegar

 

There being no further business, Senator Hegar 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