MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

8:00 a.m.

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, April 24, 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 Robert Duncan

Senator Kevin Eltife

Senator Glenn Hegar

Senator Mike Jackson

Senator Kel Seliger

Senator Carlos Uresti

 

Senator Bob Deuell

Senator Juan Hinojosa

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 8:03 a.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out HB 407 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Watson, 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 HB 407 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 1138 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 HB 1138 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 1324 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 1324 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1173 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 1173 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 386 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 HB 386 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 496 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 HB 496 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Estes assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out HB 1254 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Averitt, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Estes moved that HB 1254 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 3 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Averitt, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

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 HB 3 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 1382 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 1382 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Averitt resumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 1341 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 1341 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 747.  A committee substitute had been adopted at a previous hearing.

 

Senator Seliger moved that SB 747 do not pass but that CSSB 747 be reported back 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, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent. 

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 1524. 

 

Senator Jackson sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.  Senator Jackson moved that SB 1524, as amended, 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 pending business SB 1531. 

 

Senator Uresti moved that SB 1531 be reported favorably 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. 

 

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 1833. 

 

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

 

Senator Duncan moved that SB 1833 do not pass but that CSSB 1833 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. 

 

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 1950.  A committee substitute had been adopted at a previous hearing.

 

Senator Duncan moved that SB 1950 do not pass but that CSSB 1950 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. 

 

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 1971. 

 

Senator Brimer moved that SB 1971 be reported favorably 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 pending business SB 2000. 

 

Senator Eltife moved that SB 2000 be reported favorably 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 pending business SB 1245. 

 

Senator Hegar moved that SB 1245 be reported favorably 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. 

 

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