MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

8:30 a.m.

Senate Chamber

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services was held on Tuesday, February 20, 2007, in the Senate Chamber at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:                                                      MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Jane Nelson                                                               

Senator Bob Deuell

Senator Kyle Janek

Senator Robert Nichols

Senator Dan Patrick

Senator Eliot Shapleigh

Senator Carlos Uresti

Senator Royce West

Senator Judith Zaffirini

 

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The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:31 a.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 218 and recognized the author, Senator Carona, to explain the bill. 

 

The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  

 

With no further witnesses wishing to testify, the Chair closed public testimony.

 

Senate Bill 218 was left pending.

 

At 9:07 a.m. Senator Shapleigh assumed the Chair.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 21 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Nelson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nelson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed.  Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute. 

The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  

 

At 9:22 a.m. Senator Deuell assumed the Chair.

 

With no further witnesses wishing to testify, the Chair closed public testimony.

 

Senate Bill 21 was left pending.

 

At 10:10 a.m. Senator Nelson resumed the Chair.

 

At 10:11 a.m., the Chair moved that the Committee stand in recess until 1:00 p.m.; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair called the Committee back to order.

 

At 1:00 p.m. Senator Deuell assumed the Chair.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 27 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  

 

With no further witnesses wishing to testify, the Chair closed public testimony.

 

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

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 27 do not pass but that CSSB 27 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.  

 

Senators West and Zaffirini asked to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 28 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  

 

With no further witnesses wishing to testify, the Chair closed public testimony.

Senator Nelson moved that SB 28 do not pass but that CSSB 28 be adopted and 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 3 absent. 

 

Senator West asked to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 2:10 p.m. Senator Shapleigh assumed the Chair.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 29 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.  

 

Senator Nelson sent up a committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Nelson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. 

 

The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  

 

With no further witnesses wishing to testify, the Chair closed public testimony.

 

The Chair announced that SB 29 would be left pending to await the arrival of a quorum.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 37 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.  

 

Senator Nelson sent up a committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Nelson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. 

 

The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  

 

With no further witnesses wishing to testify, the Chair closed public testimony.

 

The Chair announced that SB 37 would be left pending to await the arrival of a quorum.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 205 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.  

 

The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  

 

With no further witnesses wishing to testify, the Chair closed public testimony.

 

Senate Bill 205 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Concurrent Resolution 1 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.  

 

The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witness registering a position on the bill are shown on the attached list.  With no witnesses wishing to testify, the Chair closed public testimony.

The Chair announced that SCR 1 would be left pending to await the arrival of a quorum.

 

At 2:41 p.m. a quorum was established; Senator Deuell assumed the Chair.

 

The Chair laid out SB 37 which had previously been left pending.

 

Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 37; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Nelson requested that SB 37 do not pass but that CSSB 37 be left pending.

 

The Chair laid out SB 29 which had previously been left pending.

 

Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 29; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Nelson requested that SB 29 do not pass but that CSSB 29 be left pending.

 

The Chair laid out SCR 1 which had previously been left pending.

 

Senator Nelson moved that SCR 1 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 

 

Senators West and Zaffirini asked to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 2:43 p.m. Senator Nelson resumed the Chair.

 

The Chair announced Senator Zaffirini's request for unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on Senate Bill 27 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 1.

 

The Chair announced Senator West's request for unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on Senate Bills 27 and 28, and Senate Concurrent Resolution 1.

 

There being no further business, at 2:44 p.m. the Chair announced that the Committee would stand recessed subject to the call of the Chair. 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________

Senator Jane Nelson, Chair

 

 

 

_____________________________

Tiffany Arrington, Clerk