MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

9:00 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 27, 2007, in the Senate Chamber at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:                                                      MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Jane Nelson                                                                Senator Kyle Janek

Senator Bob Deuell

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 8:59 a.m.  The following business was transacted: 

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 156 and recognized the author, Senator Shapiro, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Deuell sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Shapiro 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.  

 

At 9:13 a.m., a quorum was established.

 

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

 

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

 

Senate Bill 156 was left pending.

 

At 9:31 a.m. Senator Deuell assumed the Chair.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 31 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. 

 

Senate Bill 31 was left pending.

 

At 9:43 a.m., a quorum was established.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 261 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, 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 261 was temporarily left pending.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 131 and recognized the author, Senator West, to explain the bill.  

 

Senator Shapleigh sent up a committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator West 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 West moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator West moved that SB 131 do not pass but that CSSB 131 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 1 absent. 

 

Senator West requested that CSSB 131 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; with no objection, it was so ordered.

Senators Uresti requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; with no objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 10:20 a.m., Senator Nelson resumed the Chair.

 

The Chair laid out SB 261 which had been previously left pending.

 

Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 261 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 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

Senator Nelson requested that SB 261 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; with no objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senators Uresti requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; with no objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 164 and recognized the author, Senator Deuell, to explain the bill.  

 

Senator Deuell sent up a committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Deuell to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed.  Senator Deuell moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 164; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

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

 

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

 

Senator Deuell moved that SB 164 do not pass but that CSSB 164 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 3 absent. 

 

Senator Deuell requested that CSSB 164 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; with no objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Uresti requested to be shown voting aye on CSSB 131 and SB 261; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 344 and recognized Senator Deuell on behalf of the author, Senator Carona, to explain the bill.  

 

Senator Deuell sent up a committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Deuell to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed.  Senator Deuell moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 344; without objection, it was so ordered. 

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

 

At 10:33 a.m., the Chair moved that the Committee stand in recess until thirty minutes following adjournment of the Senate; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 1:21 p.m., the Committee reconvened and resumed public testimony on Senate Bill 344.

 

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

 

Senate Bill 344 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 322 and recognized the author, Senator Deuell, 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. 

 

At 1:36 p.m., a quorum was established.

 

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

 

Senate Bill 322 was left pending.

 

At 2:05 p.m., Senator Deuell assumed the Chair.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 364 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

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

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 364 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. 

 

Senator Nelson requested that SB 364 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; with no objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senators West and Zaffirini requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; with no objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 205, which had been previously left pending, and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Nelson sent up Committee Amendment 1 and explained the amendment.

 

Senator Nelson moved adoption of Committee Amendment 1 to SB 205; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 

 

Senator Nelson requested unanimous consent to incorporate the amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Nelson then moved that the new committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Nelson moved that SB 205 do not pass but that CSSB 205 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 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.  

 

Senator Nelson requested that CSSB 205 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; with no objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senators West and Zaffirini requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; with no objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 2:13 p.m., Senator Nelson resumed the Chair.

 

The Chair announced Senator West's request for unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 364 and CSSB 205.

 

The Chair announced Senator Zaffirini's request for unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 364 and CSSB 205.

 

There being no further business, at 2:14 p.m. the Chair announced that the Committee would stand recessed subject to the call of the Chair. 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Jane Nelson, Chair

 

 

 

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Tiffany Arrington, Clerk