MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

11:00 a.m., or upon adjournment

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, March 6, 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 12:35 p.m.  The following business was transacted: 

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 218, which had previously been left pending, and recognized the author, Senator Carona, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

The Chair re-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 to await quorum.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 318 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. 

 

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.

 

At 12:52 p.m., a quorum was established.

 

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

 

Senator Deuell moved that SB 318 do not pass but that CSSB 318 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 nays, 1 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

Senator Deuell requested that CSSB 318 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; with no objection, it was so ordered.

 

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

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 551 and recognized the author, Senator Deuell, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Deuell moved adoption of Committee Amendment 1 to SB 551; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 

 

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 Deuell requested unanimous consent to incorporate the amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Deuell moved that SB 551 do not pass but that CSSB 551 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 nays, 1 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

Senator Deuell requested that CSSB 551 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; with no objection, it was so ordered.

 

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

 

Senator West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on CSSB 318; with no objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 552 and recognized the author, Senator Deuell, 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 Deuell moved that SB 552 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, 1 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

Senator Deuell requested that SB 552 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; with no objection, it was so ordered.

 

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

 

The Chair laid out SB 218 which had been previously left pending.

 

Senator Deuell moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 218; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Deuell moved that SB 218 do not pass but that CSSB 218 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, 1 nay, 1 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

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

 

The Chair laid out CSSB 344, which had previously been left pending.

 

Senator Deuell moved that SB 344 do not pass but that CSSB 344 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 nays, 1 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

Senator Deuell requested that CSSB 344 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; with no objection, it was so ordered.

 

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

 

At 1:04 p.m., Senator Deuell assumed the Chair.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 589 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.

Senator Nelson moved that SB 589 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, 1 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

Senator Nelson requested that SB 589 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; with no objection, it was so ordered.

 

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

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 590 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 590; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 

 

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 requested unanimous consent to incorporate the amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Nelson moved that SB 590 do not pass but that CSSB 590 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 nays, 1 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

Senator Nelson requested that CSSB 590 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; with no objection, it was so ordered.

 

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

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 591 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 591 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, 1 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

Senator Nelson requested that SB 591 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; with no objection, it was so ordered.

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

 

At 1:25 p.m., Senator Nelson resumed the Chair.

 

The Chair announced Senator Zaffirini's request for unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on the following bills: CSSB 218, CSSB 318, CSSB 344, CSSB 551, SB 552, SB 589, CSSB 590, and SB 591; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair announced Senator Patrick's request for unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on all of the bills considered at this hearing; with no objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out SB 322, which had previously been left pending, and recognized the author, Senator Deuell, to explain the bill. 

 

Witnesses previously registering and testifying on the bill are shown on the attached list.  

 

Senator Deuell moved that SB 322 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 1 nay, 2 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

There being no further business, at 1:29 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

 

 

 

_____________________________

Tiffany Arrington, Clerk