MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Thursday, April 12, 2007

10:00 a.m. or upon adjournment

Hearing Room E1.016

 

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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 Thursday, April 12, 2007, in hearing room E1.016 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 4:43 p.m.  The following business was transacted:

 

The Chair laid out House Bill 1676 by Representative Delisi and recognized its sponsor, Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Patrick sent up a committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Van de Putte to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as engrossed. 

 

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.

 

House Bill 1676 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 1766 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Deuell sent up a committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Watson 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 5:14 p.m., a quorum was established.

 

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

 

Senator Nichols moved that SB 1766 do not pass but that CSSB 1766 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 nays, 0 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

Senator Nelson requested that CSSB 1766 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senators Deuell, Janek, Shapleigh and West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out HB 1676, which had been previously left pending.

 

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

 

Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 1676 do not pass but that CSHB 1676 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 nays, 0 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

Senator Nelson requested that CSHB 1676 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senators Deuell, Janek, Shapleigh and West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 1500 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.

 

Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 1500 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 nays, 0 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

Senator Nelson requested that SB 1500 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senators Deuell, Janek, Shapleigh and West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 1682 and recognized the author, Senator Averitt, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Zaffirini sent up a committee substitute.  Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  The Chair recognized Senator Averitt 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 Nichols moved that SB 1682 do not pass but that CSSB 1682 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 nays, 0 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

Senator Nichols requested that CSSB 1682 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senators Deuell, Janek, Shapleigh and West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 1865 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

CSSB 1865 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 1870 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Zaffirini sent up a committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Zaffirini 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.

 

SB 1870 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 1318 and recognized the author, Senator Janek, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Janek moved that SB 1318 do not pass but that CSSB 1318 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 Janek requested that CSSB 1318 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senators Uresti and West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1870, which had been previously left pending.

 

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

 

Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 1870 do not pass but that CSSB 1870 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. 

 

Senators Shapleigh, Uresti and West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1865, which had been previously left pending.

 

Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 1865 do not pass but that CSSB 1865 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 1865 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senators Shapleigh, Uresti and West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 308 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.  

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Senator Deuell requested unanimous consent to incorporate the amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Deuell moved that SB 308 do not pass but that CSSB 308 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 nays, 1 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

Senators Janek and West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 439 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; 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 8:04 p.m., Senator Nichols assumed the Chair.

 

At 8:34 p.m., Senator Nelson resumed the Chair.

 

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

 

Senator Deuell gave closing remarks.

 

CSSB 439 was left pending.

 

The Chair announced Senator Janek's request for unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 1500, CSSB 1766, CSHB 1676, CSSB 1682 and CSSB 308; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair announced Senator Shapleigh's request for unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 1500, CSSB 1766, CSSB 1865, CSHB 1676, CSSB 1870 and CSSB 1682; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair announced Senator Deuell's request for unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on CSSB 1766, CSHB 1676, SB 1500 and CSSB 1682; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair announced Senator West's request for unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on CSHB 1676, CSSB 1766, SB 1500, CSSB 1682, CSSB 1865, CSSB 1870, CSSB 1318 and CSSB 308; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair announced Senator Uresti's request for unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on CSSB 1870, CSSB 1865 and CSSB 1318; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

There being no further business, at 9:51 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