MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS & MILITARY INSTALLATIONS
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
3:00 p.m. or upon adjournment
Betty King Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20
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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs & Military Installations was held on Wednesday, April 11, 2007, in the Betty King Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20, at Austin, Texas.
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MEMBERS PRESENT: |
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MEMBERS ABSENT: |
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Senator Leticia Van de Putte Senator Eliot Shapleigh Senator Craig Estes Senator Chris Harris Senator Steve Ogden |
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None |
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The Chair called the meeting to order at 3:22 p.m. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
Senator Harris moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearings held on April 4, 2007; there being no objection it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out Senate Bill 685 and asked the author, Senator Harris, to explain the bill. The Chair asked if there were any questions from the members on the bill.
The Chair opened public testimony on SB 685.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached witness list.
The Chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection it was so ordered.
Senator Harris moved that SB 685 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 1 absent, and 0 nays. Senator Harris moved that SB 685 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection it was so ordered.
Senator Shapleigh assumed the Chair at 3:45 p.m.
The Chair laid out Senate Bill 516 and asked the author, Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill. The Chair asked if there were any questions on the bill from the members.
The Chair opened public testimony on SB 516.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached witness list.
The Chair moved that public testimony be closed on SB 516, without objection it was so ordered.
Senator Harris moved that SB 516 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 1 absent, and 0 nays. Senator Harris moved that SB 516 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out Senate Bill 309 and recognized the author, Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill. Senator Van de Putte sent up committee substitute on SB 309. The Chair recognized Senator Van de Putte to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Van de Putte moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection it was so ordered.
The Chair opened public testimony on CSSB 309.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached witness list.
The Chair moved that public testimony on CSSB 309 be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Estes moved that SB 309 do not pass but that CSSB 309 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes and 0 nays. Senator Estes moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out Senate Bill 874 and recognized the author, Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill.
The Chair opened public testimony on SB 874.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached witness list.
The Chair moved that public testimony on SB 874 be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Estes moved that SB 874 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 1 absent, and 0 nays.
Senator Van de Putte resumed the Chair at 4:18 p.m.
The Chair laid out the subcommittee report on Senate Bill 960 and recognized the author, Senator Shapleigh, to explain the bill. Senator Shapleigh moved the adoption of the subcommittee report on SB 960; without objection it was so ordered.
Senator Estes moved that SB 960 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 1 absent, and 0 nays. Senator Shapleigh moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out the subcommittee report on Senate Bill 961 and recognized the author, Senator Shapleigh, to explain the bill. Senator Shapleigh sent up committee substitute for SB 961; the Chair recognized Senator Shapleigh to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Shapleigh moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 961; without objection it was so ordered.
The Chair opened public testimony on CSSB 961.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached witness list.
The Chair moved that public testimony on CSSB 961 be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair moved that CSSB 961 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out the subcommittee report on Senate Bill 962 and recognized the author, Senator Shapleigh, to explain the bill. Senator Shapleigh sent up a committee substitute for SB 962; the Chair recognized Senator Shapleigh to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Shapleigh moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 962; without objection it was so ordered.
Senator Shapleigh moved that SB 962 do not pass but that CSSB 962 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, and 0 nays.
Senator Shapleigh assumed the Chair at 4:30 p.m.
The Chair laid out the subcommittee report on Senate Bill 1237 and recognized Senator Van de Putte, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. Senator Van de Putte moved the adoption of the subcommittee report; without objection it was so ordered. Senator Van de Putte moved that SB 1237 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, and 0 nays. Senator Estes moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection it was so ordered.
Senator Van de Putte resumed the Chair at 4:37 p.m.
As a matter of pending business, the Chair laid out the Committee Substitute for SB 961 as a matter of pending business.
Senator Shapleigh moved that SB 961 do not pass but that CSSB 961 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, and 0 nays.
Senator Shapleigh assumed the Chair at 4:40 p.m.
The Chair laid out the subcommittee report on Senate Bill 1724 and recognized Senator Van de Putte to explain the bill in the absence of the author. Senator Estes moved adoption of the subcommittee report; without objection it was so ordered. Senator Van de Putte moved that SB 1724 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried a record vote of 5 ayes, and 0 nays. Senator Harris moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection it was so ordered.
Senator Van de Putte resumed the Chair at 4:45 p.m.
The Chair laid out subcommittee report on Senate Bill 1746 and recognized Senator Shapleigh to explain the bill in the absence of the author. Senator Shapleigh moved that the subcommittee report not be adopted; without objection it was so ordered.
Senator Shapleigh sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Shapleigh to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Shapleigh moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Shapleigh moved that SB 1746 do not pass but that CSSB 1746 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried a record vote of 5 ayes, and 0 nays. Senator Harris moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection it was so ordered.
Senator Shapleigh assumed the Chair at 5:00 p.m.
The Chair laid out the subcommittee report on Senate Bill 1956 and recognized the author, Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill. Senator Van de Putte moved adoption of the subcommittee report on SB 1956; without objection it was so ordered. Senator Van de Putte moved that SB 1956 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried a record vote of 5 ayes, and 0 nays. Senator Estes moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection it was so ordered.
As a matter of pending business, the Chair laid out the Committee Substitute for SB 1058 as a matter of pending business.
The Chair opened public testimony on CSSB 1058.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached witness list.
The Chair moved that public testimony be closed on CSSB 1058; without objection it was so ordered.
Senator Van de Putte moved that SB 1058 do not pass but that CSSB 1058 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried a record vote of 4 ayes, 1 absent, and 0 nays.
As a matter of pending business, the Chair laid out Senate Bill 518 and recognized Senator Van de Putte to explain the bill in the absence of the author. Senator Van de Putte sent up committee substitute to SB 518; the Chair recognized Senator Van de Putte to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.
Senator Van de Putte sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection the amendment was adopted. Senator Van de Putte requested unanimous consent to roll the amendments into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Van de Putte then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair opened public testimony on CSSB 518.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached witness list.
The Chair moved that public testimony be closed; without objection it was so ordered.
Senator Van de Putte moved that SB 518 do not pass but that CSSB 518 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried a record vote of 4 ayes, 1 absent, and 0 nays.
Senator Van de Putte resumed the Chair at 5:15 p.m.
The Chair laid out Senate Bill 855 and recognized the author, Senator Shapleigh, to explain the bill. Senator Shapleigh sent up committee substitute to SB 855; the Chair recognized Senator Shapleigh to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Shapleigh moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection it was so ordered.
The Chair opened public testimony on CSSB 855.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached witness list.
The Chair moved that public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Shapleigh moved that SB 855 do not pass but that CSSB 855 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried a record vote of 4 ayes, 1 absent, and 0 nays.
There being no further business, at 5:32 p.m. Senator Estes moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to call of the Chair; without objection it was so ordered.
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Senator Leticia Van de Putte, Chair
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Crystal Slover-Papic, Clerk