MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
9:30 a.m.
Capitol Extension, Room E1.028
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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations was held on Wednesday, May 6, 2009, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.028, at Austin, Texas.
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MEMBERS PRESENT: |
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MEMBERS ABSENT: |
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Senator Royce West Senator Robert Nichols Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr. Senator Dan Patrick Senator Jeff Wentworth |
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None |
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The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m., the following business was transacted:
The Chair laid out SB 2448 and recognized the author, Senator Huffman, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.
The Chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator West moved that SB 2448 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 749 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Duncan, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.
The Chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator West moved that HB 749 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.
Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Nichols moved that HB 749 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, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.
Senator Nichols moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 2498 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill.
At 9:40 a.m., a quorum was established.
Senator Nichols moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearings held on April 29, 2009, and May 1, 2009; without objection, it was so ordered.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.
The Chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Nichols moved that SB 2498 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, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.
Senator Nichols moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 2543 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.
The Chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Nichols moved that SB 2543 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, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.
The Chair laid out SB 2553 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.
The Chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Nichols moved that SB 2553 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, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.
The Chair laid out SB 2555 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.
The Chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Wentworth moved that SB 2555 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, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.
Senator Nichols moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 2487 and recognized the author, Senator Estes, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.
The Chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Nichols moved that SB 2487 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, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.
Senator Nichols moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 2488 and recognized the author, Senator Estes, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.
The Chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Nichols moved that SB 2488 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, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.
Senator Nichols moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 2541 and recognized the author, Senator Estes, to explain the bill.
Senator Gallegos, Jr. sent up a committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Estes to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Gallegos, Jr. moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.
The Chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Gallegos, Jr. moved that SB 2541 do not pass but that CSSB 2541 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, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.
Senator Gallegos, Jr. moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 1998 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Gallegos, Jr., to explain the bill.
Senator Gallegos, Jr. sent up a committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Gallegos, Jr. to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed. Senator Gallegos, Jr. moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Gallegos, Jr. sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Senator Gallegos, Jr. requested unanimous consent to incorporate Committee Amendment 1 into the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Gallegos, Jr. then moved that the new committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.
The Chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Gallegos, Jr. moved that HB 1998 do not pass but that CSHB 1998 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, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.
Senator Gallegos, Jr. moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 2508 and recognized the author, Senator Wentworth, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.
The Chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Wentworth moved that SB 2508 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 2906 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Wentworth, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.
The Chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator West moved that HB 2906 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 2537 and recognized the author, Senator Patrick, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.
The Chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Patrick moved that SB 2537 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, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.
Senator Patrick moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 2552 and recognized the author, Senator Patrick, to explain the bill.
Senator Patrick sent up a committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Patrick to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Patrick moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.
The Chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator West moved that SB 2552 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 2209 and recognized Senator Gallegos, Jr., in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.
Senator Gallegos, Jr. sent up a committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Gallegos, Jr. to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Gallegos, Jr. moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.
The Chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Gallegos, Jr. moved that SB 2209 do not pass but that CSSB 2209 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.
Senator Gallegos, Jr. moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 4139 and recognized Senator Nichols, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.
There were no witnesses registered to testify on this bill.
Senator Nichols moved that HB 4139 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, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.
Senator Nichols moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
As a matter of pending business, the Chair laid out SB 880 and Senator Nichols moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Nichols moved that SB 880 do not pass but that CSSB 880 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.
Senator Nichols moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
As a matter of pending business, the Chair laid out SB 2446 and Senator Nichols moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Nichols moved that SB 2446 do not pass but that CSSB 2446 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 3 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.
As a matter of pending business, the Chair laid out SB 2447 and Senator Gallegos, Jr. moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Nichols moved that SB 2447 do not pass but that CSSB 2447 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 3 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.
At 10:51 a.m., Senator West moved that the committee stand recessed until 15 minutes after adjournment of the Senate; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 2:07 p.m., the committee reconvened.
At 2:10 p.m., Senator Gallegos, Jr. assumed the Chair.
The Chair laid out HB 987 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator West, to explain the bill.
Senator West sent up a committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator West to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.
Senator West sent up Committee Amendment 1; the Chair recognized Senator West to explain the amendment.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.
The Chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator West moved that HB 987 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 621 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator West, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.
The Chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator West moved that HB 621 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 2:15 p.m., Senator West resumed the Chair.
The Chair laid out HB 780 and recognized Senator Gallegos, Jr., in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.
The Chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator West moved that HB 780 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
There being no further business, at 2:20 p.m. Senator West moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the Chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
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Senator Royce West, Chair
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Tiffany White, Clerk