MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Thursday, May 21, 2009

4:00 p.m. or upon adjournment

Capitol Extension, Room E1.036

 

*****

 

 

 

Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance was held on Thursday, May 21, 2009, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

 

*****

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Steve Ogden

Senator Juan Hinojosa

Senator Kip Averitt

Senator Bob Deuell

Senator Kevin Eltife

Senator Jane Nelson

Senator Kel Seliger

Senator Florence Shapiro

Senator Royce West

Senator Tommy Williams

Senator Judith Zaffirini

 

Senator Robert Duncan

Senator Chris Harris

Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.

Senator John Whitmire

 

*****

 

Senator Hinojosa called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m.  The following business was transacted: 

 

Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair. 

 

The posting rule, Senate Rule 11.18, was suspended to hear the following bill(s):  HB 507, HB 2555, HB 2814, HB 2941, HB 3206, HB 4265, HB 4270 and HB 4433. 

 

The chair laid out HB 507 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Deuell, to explain the bill. 

There being no public testimony, the chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 507 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

The chair laid out HB 2814 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Williams, 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 Zaffirini moved that HB 2814 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 2941 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Williams, 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 Zaffirini moved that HB 2941 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 3206 and recognized Senator Eltife, 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 Zaffirini moved that HB 3206 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.  

 

Senator Ogden assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out HB 4265 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Averitt, 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 Ogden moved that HB 4265 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 4270 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Averitt, to explain the bill.  There being no public testimony, the chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Ogden moved that HB 4270 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

A quorum was established.

 

The chair laid out HB 4433 and recognized Senator Eltife, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.  Senator Eltife sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Eltife to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.  Senator Eltife 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 Ogden moved that HB 4433 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HJR 37 and recognized Senator Hinojosa, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.  Senator Hinojosa sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Hinojosa to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.  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 Ogden moved that HJR 37 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Hinojosa resumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out HB 2555 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Ogden, 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 Hinojosa moved that HB 2555 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.  

 

Senator Ogden assumed the chair. 

 

Senator Ogden moved to re-open public testimony on HB 3206 and HB 4433.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bills are shown on the attached list.  The chair moved that the public testimony on both bills be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 507, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing.  Senator Eltife moved that HB 507 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 5 absent.  Senator Deuell moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Hinojosa resumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out HB 2555, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing.  Senator Ogden moved that HB 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 10 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 5 absent. 

 

Senator Ogden assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out HB 2814, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing.  Senator Williams moved that HB 2814 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 5 absent.  Senator Williams moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 2941, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing.  Senator Williams moved that HB 2941 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 5 absent.  Senator Williams moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Hinojosa resumed the chair. 

 

 

 

The chair laid out HB 4586 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Ogden, to explain the bill.  Senator Ogden sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Ogden to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.  Senator Ogden 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 Hinojosa moved that HB 4586 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

There being no further business, at 5:36 p.m. Senator Hinojosa moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________

Senator Steve Ogden, Chair

 

 

_____________________________

Amy Jeter, Clerk