MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JURISPRUDENCE

Thursday, May 13, 2010

9:30 a.m.

Fort Worth City Council Chamber

Fort Worth, Texas

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Jurisprudence was held on Thursday, May 13, 2010, in the Fort Worth City Council Chamber, Fort Worth, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jeff Wentworth Senator Chris Harris Senator Kirk Watson		Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr. Senator John Carona Senator Robert Duncan Senator Juan Hinojosa

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:36 a.m.  The following business was transacted: 

 

The Chair made opening remarks.

 

The Chair laid out Interim Charge One:  Study the effectiveness of current regulation and practices of debt management providers in Texas, including credit service organizations, and assess the extent to which individuals' estates are protected in transactions with debt management providers.  Make recommendations to enhance protections.

 

The following witnesses testified:

 

Leslie Pettijohn, Commissioner, Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner

 

Jay Dyer, Special Assistant and Senior Counsel, The Office of the Attorney General

 

Michael Kerr, Legislative Director, National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws

 

At 10:25 a.m. Senator Harris assumed the chair. 

 

At 10:29 a.m. Senator Wentworth resumed the chair. 

Scott Johnson, CEO, US Debt Resolve

 

Jeff Comstock, Vice President of Operations, Better Business Bureau

 

George Merkle, President and CEO, Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Greater San Antonio

 

At 11:13 a.m. Senator Harris assumed the chair. 

 

At 11:17 a.m. Senator Wentworth resumed the chair. 

 

Doug Parker, CEO, RMCN Credit Services

 

Wesley Young, Legislative Director, The Association of Settlement Companies

 

Doug Miskew, Director, Government Affairs, CareOne Services, Inc.

 

Paul Williams, Vice Chairman and CFO, Halo Companies, Inc.

 

Bill Adams, Mayor Pro Tem of Sachse, Texas

 

Bill Langley, Regional Director of Education, Money Management International

 

Jeffrey Meek, Senior Vice President, US Debt Resolve

 

John Ansbach, Legislative Director, US Organization of Bankruptcy Alternatives

 

There being no further business, at 12:40 p.m. Senator Wentworth announced that the Committee would stand in recess subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chair

 

 

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Stephanie Hoover, Clerk