MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION

Monday, March 16, 2009

1:30 p.m. or upon adjournment

Betty King Committee Room

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Government Organization was held on Monday, March 16, 2009, in the Betty King Committee Room at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Rodney Ellis Senator Glenn Hegar Senator Joan Huffman Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. Senator Jane Nelson Senator John Whitmire		Senator Steve Ogden

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 1:28 p.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out SB 1001 and recognized the author, Senator Deuell, to explain the bill. 

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. 

 

OPIC counsel agreed to provide the committee with information on other states that have ombudsman-type offices for insurance.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that SB 1001 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

Senator Lucio, 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 1004 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 Hegar moved that SB 1004 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

Senator Hegar moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 833 and recognized the author, Senator Carona, to explain the bill. 

 

There were no witnesses registering or testifying on SB 833. The chair moved that public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Hegar moved that SB 833 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

Senator Hegar moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1003 and recognized Senator Hegar, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. 

 

Senator Ellis asked the Sunset Advisory Commission to provide information on:  1) how the Office of State-Federal Relations is set up in Alaska; and 2) how Texas ranks in terms of how much the state puts in this office as compared to other states.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Hegar moved that SB 1003 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, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

The chair laid out SB 745 and recognized Senator Hegar, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Hegar moved that SB 745 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

Senator Hegar moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

There being no further business, at 2:05 p.m. Senator Ellis moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair

 

 

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Mattie Murray, Clerk