MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION

Monday, April 6, 2009

9:00 a.m.

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, April 6, 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 9:06 a.m.  The following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out  SB 1007 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill.  The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Whitmire was recognized to discuss amendment 6 (mandatory rule authorizing discount for certain certified homes) to CSSB 1007, relating to the continuation and operation of the Texas Department of Insurance and the operation of certain insurance programs; imposing administrative penalties, that Senator West intends to offer as a floor amendment to CSSB 1007. Amendment 6 was withdrawn.

 

Senator Whitmire was recognized to discuss amendment 7 (mandatory discount for vehicles equipped with tracking systems) to CSSB 1007, relating to the continuation and operation of the Texas Department of Insurance and the operation of certain insurance programs; imposing administrative penalties, that Senator West intends to offer as a floor amendment to CSSB 1007.  Amendment 7 was withdrawn.

 

Senator Whitmire was recognized to discuss amendment 8 (assignment of rate standards) to CSSB 1007, relating to the continuation and operation of the Texas Department of Insurance and the operation of certain insurance programs; imposing administrative penalties, that Senator West intends to offer as a floor amendment to CSSB 1007.  Amendment 8 was withdrawn.

 

Senator Hegar sent up Committee Amendment 28 and moved adoption; the motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.  Senator Hegar requested unanimous consent to roll the amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, the amendment was rolled into a new committee substitute.  Senator Hegar then moved that the new committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Hegar moved that SB 1007 do not pass but that CSSB 1007 be reported back 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. 

 

The chair laid out SCR 40 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, 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 Nelson moved that SCR 40 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 Nelson moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1467 and recognized the author, Senator Davis, 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.  This bill was left pending.

 

At 10:04 a.m. Senator Hegar assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1002 and recognized the author, Senator Deuell, to explain the bill.  Senator Hegar sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Deuell to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Hegar 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.  This bill was left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1009 and recognized the author, Senator Deuell, 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.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Hegar moved that SB 1009 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. 

 

At 10:12 a.m. Senator Ellis resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 1018 and recognized the author, Senator Deuell, 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.  This bill was left pending.

 

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

 

The chair laid out SCR 11 and recognized the author, Senator Estes, to explain the bill. 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Hegar moved that SCR 11 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 1011 and recognized the author, Senator Estes, to explain the bill.  Senator Hegar sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Estes to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  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.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Hegar moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Hegar moved that SB 1011 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. 

 

At 10:42 a.m. Senator Ellis resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 1016 and recognized the author, Senator Estes, to explain the bill.  Senator Hegar sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Estes to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  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.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Hegar sent up Committee Amendment 1 and 2 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendments were adopted.  Senator Hegar requested unanimous consent to roll the amendments into a committee substitute; without objection, the amendments were rolled into the committee substitute.  Senator Hegar then moved that the new committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Hegar moved that SB 1016 do not pass but that CSSB 1016 be reported back 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 1958 and recognized the author, Senator Van de Putte, 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.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Hegar moved that SB 1958 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. 

 

At 10:54 a.m. Senator Lucio assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SCR 7 and recognized Senator Hegar, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Hegar moved that SCR 7 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 1014 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. 

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

 

The chair laid out SB 1862 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. 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Hegar moved that SB 1862 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 1973 and recognized the author, Senator Ellis, to explain the bill.  Senator Ellis sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Ellis to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  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.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Hegar moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Hegar moved that SB 1973 do not pass but that CSSB 1973 be reported back 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 2169 and recognized the author, Senator Ellis, 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.  Upon arrival of a quorum,  Senator Hegar moved that SB 2169 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. 

 

At 11:28 a.m. the committee stood at ease.

 

At 11:31 a.m. Senator Ellis reconvened the committee to vote out bills previously heard.

 

There being no further business, at 11:40 a.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