MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION

Thursday, May 21, 2009

1:30 p.m. or upon adjournment

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

 

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Pursuant to suspension of Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Government Organization was held on Thursday, May 21, 2009, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, 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 Steve Ogden Senator John Whitmire

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 3:40 p.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 4767 and explained the bill. Senator Ellis sent up Committee Amendment 1, relating to the Senate's current ability to adopt concurrent resolutions. Senator Hegar moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Hegar requested unanimous consent to roll the amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Hegar then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Hegar moved that HB 4767 do not pass but that CSHB 4767 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 2 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 as a matter of pending business HB 2097 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill. Senator Hegar sent up Committee Amendment 1 relating to exempting certain law enforcement officers, and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Hegar sent up Committee Amendment 2 relating to a clarification, and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Hegar sent up Committee Amendment 3 relating to exempting certain employees of the Office of the Attorney General, and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Hegar requested unanimous consent to roll the amendments into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Hegar then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Hegar moved that HB 2097 do not pass but that CSHB 2097 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 2 absent. 

 

At 3:52 p.m. Senator Ellis moved that the Committee stand at ease until 5:30 p.m.; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 5:35 p.m. Senator Ellis reconvened the Committee.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 2730 and recognized Senator Hegar, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. Senator Hegar sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Hegar to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed. Senator Hegar moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Hegar sent up committee amendments 1 through 23 to HB 2730 relating to the continuation and functions of the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas and the Texas Private Security Board; providing a penalty. Senator Hegar was recognized to discuss committee amendments 1 through 23, that different Senators intend to offer as floor amendments to HB 2730. Committee amendments 1 through 23 were withdrawn.

 

Senator Hegar moved that HB 2730 do not pass but that CSHB 2730 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 2 absent. 

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 3689 and recognized Senator Hegar, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. The committee substitute was adopted at a previous hearing.

 

Senator Hegar sent up committee amendments 1 through 5 to HB 3689, relating to the functions and continuation of the Texas Youth Commission and the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission and to the functions of the Office of Independent Ombudsman for the Texas Youth Commission.  Senator Hegar was recognized to discuss committee amendments 1 through 5, that different Senators intend to offer as a floor amendments to HB 3689.  Committee amendments 1 through 5 were withdrawn.

 

Senator Hegar moved that HB 3689 do not pass but that CSHB 3689 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 2 absent. 

 

There being no further business, at 5:47 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