MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Thursday, March 19, 2009

1:00 p.m. or upon adjournment

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources was held on Thursday, March 19, 2009, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Kip Averitt Senator Craig Estes Senator Kevin Eltife Senator Troy Fraser Senator Glenn Hegar Senator Kel Seliger Senator Carlos Uresti		Senator Bob Deuell Senator Robert Duncan Senator Juan Hinojosa Senator Mike Jackson

 

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Senator Estes, serving as the chair, called the meeting to order at 1:01 p.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out SB 914 and recognized the author, 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 Estes moved that SB 914 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 940 and recognized the author, Senator Wentworth, 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 Estes moved that SB 940 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 941 and recognized the author, Senator Wentworth, 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 Estes moved that SB 941 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 848 and recognized the author, Senator Nichols, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Estes moved that SB 848 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1080 and recognized Senator Eltife, in the absence of the author, 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 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. 

 

Senator Estes moved that SB 1080 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1121 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, 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 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. 

 

Senator Estes moved that SB 1121 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1122 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, 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 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. 

 

Senator Estes moved that SB 1122 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 988 and recognized the author, Senator Ellis, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Seliger sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Ellis to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. 

 

Senator Averitt assumed the chair. 

 

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 Averitt moved that SB 988 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Uresti assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 876 and recognized the author, Senator Averitt, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Hegar sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Averitt 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. 

 

Senator Uresti moved that SB 876 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 184.

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 184 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 417. 

 

Senator Estes moved that SB 417 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 5 absent. 

 

Senator Averitt 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 SB 715.

 

Senator Seliger moved that SB 715 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 5 absent. 

 

Senator Averitt 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 SB 799. 

 

Senator Uresti moved that SB 799 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 5 absent. 

 

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

 

Senator Estes assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 663. 

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 663 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 4 absent. 

 

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

 

Senator Averitt resumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 540 and recognized the author, Senator Estes, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Estes sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Estes to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Estes moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Estes moved that SB 540 do not pass but that CSSB 540 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, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 4 absent. 

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 637. 

 

Senator Hegar moved that SB 637 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 4 absent. 

 

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

 

Senator Uresti assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 16 and recognized the author, Senator Averitt, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Hegar assumed the chair. 

 

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 16 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

There being no further business, Senator Hegar moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Kip Averitt, Chair

 

 

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Teddy Carter, Clerk