MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

1:00 p.m. or upon adjournment

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

 

*****

 

 

 

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 Tuesday, March 24, 2009, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

*****

 

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

 

*****

 

The chair called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 184 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Estes sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Watson 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 Averitt moved that SB 184 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1597 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Averitt sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Watson 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 Averitt moved that SB 1597 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 848.

 

Senator Seliger moved that SB 848 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent. 

 

Senator Seliger 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 914. 

 

Senator Estes moved that SB 914 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent. 

 

Senator Estes 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 941.

 

Senator Duncan moved that SB 941 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent. 

 

Senator Duncan 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 1080.

 

Senator Eltife sent up a committee substitute at a previous hearing.  Senator Deuell moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Deuell moved that SB 1080 do not pass but that CSSB 1080 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent. 

 

Senator Deuell 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 1121.

 

Senator Hegar sent up a committee substitute at a previous hearing.  Senator Uresti moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Uresti moved that SB 1121 do not pass but that CSSB 1121 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 

 

Senator Uresti 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 1122.

 

Senator Hegar sent up a committee substitute at a previous hearing.  Senator Eltife moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Eltife moved that SB 1122 do not pass but that CSSB 1122 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out SB 1238 and recognized the author, Senator Ogden, 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 Averitt moved that SB 1238 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1541 and recognized the author, Senator Gallegos, Jr., 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 Averitt moved that SB 1541 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 273 and recognized the author, Senator Nichols, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Averitt sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nichols 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 Averitt moved that SB 273 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 274 and recognized the author, Senator Nichols, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Averitt sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nichols 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 Averitt moved that SB 274 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 275 and recognized the author, Senator Nichols, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Averitt sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nichols 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 Averitt moved that SB 275 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1253 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 1253 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1254 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 1254 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Duncan assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1544 and recognized the author, Senator Averitt, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Averitt 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 Duncan moved that SB 1544 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Averitt resumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1209 and recognized Senator Jackson, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

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

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 1209 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 126 and recognized Senator Duncan, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Duncan sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Duncan 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 Averitt moved that SB 126 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________

Senator Kip Averitt, Chair

 

 

_____________________________

Teddy Carter, Clerk