MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Thursday, April 16, 2009

9:00 a.m.

Capitol Extension, Room E1.016

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services was held on Thursday, April 16, 2009, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Jane Nelson

Senator Bob Deuell

Senator Joan Huffman

Senator Robert Nichols

Senator Dan Patrick

Senator Eliot Shapleigh

Senator Carlos Uresti

Senator Royce West

Senator Judith Zaffirini

 

None

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:04 a.m.  The following was transacted: 

 

Senator Nichols assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 70 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Nelson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nelson 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. 

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 70 be left pending and public testimony remain open; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Nelson resumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1060 and recognized the author, Senator Ellis, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 1060 be left pending and public testimony remain open; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 2360 and recognized the author, Senator Ellis, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Deuell 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. 

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 2360 be left pending and public testimony remain open; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1407 and recognized the author, Senator Shapleigh, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 1407 be left pending and public testimony remain open; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 336 and recognized the author, Senator Deuell, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 336 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 35 and recognized Senator Shapleigh, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Shapleigh sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Shapleigh 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. 

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 35 be left pending and public testimony remain open; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 37 and recognized Senator Shapleigh, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 37 be left pending and public testimony remain open; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 40 and recognized Senator Shapleigh, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 40 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 63 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Zaffirini sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Zaffirini 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. 

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 63 be left pending and public testimony remain open; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1144 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 1144 be left pending and public testimony remained open; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 10:20 a.m. a quorum was established.

 

A resource witness was brought up to compare bills as filed.

 

At 10:41 a.m. Senator Nelson moved that the committee stand recessed until after adjournment of the Senate; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 6:25 p.m. Senator Nelson reconvened the committee.

 

Senator Nelson opened public testimony on SB 40 and SB 336, while public testimony remained opened on the following bills from earlier:  SB 70, SB 1060, SB 2360, SB 1407, SB 35, SB 37, SB 63, and SB 1144.

 

As a matter of pending business, the chair brought up SB 187.

 

Senator Deuell sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 

 

Senator Deuell requested unanimous consent to incorporate amendment into the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Deuell then moved that the new committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Deuell moved that SB 187 do not pass but that CSSB 187 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

As a matter of pending business, the chair brought up SB 1214.

 

Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Deuell moved that SB 1214 do not pass but that CSSB 1214 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

As a matter of pending business, the chair brought up SB 1397.

 

Senator Deuell moved that SB 1397 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, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

As a matter of pending business, the chair brought up SB 1542.

 

Senator Uresti moved that SB 1542 be reported favorably 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 0 absent. 

 

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

 

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

 

There being no further business, at 9:27 p.m. Senator Nelson moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________

Senator Jane Nelson, Chair

 

 

_____________________________

Kyle Baum, Clerk