MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND HOMELAND SECURITY

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

8:00 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 Transportation and Homeland Security was held on Wednesday, February 25, 2009, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator John Carona

Senator Kirk Watson

Senator Wendy Davis

Senator Rodney Ellis

Senator Joan Huffman

Senator Robert Nichols

Senator Florence Shapiro

Senator Eliot Shapleigh

Senator Jeff Wentworth

 

None

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:  

 

Senator Ellis and Senator Shapiro arrived after the roll was called.

 

The chair laid out SB 316 and recognized the author, Senator Wentworth, to explain the bill. 

 

The chair opened public testimony on the bill.  Witnesses testifying on the bill are shown on the attached list.  The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair announced that the bill would be held pending until later in the hearing.

 

The chair laid out SB 434 and recognized the author, Senator Wentworth, to explain the bill. 

 

The chair opened public testimony on the bill.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. 

 

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

 

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

 

At 8:17 a.m. Senator Watson assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 481 and recognized the author, Senator Carona, to explain the bill. 

 

The chair opened public testimony on 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.

 

The chair announced that the bill would be held pending until later in the hearing.

 

The chair laid out SB 376 and recognized the author, Senator Carona, to explain the bill. 

 

The chair opened public testimony on the bill.  The witness registering on the bill is shown on the attached list.  The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair announced that the bill would be held pending until later in the hearing.

 

The chair laid out SB 368 and recognized the author, Senator Carona, to explain the bill. 

 

The chair opened public testimony on 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.

 

The chair announced that the bill would be left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 448 and recognized the author, Senator Carona, to explain the bill. 

 

The chair opened public testimony on 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.

 

The chair announced that the bill would be held pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 405 and recognized the author, Senator Shapiro, to explain the bill.

 

The chair opened public testimony on the bill.  Witnesses 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.

 

The chair announced that the bill would be held pending until later in the hearing.

 

The chair laid out SB 480 and recognized the author, Senator Carona, to explain the bill. 

 

The chair opened public testimony on 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.

 

The chair announced that the bill would be left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 75 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill. 

 

The chair opened public testimony on 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.

 

The chair announced that the bill would be held pending for the time being due to its negative fiscal impact to the state. 

 

The chair laid out SB 502 and recognized the author, Senator Carona, to explain the bill. 

 

The chair opened public testimony on 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.

 

The chair announced that the bill would be held pending. 

 

The chair laid out SB 334 and recognized the author, Senator Carona, to explain the bill. 

 

The chair opened public testimony on the bill.  The witness registering on the bill is shown on the attached list.  The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair announced that the bill would be held pending until later in the hearing.

 

The chair laid out SB 348 and recognized the author, Senator Carona, to explain the bill. 

 

The chair opened public testimony on the bill.  The witness registering on the bill is shown on the attached list.  The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair announced that the bill would be held pending until later in the hearing.

 

Senator Watson, while continuing as the chair, brought up SB 316 as pending business, and moved that the bill 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. 

 

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

 

Senator Carona moved that Amendment 1 be rolled into a committee substitute for SB 434; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Carona then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Watson moved that SB 434 do not pass but that CSSB 434 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 0 absent. 

 

The chair announced that SB 75 would be left pending for the time being due to its negative fiscal impact to the state.

 

The chair moved that SB 405 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. 

 

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

 

The chair moved that SB 481 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. 

 

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

 

The chair moved that SB 376 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. 

 

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

 

The chair announced that SB 368, SB 448, SB 480, and SB 502 would be left pending.

 

The chair moved that SB 334 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. 

 

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

 

The chair moved that SB 348 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. 

 

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

 

At 9:21 a.m. Senator Carona resumed the chair. 

 

Senator Shapleigh and Senator Ellis each made an announcement.

 

There being no further business, at 9:26 a.m. Senator Watson moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________

Senator John Carona, Chair

 

 

_____________________________

Kelsey Erickson, Clerk