MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS & MILITARY INSTALLATIONS

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

1:30 p.m. or upon adjournment

Betty King Committee Room

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs & Military Installations was held on Wednesday, April 1, 2009, in the Betty King Committee Room at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Leticia Van de Putte Senator Eliot Shapleigh Senator Wendy Davis Senator Joan Huffman		Senator Craig Estes

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 6:38 p.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

The chair recognized Vice Chair Ralph C. Gauer, Texas Military Preparedness Commission to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

The following members arrived after the roll was called: 

Senator Eliot Shapleigh

 

The chair laid out SB 1325 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Huffman sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption.  The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

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

 

Senator Huffman requested unanimous consent to roll the amendments into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Huffman then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Huffman moved that SB 1325 do not pass but that CSSB 1325 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

Senator Huffman moves to reconsider the motion to move SB 1325 to the Local and Uncontested Calendar, without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1463 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, Jr., to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Senator Shapleigh moved that SB 1463 do not pass but that CSSB 1463 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out SB 1030 and recognized the author, Senator Shapleigh, 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 Van de Putte moved that SB 1030 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Shapleigh assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1648 and recognized the author, Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

The chair moved that public testimony be closed for SB 1030 and SB 1648; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Van de Putte moved that SB 1648 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Van de Putte resumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 835 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Van de Putte sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Hinojosa 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 public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

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

 

Senator Shapleigh moved that SB 835 do not pass but that CSSB 835 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

Senator Shapleigh assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1939 and recognized the author, Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Shapleigh moved that SB 1939 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1940 and recognized the author, Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Davis sent up Committee Amendment 1 and was recognized to explain the differences.

 

Senator Davis requested unanimous consent to roll the amendments into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Shapleigh then moved that the new committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Public testimony for SB 1939 and SB 1940 was opened. Witnesses registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. 

 

 The chair moved that public testimony be closed for SB 1939 and SB 1940; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Shapleigh moved that SB 1940 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Van de Putte moved that SB 1940 do not pass but that CSSB 1940 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out SB 1654 and recognized the author, Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

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

 

Senator Van de Putte moved that SB 1654 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out SB 1655 and recognized the author, Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Senator Van de Putte moved that SB 1655 do not pass but that CSSB 1655 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

Senator Van de Putte resumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 2163 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. 

 

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

 

Senator Shapleigh moved that SB 2163 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

At 8:51 p.m. Senator Van de Putte moved that the committee stand recessed until subject to the call of the chair; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Leticia Van de Putte, Chair

 

 

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Estella French, Clerk