MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & COMMERCE

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

10:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.016

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce was held on Tuesday, October 4, 2011, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator John Carona, Chair	Senator Chris Harris, Vice Chair
Senator Craig Estes	Senator Kevin Eltife
Senator Mike Jackson	Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Senator Leticia Van de Putte
Senator Kirk Watson
Senator John Whitmire

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The chair called the meeting to order at 10:00 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

Senator Watson moved adoption of the committee rules. There being no objection, it was so ordered. The Chair recognized guests and laid out the Committee work plan.

The chair opened invited testimony and recognized the following to testify as resource witnesses:

· Donna Nelson, Chair, representing Public Utility Commission.

· Eleanor Kitzman, Commissioner, representing Texas Department of Insurance.

· John Polak, Interim General Manager, representing Texas Windstorm Insurance Association.

· William H. Kuntz, Jr., Executive Director, representing Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

· Douglas Oldmixon, Executive Director, representing Texas Real Estate Commission.

The chair opened public testimony and recognized the following:

· Tom “Smitty” Smith, representing Public Citizen, did not testify.

· Cyrus Reed, representing Sierra Club, testified.

There being no further business, at 11:45 AM Senator Watson moved that the Committee be adjourned. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator John Carona, Chair

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Steven Polunsky, Clerk