MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Monday, March 28, 2011

10:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.036

 

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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 Finance was held on Monday, March 28, 2011, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Steve Ogden, Chair

 

None

Senator Juan Hinojosa, Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Bob Deuell

 

 

Senator Robert Duncan

 

 

Senator Kevin Eltife

 

 

Senator Craig Estes

 

 

Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.

 

 

Senator Jane Nelson

 

 

Senator Dan Patrick

 

 

Senator Kel Seliger

 

 

Senator Florence Shapiro

 

 

Senator Royce West

 

 

Senator John Whitmire

 

 

Senator Tommy Williams

 

 

Senator Judith Zaffirini

 

 

 

*****

 

The chair called the meeting to order at 10:00 AM. The following business was transacted:

 

The chair laid out SB 1051 and recognized Senator Zaffirini, 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 the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ellis closed on SB 1051.

 

Senator Ogden moved that SB 1051 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 165 and recognized the author, Senator Shapiro, 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 Ogden moved that SB 165 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 393 and recognized the author, Senator Patrick, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Patrick sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Patrick to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Ogden 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 the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden moved that SB 393 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 724 and recognized Senator Eltife, 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 the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden moved that SB 724 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 758 and recognized Senator Nelson, in the absence of the author, 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. Senator Nelson 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 the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Deuell closed on SB 758.

 

Senator Ogden moved that SB 758 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 776 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. Senator Zaffirini 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 the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden moved that SB 776 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1172 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 Deuell 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 the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden moved that SB 1172 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1252 and recognized the author, Senator Williams, 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 Ogden moved that SB 1252 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden announced the Committee’s schedule for the week.  The Committee will meet on March 30th to take up Article I and Article IV.  The Committee will meet on March 31st to take up Article II, and the Committee will meet on April 1st to take up Article V and any pending business.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 73 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Zaffirini moved to reconsider the vote by which the committee substitute was adopted for the purpose of amending the committee substitute, then rolling the amendments into the new committee substitute.  Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

 

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

 

Senator Nelson sent up Committee Amendment 2 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.

 

Senator Nelson requested unanimous consent to incorporate the amendments into the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Nelson then moved that the new committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Nelson moved that SB 73 do not pass but that CSSB 73 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Ogden resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 201.  Senator Ogden, in the absence of the author, explained the bill.  The committee substitute was adopted at a previous hearing.

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that SB 201 do not pass but that CSSB 201 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Ogden 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 326 and recognized the author, Senator Duncan, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Duncan moved that SB 326 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 432 and recognized Senator Eltife, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Eltife moved that SB 432 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Hinojosa 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 551 and recognized the author, Senator Williams, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Williams moved that SB 551 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

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

 

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 899 and recognized the author, Senator Ogden, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Ogden moved that SB 899 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

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

 

Senator Ogden assumed the chair.

 

Senator Williams asked to be shown voting aye on SB 326.

 

Senator Whitmire submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on SB 73, SB 201, SB 326, SB 432, SB 551 and SB 899.  

 

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 1428 and recognized the author, Senator Ogden, to explain the bill.

 

The chair laid out SJR 42 and recognized the author, Senator Ogden, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Ogden sent up a committee substitute for SB 1428 and SJR 42; the chair recognized Senator Ogden to explain the difference between the committee substitutes and the senate bills 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 Hinojosa moved that SB 1428 and SJR 42 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden resumed the chair. 

 

Senator Ogden announced that the Committee would meet on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 to take up Article I and Article IV.

 

There being no further business, at 1:00 PM Senator Ogden moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Senator Steve Ogden, Chair

 

 

__________________________________________

Stephanie Hoover, Clerk