MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Monday, May 16, 2011

9:00 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, May 16, 2011, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Steve Ogden, Chair	Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Juan Hinojosa, Vice Chair
Senator Bob Deuell
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

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:05 AM. The following business was transacted:

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

The chair laid out HB 257 and recognized Senator Seliger, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.

There were no witnesses testifying or registering on the bill.

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

Senator Hinojosa moved that HB 257 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 590 and recognized Senator Seliger, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, 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 Hinojosa moved that HB 590 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 2042 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Uresti, to explain the bill.

Senator Seliger sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Uresti 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 the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Hinojosa moved that HB 2042 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 3727 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Uresti, 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 Hinojosa moved that HB 3727 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 654 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 Hinojosa moved that HB 654 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 2048 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Deuell, 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 Hinojosa moved that HB 2048 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 2203 and recognized Senator Deuell, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, 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 Hinojosa moved that HB 2203 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 2825 and recognized Senator Deuell, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.

There were no witnesses testifying or registering on the bill.

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

Senator Hinojosa moved that HB 2825 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 3182 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Williams, to explain the bill.

There were no witnesses testifying or registering on the bill.

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

Senator Hinojosa moved that HB 3182 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HJR 109 and recognized Senator Williams, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.

There were no witnesses testifying or registering on the bill.

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

Senator Hinojosa moved that HJR 109 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

At 9:54 AM Senator Hinojosa moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

At 2:20 PM the Committee reconvened. Senator Ogden resumed the chair.

The chair laid out HB 257 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Patrick, to explain the bill.

The chair reopened public testimony.

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

Senator Patrick requested unanimous consent to incorporate Committee Amendment 1 into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Patrick then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Patrick moved that HB 257 do not pass but that CSHB 257 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out HB 590 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Patrick, to explain the bill.

Senator Patrick moved that HB 590 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out HB 654 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Shapiro, to explain the bill.

Senator Shapiro moved that HB 654 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

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

The chair laid out HB 2048 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Deuell, to explain the bill.

Senator Deuell moved that HB 2048 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out HB 2203 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Williams, to explain the bill.

Senator Williams moved that HB 2203 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out HB 2825 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Williams, to explain the bill.

Senator Williams moved that HB 2825 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 13 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

The chair laid out HB 3182 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Williams, to explain the bill.

Senator Williams moved that HB 3182 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 13 ayes, 0 nays, 1 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out HB 3727 and recognized Senator Eltife, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.

The chair reopened public testimony.

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 Eltife moved that HB 3727 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1927 and recognized Senator Eltife, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

Senator Eltife moved that SB 1927 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 1841 and recognized Senator Hinojosa, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.

Senator Hinojosa moved that HB 1841 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 12 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

Senator West submitted a motion in writing and asked to be shown voting aye on the following bills: HB 590, HB 654, HB 2048, HB 2203, HB 2825, HB 3182 and HB 3727. Without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Lucio submitted a motion in writing and asked to be shown voting aye on the following bills: HB 257, HB 590, HB 654 and HB 2048. Without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Zaffirini asked to be shown voting aye on the following bills: HB 257, HB 590, HB 654, HB 2048, HB 2203, HB 2825, HB 3182, HB 3727, SB 1927 and HB 1841. Without objection, it was so ordered.

There being no further business, at 2:56 PM Senator Ogden moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Steve Ogden, Chair

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Stephanie Hoover, Clerk