MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JURISPRUDENCE

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

1:30 PM or upon adjournment

Betty King Committee Room

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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 Jurisprudence was held on Tuesday, March 22, 2011, in the Betty King Committee Room at Austin, Texas.

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The chair called the meeting to order at 1:30 PM.

MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Chris Harris, Chair	Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Jose Rodriguez, Vice Chair
Senator John Carona
Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.
Senator Joan Huffman
Senator Carlos Uresti

The chair laid out SB 287 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, to explain the bill.

Senator Harris sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Lucio 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.

Upon arrival of a quorum at 1:55 PM, the Chair recognized the clerk to call the roll.

Senator Harris moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 287; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Harris moved that SB 287 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 473 and recognized the author, Senator West, to explain the bill.

Senator Harris sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator West to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Harris 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 Harris moved that SB 473 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 587 and recognized the author, Senator Uresti, to explain 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.

Senator Uresti moved that SB 587 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Huffman submitted a motion in writing requesting unanimous consent to be shown voting Aye on SB 587.

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

The chair laid out SB 680 and recognized the author, Senator Gallegos, to explain the bill.

Senator Gallegos, Jr. sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Gallegos, Jr. to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Gallegos, Jr. 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 Gallegos, Jr. moved that SB 680 do not pass but that CSSB 680 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Huffman and Senator Carona submitted a motion in writing requesting unanimous consent to be shown voting Aye on SB 680.

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

At 2:15 PM Senator Rodriguez assumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 789 and recognized the author, Senator Harris, 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 Rodriguez moved that SB 789 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 819 and recognized the author, Senator Harris, to explain the bill.

Senator Harris sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Harris 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 Rodriguez moved that SB 819 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 482 and recognized the author, Senator Harris, to explain the bill.

Senator Harris sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Harris 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 Rodriguez moved that SB 482 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 285 and recognized the author, Senator Harris, to explain the bill.

Senator Harris sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Harris 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 Rodriguez moved that SB 285 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 483 and recognized the author, Senator Harris, to explain the bill.

Senator Harris sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Harris to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

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.

Senator Rodriguez moved that SB 483 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

At 2:43 PM Senator Harris resumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 723 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 Harris moved that SB 723 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

At 2:55 PM Senator Rodriguez assumed the chair.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 786 and recognized the author, Senator Harris, to explain 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.

Senator Harris moved that SB 786 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Huffman and Senator Carona submitted a motion in writing requesting unanimous consent to be shown voting Aye on SB 786.

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

At 2:59 PM Senator Harris resumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 480 and recognized Senator Uresti, in the absence of the author, to explain 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.

Senator Uresti moved that SB 480 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Huffman and Senator Carona submitted a motion in writing requesting unanimous consent to be shown voting Aye on SB 480.

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

The chair laid out SB 519 and recognized Senator Uresti, in the absence of the author, to explain 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.

Senator Uresti moved that SB 519 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Huffman and Senator Carona submitted a motion in writing requesting unanimous consent to be shown voting Aye on SB 519.

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

The chair brought up as a matter of pending business CSSB 473.

Senator Rodriguez moved that SB 473 do not pass but that CSSB 473 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Huffman and Senator Carona submitted a motion in writing requesting unanimous consent to be shown voting Aye on SB 473.

At 3:06 PM Senator Rodriguez assumed the chair.

The chair brought up as a matter of pending business CSSB 285. Senator Harris moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Harris moved that SB 285 do not pass but that CSSB 285 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Huffman and Senator Carona submitted a motion in writing requesting unanimous consent to be shown voting Aye on CSSB 285.

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

The chair called up as a matter of pending business CSSB 482. Senator Harris moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Harris moved that SB 482 do not pass but that CSSB 482 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Huffman and Senator Carona submitted a motion in writing requesting unanimous consent to be shown voting Aye on CSSB 482.

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

The chair brought up as a matter of pending business CSSB 483. Senator Harris moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Harris moved that SB 483 do not pass but that CSSB 483 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Huffman and Senator Carona submitted a motion in writing requesting unanimous consent to be shown voting Aye on CSSB 483.

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

The chair brought up as a matter of pending business CSSB 819. Senator Harris moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Harris moved that SB 819 do not pass but that CSSB 819 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Huffman and Senator Carona submitted a motion in writing requesting unanimous consent to be shown voting Aye on CSSB 819.

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

At 3:09 PM Senator Harris resumed the chair.

There being no further business, at 3:10 PM Senator Harris moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Chris Harris, Chair

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Katie Qualls, Clerk