MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION

Monday, March 21, 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 Government Organization was held on Monday, March 21, 2011, in the Betty King Committee Room at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair

 

None

Senator Glenn Hegar, Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Brian Birdwell

 

 

Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.

 

 

Senator Jane Nelson

 

 

Senator Steve Ogden

 

 

Senator John Whitmire

 

 

 

*****

 

The chair called the meeting to order at 3:00 PM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

The following members arrived after the roll was called:

Senator Brian Birdwell

Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.

Senator John Whitmire

 

The chair laid out SB 655 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, 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.

 

At 4:22 PM Senator Nelson assumed the chair.

 

At 4:29 PM Senator Ellis resumed the chair.

 

At 5:20 PM Senator Birdwell assumed the chair.

 

Senator Hegar sent up Committee Amendment 1 to SB 655 and explained it. Senator Hegar withdrew Amendment 1.

 

Senator Hegar sent up Committee Amendment 2 to SB 655 and explained it. Senator Hegar withdrew Amendment 2.

 

Senator Hegar sent up Committee Amendment 3 to SB 655 and explained it. Senator Hegar withdrew Amendment 3.  

 

Senator Birdwell moved that SB 655 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 646 and recognized the author, Senator Nichols, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses registered 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 Birdwell moved that SB 646 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 651 and recognized Senator Hegar, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses registered 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 Hegar sent up Committee Amendment 1 to SB 651 and explained it.  Senator Hegar withdrew Amendment 1.

 

Senator Birdwell moved that SB 651 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 631 and recognized Senator Hegar, 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 Birdwell moved that SB 631 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 632 and recognized Senator Hegar, 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 Birdwell moved that SB 632 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 867 and recognized Senator Hegar, 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 Birdwell moved that SB 867 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 5:58 PM Senator Ellis resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 644 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, 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 Hegar sent up Committee Amendment 1 to SB 644 and explained it.

 

At 6:10 PM Senator Nelson assumed the chair.

 

Senator Ellis sent up Committee Amendment 2 (conforms state law to federal health care law measures currently in effect) to SB 644  and explained it. Senator Ellis withdrew Amendment 2. 

 

Senator Ellis sent up Committee Amendment 3 (duties of TDI) to SB 644 and explained it. Senator Ellis withdrew Amendment 3. 

 

Senator Ellis sent up Committee Amendment 4 (Made Whole) to SB 644 and explained it. Senator Ellis withdrew Amendment 4. 

 

Senator Ellis sent up Committee Amendment 5 (Policy benefits, damages, prompt pay) to SB 644 and explained it. Senator Ellis withdrew Amendment 5. 

 

Senator Ellis sent up Committee Amendment 6 (credit score ban) to SB 644 and explained it. Senator Ellis withdrew Amendment 6. 

 

Senator Ellis sent up Committee Amendment 7 (prior approval of property and casualty rates) to SB 644  and explained it. Senator Ellis withdrew Amendment 7. 

 

Senator Ellis sent up Committee Amendment 8 (prior approval of health insurance rates) to SB 644  and explained it. Senator Ellis withdrew Amendment 8. 

 

Senator Ellis sent up Committee Amendment 9 (insurance discrimination) to SB 644 and explained it. Senator Ellis withdrew Amendment 9. 

 

Senator Ellis sent up Committee Amendment 10 (TWIA reform) to SB 644 and explained it. Senator Ellis withdrew Amendment 10. 

 

At 6:19 PM Senator Ellis resumed the chair.

 

Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment 11 (standard insurance forms) to SB 644 and explained it. Senator Lucio withdrew Amendment 11. 

 

Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment 12 (rate difference for weather related factors) to SB 644 and explained it. Senator Lucio withdrew Amendment 12. 

 

Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment 13 (standard insurance forms deductible language in dollars not percent) to SB 644 and explained it. Senator Lucio withdrew Amendment 13. 

 

Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment 14 (disclosure of rate factors) to SB 644 and explained it. Senator Lucio withdrew Amendment 14. 

 

Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment 15 (refund order) to SB 644 and explained it. Senator Lucio withdrew Amendment 15. 

 

Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment 16 (prompt pay) to SB 644 on behalf of Senator  Van De Putte and explained it. Senator Lucio withdrew Amendment 16. 

 

Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment 17 (educational attainment) to SB 644 on behalf of Senator Van De Putte and explained it. Senator Lucio withdrew Amendment 17.

 

Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment 18 (prior approval ) to SB 644 on behalf of Senator Davis and explained it. Senator Lucio withdrew Amendment 18. 

 

Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment 19 (rate filings/underwriting) to SB 644 on behalf of Senator Davis and explained it. Senator Lucio withdrew Amendment 19. 

 

Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment 20 (data mining) to SB 644 on behalf of Senator Davis and explained it. Senator Lucio withdrew Amendment 20. 

 

Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment 21 (election of TDI Commissioner) to SB 644 on behalf of Senator Davis and explained it. Senator Lucio withdrew Amendment 20. 

 

Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment 22 (excessive rates) to SB 644 on behalf of Senator Davis and explained it. Senator Lucio withdrew Amendment 22. 

 

Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment 23 (discounts for homes built to certain standards) on behalf of Senator West to SB 644 and explained it. Senator Lucio withdrew Amendment 23. 

 

Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment 24 (rescissions) to SB 644 on behalf of Senator Watson and explained it. Senator Lucio withdrew Amendment 24. 

 

Senator Hegar moved adoption of Committee Amendment 1 to SB 644; without objection, the amendment was adopted.

 

Senator Hegar requested unanimous consent to incorporate the amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Hegar then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ellis moved that SB 644 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

As a matter of pending business, Senator Nelson moved that SB 327 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 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

 

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

 

The chair laid out a new SB 631. Senator Nelson moved that SB 631 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 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

 

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

 

The chair laid out a new SB 632. Senator Hegar moved that SB 632 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 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

 

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

 

The chair laid out a new SB 867. Senator Hegar moved that SB 867 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 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

 

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

 

The chair laid out a new SB 651. Senator Hegar sent up a committee substitute to SB 651. Senator Hegar moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ellis moved that SB 651 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

The chair laid out a new SB 646. Senator Lucio, Jr. sent up Committee Amendment 1 and explained it. Amendment 1 was withdrawn.

 

Senator Hegar sent up a committee substitute to SB 646. Senator Hegar moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

There being no further business, at 6:37 PM Senator Ellis moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair

 

 

__________________________________________

Jessica Schleifer, Clerk