MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

9:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

 

*****

 

Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources was held on Tuesday, March 29, 2011, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

*****

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Troy Fraser, Chair

 

None

Senator Craig Estes, Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Bob Deuell

 

 

Senator Robert Duncan

 

 

Senator Kevin Eltife

 

 

Senator Glenn Hegar

 

 

Senator Juan Hinojosa

 

 

Senator Mike Jackson

 

 

Senator Robert Nichols

 

 

Senator Kel Seliger

 

 

Senator Carlos Uresti

 

 

 

*****

 

The chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 AM.  The following business was transacted:

 

The chair laid out SB 1097 and recognized the author, Senator Eltife, to explain the bill.

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

 

At 9:03 AM the roll was called.  A quorum was present.

 

 

 

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 adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Eltife moved that SB 1097 do not pass but that CSSB 1097 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 1 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

The chair laid out SB 694 and recognized Senator Seliger, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.  Senator Seliger sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Seliger 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 Fraser moved that SB 694 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Estes moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Estes moved that SB 694 do not pass but that CSSB 694 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

 

The chair laid out SB 635, SB 636, and SB 637 together and recognized the author, Senator Nichols, to explain the bills.  Senator Nichols sent up a committee substitute on SB 637; the chair recognized Senator Nichols to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bills are shown on the attached list.  The chair moved to limit testimony to 3 minutes; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Jackson assumed the chair.

 

Senator Fraser resumed the chair.

 

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

Senator Fraser moved that SB 635, SB 636, and SB 637 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 11:01 AM Senator Fraser moved that the Committee stand recessed until 30 minutes after adjournment of the Senate. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 1:44 PM Senator Fraser reconvened the meeting.

 

The chair laid out SB 1151 and recognized the author, Senator Jackson, 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 Fraser moved that SB 1151 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Jackson moved that SB 1151 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator Jackson moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 693 and recognized the author, Senator Estes, to explain the bill.  Senator Estes sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Estes 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 Fraser moved that SB 693 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum,

Senator Estes moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Estes moved that SB 693 do not pass but that CSSB 693 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator Estes moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 907 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, 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 Fraser moved that SB 907 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Nichols moved that SB 907 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

 

The chair laid out SB 956 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill.

Senator Seliger sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Seliger 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 Seliger moved that SB 956 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Estes assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 908 and recognized the author, Senator Fraser, 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 Estes moved that SB 908 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Fraser moved that SB 908 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, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 4 absent.

 

The Chairman read a Motion in Writing requesting unanimous consent to be shown voting nay submitted by the following: Senator Seliger on SB 908.  This vote is reflected in the final votes on the aforementioned bill.

 

Senator Fraser resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 1625 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 Fraser moved that SB 1625 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 833 and recognized the author, Senator Uresti, to explain the bill.

Senator Uresti sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Uresti to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  There were no witnesses registered on the bill.  The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Uresti moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Uresti moved that SB 833 do not pass but that CSSB 833 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.  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 572 and SB 573 and recognized the author, Senator Nichols, to explain the bills.  Senator Nichols sent up a committee substitute on SB 573; the chair recognized Senator Nichols to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

The chair moved to limit public testimony to 3 minutes; 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 Fraser moved that SB 572 and SB 573 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chairman read Motions in Writing requesting unanimous consent to be shown voting aye submitted by the following: Senator Duncan on CSSB 1097; Senator Nichols on CSSB 1097; Senator Uresti on CSSB 1097; Senator Deuell on CSSB 1097, CSSB 833, CSSB 693, CSSB 694, SB 907, SB 1151; Senator Seliger on CSSB 693, SB 907, CSSB 833, SB 1151, CSSB 694. These votes are reflected in the final votes on the aforementioned bills.

 

There being no further business, at 5:18 PM Senator Fraser moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Senator Troy Fraser, Chair

 

 

 

___________________________________

Tatum Reagan, Clerk