MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

9:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

 

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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 Natural Resources was held on Tuesday, April 19, 2011, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Troy Fraser, Chair

 

Senator Bob Deuell

Senator Craig Estes, Vice Chair

 

Senator Robert Duncan

Senator Kevin Eltife

 

Senator Juan Hinojosa

Senator Glenn Hegar

 

Senator Carlos Uresti

Senator Mike Jackson

 

 

Senator Robert Nichols

 

 

Senator Kel Seliger

 

 

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:02 AM.  The following business was transacted:

 

The chair laid out SB 467 and SB 1148 together and recognized the author, Senator Wentworth, to explain the bills.  Senator Fraser sent up a committee substitute on SB 467; the chair recognized Senator Wentworth 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 that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Fraser moved that SB 467 and SB 1148 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 552 and explained the bill in the absence of the author.  Senator Fraser sent up a committee substitute; Senator Fraser explained 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 Fraser moved that SB 552 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1031 and explained the bill in the absence of the author.  Senator Fraser moved that SB 1031 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business, SB 1031.  Senator Estes sent up a committee substitute; the chair explained 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 1031 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 657 and recognized the author, Senator Huffman, to explain the bill.

 

The chair moved to limit 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 657 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1902 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.  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 1902 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 1902 do not pass but that CSSB 1902 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 4 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 1070 and recognized Senator Eltife, in the absence of the author, 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.  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 1070 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1257 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 1257 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Hegar moved that SB 1257 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 4 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 SB 1294 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, 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. 

 

At 10:03 AM the roll was called.  A quorum was present.

 

Senator Hegar moved that SB 1294 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 4 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 as a matter of pending business 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.  Senator Seliger moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Seliger moved that SB 956 do not pass but that CSSB 956 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 4 absent.  Senator Seliger moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; 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 Eltife on CSSB 956, CSSB 1902, SB 1257, and SB 1294.  These votes are reflected in the final votes on the aforementioned bills.

 

There being no further business, at 10:07 AM Senator Fraser moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

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Senator Troy Fraser, Chair

 

 

 

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Tatum Reagan, Clerk