MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Tuesday, May 3, 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, May 3, 2011, in the Capitol Extension,
Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.
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MEMBERS
PRESENT: |
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MEMBERS
ABSENT: |
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Senator Troy Fraser, Chair |
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Senator Bob Deuell |
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Senator Craig Estes, Vice Chair |
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Senator Robert Duncan |
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Senator Kevin Eltife |
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Senator Glenn Hegar |
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Senator Juan Hinojosa |
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Senator Mike Jackson |
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Senator Robert Nichols |
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Senator Kel Seliger |
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Senator Carlos Uresti |
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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:00
AM. The following business was
transacted:
The chair laid out HB 1901 and recognized the Senate
sponsor, Senator Birdwell, 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 HB 1901 be left pending to await a quorum;
without objection, it was so ordered.
Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Estes moved that HB 1901 be reported
favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9
ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 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 HB 571 and recognized Senator
Seliger, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, 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 9:07 AM the roll was called. A quorum was present.
Senator Seliger moved that HB 571 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 Seliger moved that the bill be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 1832 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 Seliger moved that HB 1832 be
reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed. The motion carried with a
record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Seliger moved that the bill be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SCR 32 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 Seliger moved that SCR 32 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, 1 nay, 1 present not voting, and 1 absent.
The chair laid out SB 1520 and recognized the
author, 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 Uresti moved that SB
1520 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do
pass and be printed. The motion carried
with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.
The chair laid out HB 2694 in lieu of SB 657,
pending business, and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Huffman, to
explain the bill. Senator Estes sent up
a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Huffman to explain the
difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. The chair recognized Senator Hegar to send up
Committee Amendment 1 (Technical/Clarifying Amendment). Senator Huffman was recognized to discuss
Committee Amendment 1. Senator Hegar
moved to withdraw Committee Amendment 1.
There being no objection, it was so ordered. The chair recognized Senator Hegar to send up
Committee Amendment 2 (Technical/Clarifying Amendment). Senator Hegar was recognized to discuss
Committee Amendment 2. Senator Hegar
moved to withdraw Committee Amendment 2.
There being no objection, it was so ordered. Senator Estes moved to withdraw Committee
Amendment 3. There being no objection,
it was so ordered. The chair recognized Senator
Eltife to send up Committee Amendment 4 (Dam Safety Regulation). Senator Eltife was recognized to discuss Committee
Amendment 4. The chair recognized
Senator Hinojosa to send up an amendment to the amendment on Committee
Amendment 4 (Dam Safety Regulation). The
chair recognized Senator Hinojosa to discuss the amendment to the
amendment. Senator Hinojosa moved to
withdraw the amendment to the amendment on Committee Amendment 4. Without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Elifte moved to withdraw Committee
Amendment 4. Without objection, it was
so ordered. Senator Uresti moved to
withdraw Committee Amendments 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. Without objection, it was so ordered. Invited testimony was provided at the
hearing. See attached witness list. Senator Hegar moved adoption of the committee
substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Hegar moved that HB 2694 do not pass
but that CSHB 2694 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1
absent.
Senator Estes assumed the chair.
The chair laid out as a matter of pending business
HB 716 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Fraser, to explain the
bill. Senator Fraser sent up a committee
substitute; the chair recognized Senator Fraser to explain the difference
between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Invited testimony was provided at the
hearing. See attached witness list. Senator
Fraser moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so
ordered. Senator Fraser moved that HB
716 do not pass but that CSHB 716 be reported back to the Senate with the
recommendation that it do pass and be printed.
The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not
voting, and 2 absent. Senator Fraser
moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Fraser resumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 1895 and recognized the
author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill.
There were no witnesses registered on the bill. The chair moved that the public testimony be
closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Hegar moved that SB 1895 be reported favorably to the Senate
with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9
ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 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 HB 218 and recognized the Senate
sponsor, 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. The motion carried with a record vote of 4
ayes, 4 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent. The motion failed to receive a majority vote.
The chair laid out HB 444 and recognized the Senate
sponsor, Senator Nichols, 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 Nichols moved that HB 444 be reported favorably to the Senate
with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9
ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.
The chair laid out HB 965 and recognized the Senate
sponsor, 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. Senator Hegar moved that HB 965 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 Hegar moved that the bill be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 2360 and recognized Senator
Seliger, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, 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 Seliger moved that HB 2360 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 as a matter of pending business
SB 1074 and recognized the author, Senator Jackson, to explain the bill. Senator Jackson moved that SB 1074 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 Jackson
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 Jackson on HB 571 and HB 1832;
Senator Duncan on HB 571, SB 1520, HB 444, HB 965, HB 2360, and SB 1074. These votes are reflected in the final
votes on the aforementioned bills.
There was no
action taken for the following bill:
HB 849
There being no
further business, at 10:39 AM Senator Fraser moved that the Committee be
adjourned. Without objection, it was so ordered.
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Senator Troy
Fraser, Chair
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Tatum Reagan,
Clerk