MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON OPEN GOVERNMENT, SELECT

Thursday, May 19, 2011

8:30 AM

Betty King Committee Room

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rules 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Open Government, Select was held on Thursday, May 19, 2011, in the Betty King Committee Room at the State Capitol, in Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chair

 

Senator Florence Shapiro

Senator Wendy Davis, Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Rodney Ellis

 

 

Senator Kevin Eltife

 

 

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 8:36 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

Senator Eltife moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on May 12, 2011; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 2947 and recognized Senator Eltife, 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 Eltife moved that HB 2947 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 3 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 2463 and recognized Senator Davis, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Davis sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Davis to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed. Senator Davis moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

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 Davis moved that HB 2463 do not pass but that CSHB 2463 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 3 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

 

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

 

Senator Davis assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out HB 2460 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Wentworth, 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 Wentworth moved that HB 2460 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 3 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

 

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

 

The chair laid out SB 1923 and recognized the author, Senator Wentworth, 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 Wentworth moved that SB 1923 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Wentworth resumed the chair.

 

Senator Eltife moved that the vote by which HB 2947 passed be reconsidered; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Eltife sent up and moved adoption of a committee substitute for HB 2947; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Eltife moved that HB 2947 do not pass but that CSHB 2947 be reported back 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 1 absent.

 

There being no further business, Senator Wentworth moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 6:12 PM Senator Wentworth reconvened the meeting.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chair

 

Senator Kevin Eltife

Senator Florence Shapiro

 

Senator Wendy Davis

Senator Rodney Ellis

 

 

 

 

 

 

The chair called the meeting to order at 6:12 PM.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

The chair laid out HB 1500 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Nichols, 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 Ellis moved that HB 1500 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 1 absent.

 

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

 

There being no further business, at 6:14 PM Senator Wentworth moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chair

 

 

__________________________________________

Amanda Kit, Clerk