MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
8:00 a.m.
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 Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in the Betty King Committee Room at Austin, Texas.
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MEMBERS PRESENT: |
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MEMBERS ABSENT: |
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Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair |
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Senator Larry Taylor |
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Senator Charles Schwertner, Vice Chair |
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Senator Brian Birdwell |
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OTHER LEGISLATIVE |
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Senator Sylvia Garcia |
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MEMBERS PRESENT: |
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Senator Ken Paxton |
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Senator Craig Estes |
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Senator José Rodríguez |
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Senator Glenn Hegar |
Senator Joan Huffman
Senator Jane Nelson
Senator Carlos Uresti
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The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
The Chair introduced and welcomed Senator Sylvia Garcia and recognized her to make opening remarks and introduce her staff. Senator Garcia introduced Debbie Gonzalez and Lillie Schechter.
Senator Schwertner moved that the minutes of the February 19, 2013, hearing be approved. The
motion was adopted by unanimous consent.
The Chair laid out SB 615 and recognized the author, Senator Estes, to explain the bill.
Senator Schwertner sent up the committee substitute for SB 615 and moved its adoption. The
motion was adopted by unanimous consent. The Chair recognized Senator Estes to explain the
difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed. CSSB 615 was left
pending.
The Chair laid out SB 770 and recognized the author, Senator Uresti, to explain the bill.
Senator Birdwell sent up the committee substitute for SB 770 and moved its adoption. The
motion was adopted by unanimous consent. The Chair recognized Senator Uresti to explain the
difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed. CSSB 770 was left
pending.
The Chair laid out SB 59 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill. Senator Paxton sent up the committee substitute for SB 59. He also sent up committee amendment number one and moved that it be adopted and rolled into a new committee substitute and that the new committee substitute, as amended, be adopted. The Chair recognized Senator Nelson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed. CSSB 59 was left pending.
The Chair laid out SB 700 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill.
Senator Garcia sent up the committee substitute for SB 700 and moved its adoption. The
motion was adopted by unanimous consent. The Chair recognized Senator Hegar to explain the
difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed. CSSB 700 was left
pending.
The Chair laid out SB 202 and recognized the author, Senator Huffman, to explain the bill. SB 202 was left pending.
At 8:14 a.m. Senator Schwertner assumed the chair.
The Chair laid out SB 533 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. SB 533 was left pending.
At 8:16 a.m. Senator Zaffirini re-assumed the chair.
The Chair laid out anew CSSB 59 by Senator Nelson and opened public testimony. Names of
witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list.
Senator Garcia moved that SB 59 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do not pass, but that the committee substitute adopted in lieu thereof do pass and be printed. There being 6 ayes and 0 nays, the committee substitute for SB 59 was reported favorably. Senator Garcia moved that CSSB 59 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.
The Chair laid out anew CSSB 615 by Senator Estes and opened public testimony. Names of
witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list.
Senator Schwertner moved that SB 615 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do not pass, but that the committee substitute adopted in lieu thereof do pass and be printed. There being 6 ayes and 0 nays, the committee substitute for SB 615 was reported favorably. Senator Schwertner moved that CSSB 615 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.
The Chair laid out anew CSSB 770 by Senator Uresti and opened public testimony. Names of
witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list.
Senator Birdwell moved that SB 770 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do not pass, but that the committee substitute adopted in lieu thereof do pass and be printed. There being 6 ayes and 0 nays, the committee substitute for SB 770 was reported favorably. Senator Birdwell moved that CSSB 770 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.
The Chair laid out anew CSSB 700 by Senator Hegar and opened public testimony. Names of
witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list.
Senator Birdwell moved that SB 700 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do not pass, but that the committee substitute adopted in lieu thereof do pass and be printed. There being 6 ayes and 0 nays, the committee substitute for SB 700 was reported favorably. Senator Birdwell moved that CSSB 700 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.
The Chair laid out anew SB 202 by Senator Huffman and opened public testimony. Names of
witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list.
Senator Schwertner moved that SB 202 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 6 ayes and 0 nays, SB 202 was reported favorably. Senator Schwertner moved that SB 202 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.
The Chair laid out anew SB 533 by Senator Zaffirini and opened public testimony. Names of
witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list.
Senator Garcia moved that SB 533 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 6 ayes and 0 nays, SB 533 was reported favorably. Senator Garcia moved that SB 533 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.
Having been present during the hearing, Senator Paxton and Senator Rodriguez requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on CSSB 59, SB 202, SB 533, CSSB 615, CSSB 700, and CSSB 770. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and their votes were included in the total vote count.
There being no further business, at 8:28 a.m., the Chair announced that the committee would stand in recess, subject to the call of the Chair.
Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair
Gonzalo Serrano, Clerk