MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION

Tuesday, March 26, 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 26, 2013, in the Betty King Committee Room at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair

 

Senator Larry Taylor

Senator Charles Schwertner, Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Brian Birdwell

 

OTHER LEGISLATIVE

Senator Sylvia Garcia

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Senator Ken Paxton

 

Senator Rodney Ellis

Senator José Rodríguez

 

Senator Leticia Van de Putte

 

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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:

 

Senator Schwertner moved that the minutes of the March 19 and March 20, 2013, hearings be approved. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1134 and recognized Senator Rodríguez to explain the bill by Senator Ellis. SB 1134 was left pending.

 

At 8:03 a.m. Senator Schwertner assumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1597 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. Senator Garcia sent up the committee substitute for SB 1597 and Senator Zaffirini moved its adoption. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. The Chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed. CSSB 1597 was left pending.

 

At 8:08 a.m. Senator Zaffirini re-assumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1101 and recognized the author, Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill. SB 1101 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1102 and recognized the author, Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill. SB 1102 was left pending.

 

At 8:13 a.m. Senator Schwertner assumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1602 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. Senator Garcia sent up the committee substitute for SB 1602 and Senator Zaffirini moved its adoption. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. The Chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed. CSSB 1602 was left pending.

 

At 8:17 a.m. Senator Zaffirini re-assumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out anew CSSB 1602 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 Schwertner moved that SB 1602 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 1602 was reported favorably. Senator Schwertner moved that CSSB 1602 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew SB 1101 by Senator Van de Putte, SB 1102 by Sentor Van de Putte, SB 1134 by Senator Ellis, and SB 1597 by Senator Zaffirini and opened public testimony. Names of

witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bills are on the attached list.

 

Senator Birdwell moved that SB 1101 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 6 ayes and 0 nays, SB 1101 was reported favorably. Senator Birdwell moved that SB 1101 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

Senator Garcia moved that SB 1102 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 6 ayes and 0 nays, SB 1102 was reported favorably. Senator Garcia moved that SB 1102 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

Senator Schwertner moved that SB 1134 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 6 ayes and 0 nays, SB 1134 was reported favorably. Senator Schwertner moved that SB 1134 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

Senator Birdwell moved that SB 1597 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 1597 was reported favorably. Senator Birdwell moved that CSSB 1597 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 SB 1101, SB 1102, SB 1134, and CSSB 1597. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and their votes were included in the total vote count.

 

There being no further business, at 8:41 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