MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION

Tuesday, April 2, 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, April 2, 2013, in the Betty King Committee Room at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair

 

None

Senator Charles Schwertner, Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Brian Birdwell

 

OTHER LEGISLATIVE

Senator Sylvia Garcia

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Senator Ken Paxton

 

Senator Robert Duncan

Senator José Rodríguez

 

Senator Rodney Ellis

Senator Larry Taylor

 

 

 

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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:

 

At 8:01 a.m. Senator Schwertner assumed the chair.

 

Senator Garcia moved that the minutes of the March 26, 2013, hearings be approved. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1457 and recognized the author, Senator Duncan, to explain the bill. Senator Garcia sent up the committee substitute for SB 1457 and moved its adoption. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. The Chair recognized Senator Duncan to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed. CSSB 1457 was left pending.

The Chair laid out SB 806 and recognized Senator Taylor to explain the bill by Senator Carona. Senator Garcia sent up the committee substitute for SB 806. The Chair recognized Senator Taylor to explain the difference between the proposed committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed. SB 806 and its proposed committee substitute were left pending.

The Chair laid out SB 1195 and recognized the author, Senator Ellis, to explain the bill. SB 1195 was left pending.

The Chair laid out SB 1430 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, to explain the bill.      SB 1430 was left pending.

The Chair laid out SB 217 and recognized Senator Paxton to explain the bill by Senator Patrick. SB 217 was left pending.

The Chair laid out SB 1613 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini to explain the bill. SB 1613 was left pending.

The Chair laid out SB 1679 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. Senator Garcia sent up the committee substitute for SB 1679 and 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 1679 was left pending.

The Chair laid out SB 1680 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. Senator Garcia sent up the committee substitute for SB 1680 and 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 1680 was left pending.

The Chair laid out SB 1681 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. Senator Garcia sent up the committee substitute for SB 1681 and 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 1681 was left pending.

The Chair laid out anew SB 217 by Senator Patrick 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 217 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 7 ayes and 0 nays, SB 217 was reported favorably. Senator

 

Garcia moved that SB 217 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew SB 806 by Senator Carona and its proposed committee substitute and opened public testimony. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill and the proposed committee substitute are on the attached list. SB 806 and its proposed committee substitute were left pending.

 

The Chair laid out anew SB 1430 by Senator Hinojosa 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 1430 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 7 ayes and 0 nays, SB 1430 was reported favorably. Senator Garcia moved that SB 1430 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew SB 1195 by Senator Ellis 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 1195 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 7 ayes and 0 nays, SB 1195 was reported favorably. Senator Garcia moved that SB 1195 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew CSSB 1457 by Senator Duncan 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 1457 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 7 ayes and 0 nays, the committee substitute for SB 1457 was reported favorably. Senator Garcia moved that CSSB 1457 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew SB 1613 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 1613 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 7 ayes and 0 nays, SB 1613 was reported favorably. Senator Garcia moved that SB 1613 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew CSSB 1679 by Senator Zaffirini, CSSB 1680 by Senator Zaffirini, and CSSB 1681 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 Garcia moved that CSSB 1679 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 7 ayes and 0 nays, the committee substitute for SB 1679 was reported favorably. Senator Garcia moved that CSSB 1679 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

Senator Garcia moved that CSSB 1680 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 7 ayes and 0 nays, the committee substitute for SB 1680 was reported favorably. Senator Garcia moved that CSSB 1680 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

Senator Garcia moved that CSSB 1681 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 7 ayes and 0 nays, the committee substitute for SB 1681 was reported favorably. Senator Garcia moved that CSSB 1681 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

Having been present during the hearing, Senator Birdwell, Senator Paxton, and Senator Taylor requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 217, SB 1195, SB 1430, CSSB 1457, SB 1613, CSSB 1679, CSSB 1680, and CSSB 1681. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and their votes were included in the total vote count.

 

At 9:04 a.m. Senator Zaffirini re-assumed the chair.

 

There being no further business, at 9:05 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