MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION

Tuesday, April 23, 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 23, 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
Senator Sylvia Garcia
Senator Ken Paxton
Senator José Rodríguez
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:

Senator Schwertner moved that the minutes of the April 9 and April 17, 2013, hearings be approved. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

The Chair laid out SB 1699 and recognized the author, Senator Rodríguez, to explain the bill. Senator Rodríguez sent up the committee substitute for SB 1699 and moved its adoption. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. The Chair recognized Senator Rodríguez to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed. CSSB 1699 was left pending.

The Chair laid out HB 2472 by Representative Byron Cook and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Birdwell, to explain the bill. HB 2472 was left pending.

The Chair laid out anew CSSB 1699 by Senator Rodríguez and opened public testimony. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. CSSB 1699 was left pending.

The Chair laid out anew HB 2472 by Representative Byron Cook, sponsored by Senator Birdwell, 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 HB  2472 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 7 ayes and 0 nays, HB 2472 was reported favorably. Senator Birdwell moved that HB 2472 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

There being no further business, at 9:08 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