MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

8:00 AM

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, May 7, 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

 

Kelly Hancock

Senator José Rodríguez

 

 

 

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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 30, 2013, hearing be approved. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out HB 1548 by Representative Bill Callegari and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hancock, to explain the bill. HB 1548 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out HB 2252 by Representative Trent Ashby and recognized Senator Paxton to explain the bill on behalf of Senator Nichols, the Senate sponsor. HB 2252 was left pending.

The Chair laid out HB 2422 by Representative Larry Gonzales and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Schwertner, to explain the bill. HB 2422 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out HB 2710 by Representative Larry Gonzales and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Schwertner, to explain the bill. HB 2710 was left pending.

The Chair laid out HB 1128 by Representative Abel Herrero and recognized Senator Rodriguez to explain the bill on behalf of Senator Garcia, the Senate sponsor. HB 1128 was left pending.

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

The Chair laid out SB 221 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.       SB 221 was left pending.

At 8:14 a.m. Senator Zaffirini re-assumed the chair.

The Chair laid out anew HB 2252 by Representative Ashby, sponsored by Senator Nichols, 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 HB 2252 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 6 ayes and 0 nays, HB 2252 was reported favorably. Senator Schwertner moved that HB 2252 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

The Chair laid out anew HB 2710 by Representative Gonzales, sponsored by Senator Schwertner, 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 HB 2710 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 6 ayes and 0 nays, HB 2710 was reported favorably. Senator Schwertner moved that HB 2710 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

The Chair laid out anew HB 1128 by Representative Herrero, sponsored by Senator Garcia, and opened public testimony. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. HB 1128 was left pending.

The Chair laid out anew HB 2422 by Representative Gonzales, sponsored by Senator Schwertner, and opened public testimony. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. HB 2422 was left pending.

The Chair laid out anew SB 221 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 Birdwell moved that SB 221 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 6 ayes and 0 nays, SB 221 was reported favorably. Senator Birdwell moved that SB 221 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

The Chair laid out anew HB 1548 by Representative Callegari, sponsored by Senator Hancock, and opened public testimony. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. HB 1548 was left pending.

At 8:33 a.m. Senator Schwertner assumed the chair.

Having been present during the hearing, Senator Paxton requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 221, and HB 2710. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and his votes were included in the total vote count.

There being no further business, at 9:04 a.m. the Chair announced that the committee would stand in recess, subject to the call of the Chair.

 

 

Judith Zaffirini, Chair

 

 

Gonzalo Serrano, Clerk