MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION

Thursday, May 16, 2013

8:00 AM

Betty King Committee Room

 

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Pursuant to suspension of Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Government Organization was held on Thursday, May 16, 2013, in the Betty King Committee Room at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair

 

Senator Ken Paxton

Senator Charles Schwertner, Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Brian Birdwell

 

 

Senator Sylvia Garcia

 

 

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 May 14, 2013, hearing be approved. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out HB 3116 by Representative Byron Cook and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Schwertner, to explain the bill. HB 3116 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out HB 3648 by Representative Linda Harper-Brown and recognized Senator Schwertner to explain the bill on behalf of Senator Paxton, the Senate sponsor. Senator Schwertner sent up the committee substitute for HB 3648. The Chair recognized Senator Schwertner to explain the difference between the proposed committee substitute and the House bill as engrossed. HB 3648 and its proposed committee substitute were left pending.

 

At 8:07 a.m. Senator Schwertner assumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out HB 12 by Representative Dan Flynn and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. HB 12 was left pending.

 

At 8:10 a.m. Senator Zaffirini re-assumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out anew HB 3648 by Representative Harper-Brown, sponsored by Senator Paxton, 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. HB 3648 and its proposed committee substitute were left pending.

 

The Chair laid out anew HB 3116 by Representative Cook, 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 3116 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out anew HB 12 by Representative Flynn, sponsored 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. HB 12 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out anew HB 1128 by Representative Herrero, sponsored by Senator Garcia. Senator Garcia sent up the committee substitute for HB 1128 and moved its adoption. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. The Chair recognized Senator Garcia to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the House bill as engrossed. Senator Garcia moved that HB 1128 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 5 ayes and 0 nays, CSHB 1128 was reported favorably. Senator Garcia moved that CSHB 1128 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

At 9:12 a.m. Senator Schwertner assumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out anew HB 1965 by Representative Harper-Brown, sponsored by Senator Zaffirini. Senator Zaffirini sent up the committee substitute for HB 1965 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 House bill as engrossed. Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 1965 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, CSHB 1965 was reported favorably. Senator Zaffirini moved that CSHB 1965 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

At 9:15 a.m. Senator Zaffirini re-assumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out anew HB 2718 by Representative Guillen, sponsored by Senator Deuell. Senator Schwertner moved that HB 2718 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 5 ayes and 0 nays, HB 2718 was reported favorably. Senator Schwertner moved that HB 2718 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew CSHB 2895 by Representative Bonnen, sponsored by Senator Taylor. Senator Garcia moved that HB 2895 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 5 ayes and 0 nays, CSHB 2895 was reported favorably. Senator Taylor moved that CSHB 2895 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

At 9:16 a.m. Senator Schwertner assumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out anew HB 3093 by Representative Elkins, sponsored by Senator Zaffirini. Senator Zaffirini sent up the committee substitute for HB 3093 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 House bill as engrossed. Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 3093 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, CSHB 3093 was reported favorably. Senator Zaffirini moved that CSHB 3093 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

At 9:19 a.m. Senator Zaffirini re-assumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out anew HB 3674 by Representative Muñoz, sponsored by Senator Hinojosa. Senator Garcia moved that HB 3674 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 5 ayes and 0 nays, CSHB 3674 was reported favorably. Senator Schwertner moved that HB 3674 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

Having been present during the hearing, Senator Birdwell requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on CSHB 1965 and CSHB 3093. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and his votes were included in the total vote count.

 

Having been present during the hearing, Senator Rodríguez requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on CSHB 1128, CSHB 1965, HB 2718,  CSHB 2895, CSHB 3093, and        HB 3674. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and his votes were included in the total vote count.

 

There being no further business, at 9:20 a.m. Senator Schwertner moved that the committee stand in recess, subject to the call of the Chair. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

 

Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair

 

Gonzalo Serrano, Clerk