MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

9:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

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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 Natural Resources was held on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Troy Fraser, Chair		Senator Juan Hinojosa
Senator Craig Estes, Vice Chair
Senator Bob Deuell
Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Rodney Ellis
Senator Kevin Eltife
Senator Glenn Hegar
Senator Robert Nichols
Senator Kel Seliger
Senator Carlos Uresti

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 AM. The following business was transacted:

The chair laid out SB 683 and recognized the author, Senator Birdwell, to explain the bill.

Witnesses registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Fraser moved that SB 683 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Hegar moved that SB 683 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, present not voting, and 2 absent. Senator Hegar moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 198 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill.

Senator Fraser sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Watson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Fraser moved the committee substitute be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Estes moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Estes moved that SB 198 do not pass but that CSSB 198 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. Senator Estes moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 572 and recognized the author, Senator Taylor, to explain the bill.

Senator Fraser moved to limit testimony to 3 minutes; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 291 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill. Senator Fraser sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nelson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Fraser moved the committee substitute be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Uresti sent up Committee Amendment 1 and explained the amendment. Senator Nichols sent up Committee Amendment 2 and explained the amendment. Senator Uresti moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, the substitute was adopted. Senator Uresti moved adoption of Committee Amendment 1; without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Nichols moved adoption of Committee Amendment 2; without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Nichols requested unanimous consent to incorporate the amendments into the bill to create a new committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Nichols then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Nichols moved that SB 291 do not pass but that CSSB 291 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

The chair laid out SB 589 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Fraser moved that SB 589 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Hegar moved that SB 589 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. Senator Hegar moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 595 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill. Senator Hegar sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Hegar to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Fraser moved the committee substitute be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Hegar moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Hegar moved that SB 595 do not pass but that CSSB 595 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. Senator Hegar moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 702 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill.

Witnesses registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Fraser moved that SB 702 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Hegar moved that SB 702 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. Senator Hegar moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Estes assumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 447 and recognized the author, Senator Fraser, to explain the bill. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Estes moved that SB 447 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Fraser moved that SB 447 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. Senator Fraser moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Fraser resumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 347 and recognized Senator Hegar, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. Senator Hegar sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Hegar to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Witnesses registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Fraser moved committee substitute be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Seliger moved to adopt the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Seliger moved that SB 347 do not pass but that CSSB 347 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. Senator Seliger moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

At 10:02 AM Senator Fraser moved that the Committee stand in recess until 10:10 AM. Without objection, it was so ordered.

At 10:10 AM Senator Fraser reconvened the meeting. The roll was called a quorum was present.

There being no further business, at 10:25 AM Senator Fraser moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Troy Fraser, Chair

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Tatum Reagan, Clerk