MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Tuesday, March 26, 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 26, 2013, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

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

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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 611 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, to explain the bill.

The roll was called at 9:05 AM. A quorum was present.

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 Nichols moved that SB 611 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Nichols moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1271 and recognized the author, Senator Eltife, to explain the bill.

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

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 Eltife moved that SB 1271 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Eltife moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

The Chairman read a Motion in Writing requesting unanimous consent to be shown voting aye submitted by the following: Senator Seliger on SB 611. This vote is reflected in the final vote on the aforementioned bill.

The chair laid out SB 1282 and recognized the author, Senator Duncan, to explain the bill.

Senator Duncan sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Duncan 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 Duncan moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Duncan moved that SB 1282 do not pass but that CSSB 1282 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Duncan moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1299 and recognized Senator Nichols, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. Senator Nichols sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nichols 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 Nichols moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Nichols moved that SB 1299 do not pass but that CSSB 1299 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Nichols moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

The Chairman read a Motion in Writing requesting unanimous consent to be shown voting aye submitted by the following: Senator Ellis on SB 611. This vote is reflected in the final vote on the aforementioned bill.

The chair laid out SB 1300 and recognized the author, Senator Eltife, to explain the bill. Senator Eltife sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Eltife 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 Eltife moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Eltife moved that SB 1300 do not pass but that CSSB 1300 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Eltife moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

The Chairman read a Motion in Writing requesting unanimous consent to be shown voting aye submitted by the following: Senator Hegar on SB 611, SB 1271, CSSB 1282, and CSSB 1299. These votes are reflected in the final vote on the aforementioned bills.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1012 and recognized Senator Estes, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. Senator Estes moved that SB 1012 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 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 as a matter of pending business SB 1156 and recognized Senator Ellis, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. Senator Ellis moved that SB 1156 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Ellis moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1241 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill. Senator Hegar moved that SB 1241 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 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 as a matter of pending business SB 272 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill. Senator Seliger sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Seliger to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Seliger moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Seliger moved that SB 272 do not pass but that CSSB 272 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Seliger moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 302 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill. Senator Seliger sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Seliger sent up Committee Amendment 2 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Seliger requested unanimous consent to incorporate the amendments into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Seliger then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Seliger moved that SB 302 do not pass but that CSSB 302 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, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out SB 1169 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 Hegar moved that SB 1169 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 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 791 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill. Senator Seliger sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Seliger to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

Senator Hegar assumed the chair.

Senator Fraser resumed the chair.

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 committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The Chairman read a Motion in Writing requesting unanimous consent to be shown voting aye submitted by the following: Senator Hinojosa on SB 611, SB 1271, CSSB 1282, CSSB 1299, SB 1169, SB 1012, SB 1156, SB 1241, CSSB 272, CSSB 302, and CSSB 1300. These votes are reflected in the final vote on the aforementioned bills.

The chair laid out SB 1423 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, 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 1423 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1225 and recognized Senator Hegar, in the absence of the author, 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 1225 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1835 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 1835 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Deuell submitted a Motion in Writing requesting unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on the following: SB 1271, CSSB 1282, CSSB 1299, CSSB 1300, SB 1012, SB 1156, SB 1241, CSSB 272, CSSB 302, and SB 1169. These votes are reflected in the final vote on the aforementioned bills.

There was no action taken for the following bill:

SB 508

There being no further business, at 10:45 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