MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & COMMERCE

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

8:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.016

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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 Business & Commerce was held on Tuesday, April 28, 2015, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Kevin Eltife, Chair	None
Senator Brandon Creighton, Vice Chair
Senator Rodney Ellis
Senator Don Huffines
Senator Charles Schwertner
Senator Kel Seliger
Senator Larry Taylor
Senator Kirk Watson
Senator John Whitmire

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The chair called the meeting to order at 8:02 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

The following members arrived after the roll was called:

Senator Don Huffines

Senator Kel Seliger

Senator Eltife moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearings held on April 14, 2015, and April 16, 2015; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1031.

The chair laid out HB 1219, the companion bill, in lieu of SB 1031 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Watson, to explain the bill.

Senator Watson moved that HB 1219 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Huffines submitted a motion in writing voting aye.

Senator Watson 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 1229.

Senator Creighton moved that SB 1229 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Creighton 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 1367.

Senator Ellis moved to reconsider a vote from a previous hearing that adopted a committee substitute for SB 1367; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Ellis moved to pull down the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Ellis sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Ellis to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Ellis moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Ellis moved that SB 1367 do not pass but that CSSB 1367 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1427.

Senator Watson moved that SB 1427 do not pass but that CSSB 1427 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, 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 1485.

Senator Ellis moved that SB 1485 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 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 1585.

Senator Watson moved that SB 1585 do not pass but that CSSB 1585 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Watson 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 1950.

Senator Creighton moved that SB 1950 do not pass but that CSSB 1950 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Creighton moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Creighton assumed the chair.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1650.

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. Senator Taylor moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Taylor moved that SB 1650 do not pass but that CSSB 1650 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1652.

Senator Taylor sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Eltife to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Schwertner moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Schwertner moved that SB 1652 do not pass but that CSSB 1652 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 1 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Taylor moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Eltife resumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 374 and recognized the author, Senator Schwertner, 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 Eltife moved that SB 374 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Creighton assumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 1198 and recognized the author, Senator Eltife, to explain the bill.

Senator Huffines sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Eltife to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Huffines moved adoption of the committee substitute; 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 Creighton moved that SB 1198 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1916 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill.

Senator Taylor sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Watson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Creighton moved committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

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.

The chair laid out SB 1603 and recognized Senator Taylor, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

Senator Watson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Taylor to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Creighton moved committee substitute be left pending; 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 Creighton moved that SB 1603 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1323 and recognized the author, Senator Menéndez, to explain the bill.

Senator Creighton moved that SB 1323 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 92 and recognized the author, Senator Ellis, to explain the bill.

Senator Creighton sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Ellis to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Creighton moved committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Creighton moved that SB 92 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 121 and recognized Senator Ellis, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

Senator Taylor sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Ellis to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Creighton moved committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

Public testimony was opened on SB 92, SB 121 and SB 1323.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bills are shown on the attached list.

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

There being no further business, at 10:12 AM Senator Creighton moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Kevin Eltife, Chair

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Brady Faglie, Clerk