MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE AFFAIRS

Monday, March 23, 2015

9:00 AM

Senate Chamber

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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 State Affairs was held on Monday, March 23, 2015, in the Senate Chamber.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Joan Huffman, Chair	Senator Rodney Ellis, Vice Chair
Senator Brian Birdwell
Senator Brandon Creighton
Senator Craig Estes
Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Jane Nelson
Senator Charles Schwertner
Senator Judith Zaffirini

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:04 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

The chair laid out SCR 1 and recognized the author, Senator Creighton, 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.

The chair moved that SCR 1 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 378 and recognized the author, Senator Rodríguez, 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.

The chair moved that SB 378 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 387 and recognized the author, Senator Rodríguez, to explain the bill.

Senator Creighton sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Rodriguez 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.

The chair moved that SB 387 and the committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 940 and recognized the author, Senator Taylor, Van, to explain the bill.

Senator Creighton sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Taylor, Van 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.

The chair moved that SB 940 and the committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 909 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, 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.

The chair moved that SB 909 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 824 and recognized the author, Senator Huffman, to explain the bill.

Senator Huffman sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Huffman 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.

The chair moved that SB 824 and the committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Huffman resumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 178 and recognized the author, Senator Nichols, 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.

The chair moved that SB 178 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 479 and recognized the author, Senator Schwertner, to explain the bill.

Senator Schwertner sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Schwertner 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.

The chair moved that SB 479 and the committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair moved that the Committee stand recessed until 10:55 AM. Without objection, it was so ordered.

At 11:06 AM the chair reconvened the meeting.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 814.

Senator Creighton sent up a committee substitute. Senator Creighton moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Creighton moved that SB 814 do not pass but that CSSB 814 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 Nelson, Senator Schwertner, and Senator Zaffirini requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

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 378.

Senator Creighton moved that SB 378 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 Nelson, Senator Schwertner, and Senator Zaffirini requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

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 909.

The chair moved that SB 909 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 Nelson, Senator Schwertner, and Senator Zaffirini requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

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 940.

Senator Creighton sent up a committee substitute. Senator Creighton moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Creighton moved that SB 940 do not pass but that CSSB 940 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 Nelson, Senator Schwertner, and Senator Zaffirini requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

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 SCR 1.

Senator Creighton moved that SCR 1 be reported favorably 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, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. Senator Nelson and Senator Schwertner requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

There being no further business, at 11:12 AM Senator Huffman moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Joan Huffman, Chair

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Ashley Brooks, Clerk