MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

1:30 PM or upon adjournment

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 Criminal Justice was held on Tuesday, March 17, 2015, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator John Whitmire, Chair	Senator José Menéndez
Senator Joan Huffman, Vice Chair
Senator Konni Burton
Senator Brandon Creighton
Senator Juan Hinojosa
Senator Charles Perry

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The chair called the meeting to order at 1:36 PM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

The following members arrived after the roll was called:

Senator Brandon Creighton

The chair laid out SB 95 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 Whitmire moved that SB 95 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1024 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, 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 Huffman moved that SB 1024 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

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

The chair laid out SB 147 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.

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 147 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

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

The chair laid out SB 589 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.

Senator Whitmire moved that SB 589 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 630 and recognized the author, Senator Rodríguez, to explain the bill.

Senator Whitmire sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Rodriguez to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Whitmire 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 Huffman moved that SB 630 do not pass but that CSSB 630 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

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

The chair laid out SB 345 and recognized the author, Senator Huffman, 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 Huffman moved that SB 345 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

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

At 3:07 PM Senator Huffman assumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 308 and recognized the author, Senator Whitmire, to explain the bill.

Senator Whitmire sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Whitmire to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Huffman 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 Whitmire moved that SB 308 do not pass but that CSSB 308 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

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

At 3:12 PM Senator Whitmire resumed the chair.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 461 and recognized the author, Senator Perry, to explain the bill.

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

Senator Perry moved that SB 461 do not pass but that CSSB 461 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

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

At 3:14 PM Senator Huffman assumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 536 and recognized the author, Senator Whitmire, to explain the bill.

Senator Whitmire sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Whitmire to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Whitmire 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 Whitmire moved that SB 536 do not pass but that CSSB 536 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

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

At 3:16 PM Senator Whitmire resumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 825 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. Senator Huffman 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 Huffman moved that SB 825 do not pass but that CSSB 825 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

There being no further business, at 3:23 PM Senator Whitmire moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator John Whitmire, Chair

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Jessie Cox, Clerk