MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Wednesday, April 8, 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 Transportation was held on Wednesday, April 8, 2015, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Robert Nichols, Chair		None
Senator Don Huffines, Vice Chair
Senator Rodney Ellis
Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Sylvia Garcia
Senator Bob Hall
Senator Kelly Hancock
Senator Lois Kolkhorst
Senator Van Taylor

 

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 8:00 AM. The following business was transacted:

 

The chair laid out SB 840 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill. Senator Hancock 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 Nichols moved that SB 840 and its proposed committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

The chair laid out SB 1467 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill. Senator Hancock sent up Committee Amendment 1.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. 

 

The roll was called, and a quorum was established.

 

Testimony on SB 1467 continued.  The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Hancock moved adoption of Committee Amendment 1; without objection, the amendment was adopted.  Senator Hancock requested unanimous consent to incorporate the amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Hancock then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Hancock moved that SB 1467 do not pass but that CSSB 1467 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 0 absent.  Senator Huffines, Senator Fraser and Senator Garcia requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Hancock moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1601 and recognized the author, Senator Kolkhorst, to explain the bill.

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

Senator Kolkhorst moved that SB 1601 do not pass but that CSSB 1601 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, 4 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

The chair laid out SJR 17 and recognized the author, Senator Perry, 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 Huffines moved that SJR 17 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 0 absent. Senator Kolkhorst requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1451 and recognized the author, Senator Ellis, 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 Ellis moved that SB 1451 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 0 absent.  Senator Kolkhorst requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.  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 SB 320 and recognized Senator Ellis, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.  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.  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 320 and its proposed committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 678.  Senator Huffines sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Huffines 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.  Senator Huffines moved that SB 678 do not pass but that CSSB 678 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 0 absent.  Senator Kolkhorst requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Huffines 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 SB1308.  Senator Huffines sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Huffines 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.  Senator Huffines moved that SB 1308 do not pass but that CSSB 1308 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 0 absent.  Senator Kolkhorst requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 9:56 AM Senator Nichols moved that the Committee stand recessed until 1:20 PM. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 At 3:00 PM Senator Nichols reconvened the Committee.

 

The chair laid out SB 1561 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. 

Senator Huffines sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Zaffirini 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 Nichols moved that SB 1561 and its proposed committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 58 and recognized Senator Taylor, in the absence of the author, 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 Nichols moved that SB 58 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1056 and recognized Senator Hancock, in the absence of the author, 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 Nichols moved that SB 1056 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1502 and recognized the author, Senator Garcia, 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 Nichols moved that SB 1502 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1504 and recognized the author, Senator Garcia, to explain the bill. 

Senator Garcia sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Garcia 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 Nichols moved that SB 1504 and its proposed committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1561, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing.  Senator Huffines moved adoption of a committee substitute sent up at earlier in the hearing; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Huffines moved that SB 1561 do not pass but that CSSB 1561 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 Fraser and Senator Taylor requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Huffines moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Huffines assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 1294 and recognized the author, Senator Nichols, 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 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 Huffines moved that SB 1294 and its proposed committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Nichols resumed the chair.

 

There being no further business, at 4:38 PM Senator Nichols moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Robert Nichols, Chair

 

 

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Amy Jeter, Clerk