MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & COMMERCE

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

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, March 21, 2017, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Kelly Hancock, Chair		Senator Donna Campbell
Senator Brandon Creighton, Vice Chair
Senator Craig Estes
Senator Robert Nichols
Senator Charles Schwertner
Senator Larry Taylor
Senator John Whitmire
Senator Judith Zaffirini

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The chair called the meeting to order at 8:03 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

Senator Creighton moved that testimony would be limited to 3 minutes; without objection, it was so ordered. Chairman Hancock moved that witnesses who have registered a position on a bill but who do not wish to testify, will be entered into the record. Without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 706 and recognized the author, Senator Birdwell, to explain the bill.

Senator Creighton sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Birdwell 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 Hancock moved committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 697 and recognized the author, Senator Buckingham, 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 Hancock moved that SB 697 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 78 and recognized Senator Creighton, in the absence of the author. Senator Creighton moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Creighton moved that SB 78 do not pass but that CSSB 78 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.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 361 and recognized the author, Senator Nichols. Senator Nichols moved that SB 361 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, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 515 and recognized the author, Senator Van Taylor, to explain the bill. Senator Creighton sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Van Taylor to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Creighton moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Creighton moved that SB 515 do not pass but that CSSB 515 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, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Creighton assumed the chair.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 452 and recognized the author, Senator Hancock. Senator Hancock moved that SB 452 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, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 736 and recognized the author, Senator Hancock. Senator Hancock sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Hancock to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Hancock moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Hancock moved that SB 736 do not pass but that CSSB 736 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 4 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. The motion failed to receive an affirmative vote of a majority of the membership of the committee. Senator Zaffirini moved to reconsider the vote by which CSSB 736 failed to receive an affirmative vote of a majority of the membership of the committee. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 736 do not pass but that CSSB 736 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion prevailed by a vote of 5 ayes, 3 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1002 and recognized the author, Senator Hancock. Senator Hancock moved that SB 1002 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 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 1070 and recognized the author, Senator Hancock, 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 Creighton moved that SB 1070 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Hancock resumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 519 and recognized the author, Senator Creighton, 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 Hancock moved that SB 519 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 520 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. Senator Hancock moved that SB 520 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1171 and recognized Senator Schwertner, 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 Hancock moved that SB 1171 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1076 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. Senator Hancock moved committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 728 and recognized the author, Senator Van Taylor, 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 Hancock moved that SB 728 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Hancock announced that the hearing would meet in the Betty King room upon adjournment of the Senate.

At 9:55 AM Senator Hancock moved that the Committee stand recessed until 30 minutes after adjournment of the Senate. Without objection, it was so ordered.

At 1:30 PM Senator Nichols assumed the chair, and reconvened the meeting.

The chair laid out SB 563 and recognized the author, Senator Hancock, 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 Nichols moved that SB 563 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1071 and recognized the author, Senator Hancock, to explain the bill.

Senator Hancock sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Hancock 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 committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1072 and recognized the author, Senator Hancock, 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 Nichols moved that SB 1072 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1073 and recognized the author, Senator Hancock, to explain the bill.

Senator Hancock sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Hancock 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 committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1003 and recognized the author, Senator Hancock, 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 1003 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1004 and recognized the author, Senator Hancock, to explain the bill.

Senator Creighton assumed the chair.

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Creighton moved committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

There being no further business, at 3:00 PM 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 Kelly Hancock, Chair

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Tatum Reagan, Clerk