MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

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

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator John Whitmire, Chair	None
Senator Joan Huffman, Vice Chair
Senator Brian Birdwell
Senator Konni Burton
Senator Brandon Creighton
Senator Sylvia Garcia
Senator Bryan Hughes
Senator José Menéndez
Senator Charles Perry

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The chair called the meeting to order at 1:39 PM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

The following members arrived after the roll was called:

Senator Joan Huffman

The chair laid out SB 773 and recognized the author, Senator Uresti, 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 Perry moved that SB 773 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, 1 present not voting, and 2 absent. Senator Garcia requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 773. Senator Creighton and Senator Hughes were absent. Senator Burton was shown present and not voting.

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

The chair laid out SB 91 and recognized the author, Senator Hall, to explain the bill.

Senator Hall sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Hall 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 Birdwell moved that SB 91 do not pass but that CSSB 91 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, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Garcia and Senator Creighton requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on CSSB 91.

The chair laid out SB 30 and recognized the author, Senator West, 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 30 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 Garcia and Senator Creighton requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 30. Senator Hughes was absent.

The chair laid out SB 998 and recognized the author, Senator West, 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 Birdwell moved that SB 998 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 Garcia and Senator Creighton requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 998. Senator Hughes was absent.

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

The chair laid out SB 256 and recognized the author, Senator Taylor, Van, to explain the bill.

At 2:54 PM Senator Huffman assumed the chair.

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 256 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 327 and recognized the author, Senator Burton, to explain the bill.

At 3:02 PM Senator Whitmire resumed the chair.

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.

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Huffman moved that SB 327 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 Garcia and Senator Creighton requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB327. Senator Hughes was absent.

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

As a matter of pended business, the chair recognized Senator Huffman for a motion. Senator Huffman moved that SB 256 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 Garcia, Senator Creighton, and Senator Perry requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 256. Senator Hughes was 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 395 and recognized Senator Huffman, 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 Huffman moved that SB 395 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 3 absent. Senator Garcia requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 395. Senator Hughes, Senator Burton and Senator Perry were absent.

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

At 3:06 PM Senator Huffman assumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 582 and recognized the author, Senator Whitmire, 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 Menéndez moved that SB 582 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 3 absent. Senator Garcia requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 582. Senator Hughes, Senator Burton and Senator Perry were absent.

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

The chair laid out SB 613 and recognized the author, Senator Whitmire, 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 Creighton moved that SB 613 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 Garcia requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 613. Senator Hughes and Senator Burton absent.

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

At 3:13 PM Senator Whitmire resumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 843 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.

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 Menéndez moved that SB 843 do not pass but that CSSB 843 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, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent Senator Garcia requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 843. Senator Hughes and Senator Burton absent.

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

There being no further business, at 3:16 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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Terra Tucker, Clerk