MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS & BORDER SECURITY

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

1:30 PM or upon adjournment

Betty King Committee Room

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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 Veteran Affairs & Border Security was held on Wednesday, April 19, 2017, in the Betty King Committee Room at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Donna Campbell, Chair	Senator Bob Hall
Senator Don Huffines, Vice Chair
Senator Dawn Buckingham
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Senator José Rodríguez
Senator Carlos Uresti

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The chair called the meeting to order at 2:29 PM. There being a quorum present at 2:40 PM, the following business was transacted:

The following members arrived after the roll was called: Senator Rodríguez, Senator Huffines, and Senator Buckingham.

The Chair recognized Army Veteran and Veteran Affairs and Border Security Committee intern, Brad Burnett, to lead the committee in the pledges of allegiance to the United States and Texas flags.

Senator Lucio, Jr. assumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 1845 and recognized the author, Senator Campbell, 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 Lucio, Jr. moved that SB 1845 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Campbell resumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 1679 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, to explain the bill.

Senator Rodríguez sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Lucio, Jr. to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

The Chair moved to suspend consideration of SB 1679 temporarily.

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Lucio, Jr. moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on April 12, 2017; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 591 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, for a motion.

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 591; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that SB 591 do not pass but that CSSB 591 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 Lucio, Jr. 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 805 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, for a motion.

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 805; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that SB 805 do not pass but that CSSB 805 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.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1622 and recognized the author, Senator Uresti, for a motion.

Senator Uresti sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Uresti to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

Senator Uresti moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 1622; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Uresti moved that SB 1622 do not pass but that CSSB 1622 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.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1677 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, for a motion.

Senator Lucio moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 1677; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that SB 1677 do not pass but that CSSB 1677 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.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1698 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, for a motion.

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 1698; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that SB 1698 do not pass but that CSSB 1698 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.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1855 and recognized the author, Senator Uresti, for a motion.

Senator Uresti moved to withdraw the committee substitute that was sent up and considered at a previous hearing; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Uresti moved that SB 1855 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 Uresti 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 as a matter of pending business SB 1843 and recognized the author, Senator Campbell, for a motion.

Senator Campbell moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 1843; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Campbell moved that SB 1843 do not pass but that CSSB 1843 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 Campbell moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Campbell resumed the chair.

The chair opened up public testimony for SB 1679 by Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.

Witnesses testifying and registering on SB 1679 are shown on the attached list.

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

Having been present when a quorum was established, Senator Buckingham requested a Motion in Writing with unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on CSSB 591, CSSB 805, CSSB 1622, CSSB 1677, CSSB 1698, SB 1855, and CSSB 1843; without objection, it was so ordered.

Having been present when a quorum was established, Senator Huffines requested a Motion in Writing with unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on CSSB 591 and CSSB 805; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1936 and recognized the author, Senator Hughes, to explain the bill.

Senator Huffines sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Hughes 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 Campbell moved that SB 1936 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 614 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 Campbell moved that SB 614 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

There being no further business, at 3:19 PM Senator Campbell moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Donna Campbell, Chair

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Carrie Smith, Clerk