MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS & BORDER SECURITY

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

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 3, 2019, in the Betty King Committee Room at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Donna Campbell, Chair

 

None

Senator Bob Hall, Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Nathan Johnson

 

 

Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.

 

 

Senator José Menéndez

 

 

Senator Charles Schwertner

 

 

Senator Kel Seliger

 

 

 

*****

 

The chair called the meeting to order at 3:55 PM. The following business was transacted:

 

The chair recognized retired U.S. Army and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran, Mitch Fuller, to lead the committee in the pledges of allegiance to the United States and Texas flags.

 

At 3:58 PM Senator Seliger assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 1819 and recognized the author, Senator Campbell, 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 Campbell moved that SB 1819 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 2317 and recognized the author, Senator Campbell, 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 Campbell moved that SB 2317 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 4:03 PM Senator Campbell resumed the chair.  

 

The chair laid out SB 1539 and recognized the author, Senator Menéndez, 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.

 

At 4:15 PM roll call was taken, and a quorum was present.

 

Senator Hall moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on March 27, 2019; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 616.

 

Senator Hall sent up a committee substitute for SB 616. 

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. was recognized to discuss Amendment 1 to SB 616, sunset bill, that Senator Lucio, Jr. intends to offer as a floor amendment to SB 616.

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. withdrew his amendment.

 

Senator Schwertner was recognized to discuss Amendment 2 to SB 616, sunset bill, that Senator Schwertner intends to offer as a floor amendment to SB 616.

 

Senator Schwertner withdrew his amendment.

 

Senator Menéndez was recognized to discuss Amendment 3 and Amendment 4 to SB 616, sunset bill, that Senator Menéndez intends to offer as a floor amendment to SB 616.

Senator Menéndez withdrew his amendments.

 

Senator Johnson was recognized to discuss Amendment 5, Amendment 6, Amendment 7, Amendment 8, Amendment 9, Amendment 10, and Amendment 11 to SB 616, sunset bill, that Senator Johnson intends to offer as a floor amendment to SB 616.

 

Senator Johnson withdrew his amendments.

 

At 4:25 PM Senator Hall assumed the chair.

 

Senator Campbell was recognized to discuss Amendment 12 to SB 616, sunset bill, that Senator Campbell intends to offer as a floor amendment to SB 616.

 

Senator Campbell withdrew her amendment.

 

At 4:26 PM Senator Campbell resumed the chair.

 

Senator Hall moved that SB 616 do not pass but that CSSB 616 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 0 absent.

 

As a matter of pending business, the chair laid out SB 822.

 

Senator Hall moved that SB 822 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 0 absent.

 

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

 

At 4:28 PM Senator Hall assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 2047 and recognized Senator Campbell, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that SB 2047 do not pass but that CSSB 2047 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 0 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 2048.

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that SB 2048 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 0 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 2104.

 

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

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that SB 2104 do not pass but that CSSB 2104 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 0 absent.

 

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

 

At 4:37 PM Senator Campbell resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1180 and recognized the author, Senator Menéndez, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

The chair moved that SB 1180 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1597.

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that SB 1597 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 0 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 SB 1538 and recognized the author, Senator Menéndez, 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 1538 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 2127 and recognized the author, Senator Creighton, to explain the bill.

 

The chair sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Creighton 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 2127 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1598 and recognized the author, Senator Hall, 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 Campbell moved that SB 1598 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.  

 

The chair laid out SB 2131 and recognized the author, Senator Powell, 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 2131 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 2299 and recognized the author, Senator Powell, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1325 and recognized Senator Schwertner, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Campbell sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Schwertner to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Campbell 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 on SB 2299 be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony on SB 1325 be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Campbell moved that SB 1325 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

SB 2299 was left pending.

 

There being no further business, at 4:50 PM Senator Campbell moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Senator Donna Campbell, Chair

 

 

__________________________________________

Elliot Smith, Clerk