MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

8:30 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 Criminal Justice was held on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator John Whitmire, Chair		Senator Robert Nichols
Senator Joan Huffman, Vice Chair
Senator Paul Bettencourt
Senator Brian Birdwell
Senator Juan Hinojosa
Senator Borris Miles

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 8:40 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

The following members arrived after the roll was called: Senator Whitmire, Senator Huffman, Senator Hinojosa, Senator Miles.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved adoption of the committee rules. The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent. The following members arrived after the roll was called: Senator Bettencourt and Senator Birdwell.

 

The chair laid out SB 48 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, 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 Whitmire moved that SB 48 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 Whitmire moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 36 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Whitmire sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Whitmire moved that the 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 Whitmire moved that SB 36 do not pass but that CSSB 36 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 Whitmire 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 9:00 AM Senator Whitmire moved that the Committee stand recessed until 9:15 AM. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 9:30 AM Senator Whitmire reconvened the meeting.

 

The chair laid out SB 111 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 Bettencourt moved that SB 111 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 Bettencourt moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 112 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 Whitmire moved that SB 112 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 510 and recognized the author, Senator Perry, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Whitmire 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 Bettencourt moved that the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

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

 

Senator Bettencourt moved that SB 510 do not pass but that CSSB 510 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 Bettencourt moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 511 and recognized the author, Senator Perry, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

Senator Bettencourt moved that SB 511 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 Bettencourt moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 444 and recognized the author, Senator Hughes, 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 444 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 237 and recognized the author, Senator Bettencourt, 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 237 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 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 476 and recognized Senator Huffman, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Huffman sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Huffman to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Huffman moved that the 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 Huffman moved that SB 476 do not pass but that CSSB 476 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 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 281 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, 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 Whitmire moved that SB 281 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

There being no further business, at 10:34 AM 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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Giovanna DiNapoli, Clerk