MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Tuesday, April 13, 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, April 13, 2021, 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 Paul Bettencourt
Senator Brian Birdwell
Senator Juan Hinojosa
Senator Borris Miles
Senator Robert Nichols

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 8:34 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

The chair laid out SB 1550 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, 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 1550 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 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 906 and recognized the author, Senator Perry, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Huffman 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 Huffman moved 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 Huffman moved that SB 906 do not pass but that CSSB 906 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

 

No witnesses testified on the bill.

 

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 906 and recognized the author, Senator Perry, 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 Birdwell moved that SB 906 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 710 and recognized the author, Senator Hall, to explain the bill.

 

No witnesses testified on the bill.

 

Senator Whitmire 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 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 710 do not pass but that CSSB 710 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 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 as a matter of pending business SB 181 and recognized the author, Senator Johnson, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

Senator Whitmire moved that SB 181 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 109 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 Birdwell moved that SB 109 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

 

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

 

The chair laid out SB 1544 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 1544 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 474 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, 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 Hinojosa moved that SB 474 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

 

Senator Hinojosa 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 281 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Whitmire moved that SB 281 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Miles moved that SB 281 do not pass but that CSSB 281 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

 

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

 

The chair laid out SB 576 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 576 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Huffman moved that SB 576 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. 

 

The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

 

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

 

At 9:55 AM Senator Huffman assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 1395 and recognized the author, Senator Whitmire, 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 1395 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 223 and recognized the author, Senator Whitmire, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Whitmire sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Whitmire to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Huffman moved the committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Huffman moved that SB 223 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 10:26 AM Senator Whitmire resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 503 and recognized the author, Senator Miles, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Miles sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Miles to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Whitmire moved 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 503 do not pass but that CSSB 503 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 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 as a matter of pending business SB 181.

 

Senator Miles moved that SB 181 do not pass but that CSSB 181 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 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 as a matter of pending business SCR 1.

 

Senator Miles moved that SCR 1 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 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 10:37 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