MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS & BORDER SECURITY

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

9:00 AM

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 21, 2021, in the Betty King Committee Room at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Donna Campbell, Chair		Senator César Blanco
Senator Bob Hall, Vice Chair		Senator Kel Seliger
Senator Sarah Eckhardt
Senator Roland Gutierrez
Senator Larry Taylor

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:01 AM. The following business was transacted:

 

 

 The following members arrived after the roll was called:

Senator Sarah Eckhardt, Senator Roland Gutierrez, Senator Larry Taylor, Senator Bob Hall.

 

The chair recognized Nathan Mccracken to lead the Committee in the Pledges to the United States and Texas flags.

 

The chair laid out HB 33 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 Campbell moved that HB 33 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 626 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Taylor sent up a committee substitute.

 

The chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.

 

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 HB 626 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The clerk called the roll and a quorum was established at 9:18 a.m.

 

The chair laid out HB 139 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 HB 139 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 149 and recognized the author, Senator Powell, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Taylor sent up a committee substitute.

 

The chair recognized Senator Powell to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

 

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 149 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 337 and recognized the author, Senator Powell, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Campbell sent up a committee substitute.

 

The chair recognized Senator Powell 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 337 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SCR 4 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 SCR 4 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 397 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 397 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SCR 34 and recognized Senator Gutierrez, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Campbell sent up a committee substitute.

 

The chair recognized Senator Gutierrez 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 SCR 34 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 33. 

 

Senator Hall moved that HB 33 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 Hall 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 HB 626.

 

Senator Hall moved that HB 626 do not pass but that CSHB 626 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 Taylor 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 397.

 

Senator Gutierrez moved that SB 397 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 Hall 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 HB 139.

 

Senator Taylor moved that HB 139 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.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 149.

 

Senator Eckhardt moved that SB 149 do not pass but that CSSB 149 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 Eckhardt 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 337.

 

Senator Hall moved that SB 337 do not pass but that CSSB 337 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 Hall 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 4.

 

Senator Eckhardt moved that SCR 4 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 Eckhardt moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 932 and SB 1245 as a matter of pending business, the bills were left pending.

 

There being no further business, at 10:09 AM 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

 

 

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Brandon Gajeton, Clerk