MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON BORDER SECURITY

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

2:00 PM or upon adjournment

Capitol Extension, Room E1.016

*****

Pursuant to suspension of Senate Rule 11.18 and 11.19, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Border Security was held on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.

*****

MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Brian Birdwell, Chair	None
Senator Pete Flores, Vice Chair
Senator César Blanco
Senator Juan Hinojosa
Senator Phil King

*****

The chair called the meeting to order at 2:00 PM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

The following members arrived after the roll was called:

Senator Phil King

The following individual provided a briefing regarding border security:

Colonel Steven McCraw, Director, Texas Department of Public Safety

The chair laid out SB 4 and recognized the author, Senator Flores, to explain the bill.

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

The following resource witnesses provided testimony (see attached witness list).

· Border Prosecution Unit

o Tonya Ahlschwede, 452nd District Attorney, BPU

o Nelson Barnes, 452nd Asst. District Attorney, BPU

o Tom Krampitz, General Counsel, BPU

o Steven McCraw, Director, Texas DPS

o John Hubert, District Attorney, BPU

At 3:32 PM Senator Birdwell moved that the Committee stand at ease.

At 3:51 PM Senator Birdwell reconvened the meeting.

The chair recognized Senator Flores to continue discussion on the committee substitute for SB 4.

Testimony by the resource witnesses resumed on SB 4.

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 Flores moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Flores moved that SB 4 do not pass but that CSSB 4 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 0 absent.

At 4:20 PM Senator Flores assumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 11 and recognized the author, Senator Birdwell, to explain the bill.

The following resource witnesses provided testimony (see attached witness list).

· Border Prosecution Unit

o Tom Krampitz, General Counsel, BPU

· Texas Department of Public Safety

o Steven McCraw, Director, Texas DPS

· Texas Department of Criminal Justice

o Bryan Collier, Executive Director, TDCJ

· Office of Court Administration

o Megan LaVoie, Administrative Director, OCA

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 11 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 3 ayes, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

At 5:30 PM Senator Birdwell resumed the chair.

There being no further business, at 5:31 PM Senator Birdwell moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

__________________________________________

Senator Brian Birdwell, Chair

__________________________________________

Jennifer Trevino, Clerk