MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE AFFAIRS

Monday, May 4, 2015

9:00 AM

Senate Chamber

 

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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 State Affairs was held on Monday, May 4, 2015, in the Senate Chamber.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Joan Huffman, Chair

 

None

Senator Rodney Ellis, Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Brian Birdwell

 

 

Senator Brandon Creighton

 

 

Senator Craig Estes

 

 

Senator Troy Fraser

 

 

Senator Jane Nelson

 

 

Senator Charles Schwertner

 

 

Senator Judith Zaffirini

 

 

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:05 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

The chair laid out HB 1246 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hall, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Estes sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Hall to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.

 

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.

 

The chair moved that HB 1246 and the committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 2065 and recognized the author, Senator Estes, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Estes sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Estes 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 SB 2065 and the committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 10:44 AM the chair moved that the Committee stand recessed until 15 minutes after adjournment of the Senate. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ellis assumed the chair.

 

At 3:39 PM the chair reconvened the meeting.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 2065 and the committee substitute.

 

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.

 

The chair moved that SB 2065 and the committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 982 and recognized the author, Senator Bettencourt, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Estes assumed the chair.

 

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.

 

The chair moved that SB 982 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 983.

 

Senator Nelson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Bettencourt to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

 

The chair moved that SB 983 and the committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1022 and recognized the author, Senator Uresti, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Nelson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Uresti 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.

 

The chair moved that SB 1022 and the committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1299 and recognized the author, Senator Hall, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Huffman resumed the chair.

 

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

 

The chair moved that SB 1299 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business the committee substitute to HB 39.

 

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

 

Senator Birdwell moved that HB 39 do not pass but that CSHB 39 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Fraser, Senator Schwertner, and Senator Zaffirini requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ellis 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 431.

 

Senator Ellis moved that HB 431 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Fraser, Senator Schwertner, and Senator Zaffirini requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ellis 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 705.

 

Senator Ellis moved that HB 705 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Fraser, Senator Schwertner, and Senator Zaffirini requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ellis 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 the committee substitute to HB 1246.

 

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

 

Senator Birdwell moved that HB 1246 do not pass but that CSHB 1246 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Fraser, Senator Schwertner, and Senator Zaffirini requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ellis 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 2419.

 

Senator Ellis moved that HB 2419 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Fraser, Senator Schwertner, and Senator Zaffirini requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ellis 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 2604.

 

Senator Ellis moved that HB 2604 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Fraser, Senator Schwertner, and Senator Zaffirini requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ellis 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 the committee substitute to SB 983.

 

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

 

Senator Creighton moved that SB 983 do not pass but that CSSB 983 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Fraser and Senator Schwertner requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Creighton 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 the committee substitute to SB 1022.

 

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

 

Senator Ellis moved that SB 1022 do not pass but that CSSB 1022 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Fraser, Senator Schwertner, and Senator Zaffirini requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ellis 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 the committee substitute to SB 2065.

 

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

 

Senator Estes moved that SB 2065 do not pass but that CSSB 2065 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, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Fraser and Senator Schwertner requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ellis assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 3327.

 

Senator Huffman moved that HB 3327 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Schwertner and Senator Zaffirini requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

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

 

Senator Huffman resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1299.

 

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.

 

The chair moved that SB 1299 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 1937 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Fraser, 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.

 

The chair moved that HB 1937 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1862 and recognized the author, Senator Burton, 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.

 

The chair moved that SB 1862 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Creighton assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 1940 and recognized the author, Senator Huffman, 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.

 

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.

 

The chair moved that SB 1940 and the committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Huffman resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 531 and recognized the author, Senator Campbell, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Creighton sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Campbell 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.

 

The chair moved that SB 531 and the committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

There was no action taken for the following bill: SJR 8.

 

There being no further business, at 6:48 PM the chair moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

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Senator Joan Huffman, Chair

 

 

__________________________________________

Ashley Brooks, Clerk