MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS & MILITARY INSTALLATIONS

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

11:30 AM or upon adjournment

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 & Military Installations was held on Wednesday, April 15, 2015, in the Betty King Committee Room at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Donna Campbell, Chair

 

None

Senator Konni Burton, Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Brian Birdwell

 

 

Senator Sylvia Garcia

 

 

Senator Bob Hall

 

 

Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.

 

 

Senator José Rodríguez

 

 

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 4:20 PM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

The chair recognized Kevin Krpec, Seth Allen, Agustina Aguayo, Heather Groves, Gino Helkena, and David Brooks of the Texas National Guard Challenge Academy to lead the committee in the Pledges to the United States and Texas flags.

 

Senator Hall moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on April 8, 2015; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senators Garcia and Burton arrived.

 

The chair laid out SB 1463 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, to explain the bill.

 

The chair laid out SB 1963 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, to explain the bill.

 

The chair laid out SB 661 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. Senator Campbell moved 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 Campbell moved that SB 661 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business the previously adopted committee substitute to SB 2001 and recognized the author, Senator Garcia, to explain the substitute.

 

Senator Garcia moved that SB 2001 do not pass but that CSSB 2001 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. 0.

 

Senator Garcia 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 1532 and recognized the author, Senator Burton, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

Senator Burton moved that SB 1532 do not pass but that CSSB 1532 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Burton 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 961 and recognized the author, Senator Rodríguez, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Rodríguez moved that SB 961 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Rodríguez 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 33 and recognized the author, Senator Rodríguez, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Rodríguez moved that SCR 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 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Rodríguez 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 37 and recognized Senator Burton, in the absence of the author, Senator Larry Taylor, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Burton moved that SCR 37 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

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

 

The chair recognized Senator Birdwell to lay out the Subcommittee Report on SB 1464.

 

Senator Birdwell moved adoption of the subcommittee report for SB 1464 including the recommendation that SB 1464 do not pass, but that the committee substitute adopted in lieu thereof be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

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

 

The chair opened public testimony on SB 1963. 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 1963 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair opened public testimony on SB 1463. 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 1463 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

There being no further business, at 5:20 PM 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

 

 

__________________________________________

Bailey Olderog, Clerk