MINUTES
Wednesday, March 14, 2001
3:00 p.m. or upon adjournment
Lt. Governor Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Veteran Affairs & Military
Installations Committee was held on Wednesday, March 14, 2001,
in the Lt. Governor Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20, at Austin,
Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Carlos F. Truan Senator Eliot Shapleigh
Senator Troy Fraser Senator Leticia Van de
Putte
Senator Tom Haywood
*****
Chairman Truan called the meeting to order at 3:03 p.m. There
being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
Chairman Truan laid out SB 1140 and recognized the author,
Senator Carona, to explain the bill. Senator Truan moved that SB
1140 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it
was so ordered. Upon the arrival of that quorum, Senator
Fraser moved that SB 1140 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, 0 nay, 0 present
not voting, and 2 absent. Senator Fraser moved that the bill be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;
without objection, it was so ordered.
Chairman Truan laid out SB 911 and recognized the author,
Senator Madla, to explain the bill. Christopher Brady,
representing the City of San Antonio, Brendan Godfrey,
representing Brooks Air Force Base, and Dick Messbarger,
representing the Texas Defense, Aviation, and Aerospace
Alliance, testified in favor of the bill. James Christopherson,
representing the Office of Defense Affairs, testified on the
bill. Senator Fraser moved that SB 911 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, 0
nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.
Senator Truan noted the importance and timing of upcoming
federal Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) decisions. Senator
Truan then recommended a future hearing to discuss how to best
guard Texas against base closure determinations and invited Dick
Messbarger, representing the Texas Defense, Aviation, and
Aerospace Alliance, and James Christopherson, representing the
Office of Defense Affairs, to attend.
Chairman Truan laid out SB 803 and recognized the author,
Senator Haywood, to explain the bill. Doris Howdeshell,
representing the Texas Department of Transportation, testified
on the bill. Senator Haywood moved that SB 803 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, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. Senator
Haywood moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the
Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so
ordered.
At 3:36 p.m. Senator Fraser assumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 950 and recognized the author, Senator
Truan, to explain the bill. Darrel Hunt, representing the Texas
Department of Transportation, and Charlie Buerschinger,
representing the Texas Veterans Commission, registered on the
bill but did not testify. Senator Truan moved that SB 950 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, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. Senator
Truan moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the
Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The chair laid out SB 1089 and recognized the author, Senator
Truan, to explain the bill. Charlie Buerschinger, representing
the Texas Veterans Commission, testified on the bill. Darrel
Hunt, representing the Texas Department of Transportation,
registered on the bill but did not testify. Senator Truan moved
that SB 1089 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, 0 nay, 0 present not
voting, and 2 absent. Senator Truan moved that the bill be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;
without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB1165 and recognized the author, Senator
Truan, to explain the bill. Senator Truan moved that SB1165 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, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. Senator
Truan moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the
Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so
ordered.
At 3:47 p.m. Senator Truan resumed the chair.
There was no action taken for the following bill(s):
SB 480 by Senator Duncan was left pending.
Senator Haywood moved adoption of the minutes from the previous
hearing held on February 28, 2001; without objection, it was so
ordered.
There being no further business, at 3:49 p.m. Senator Fraser
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Carlos F. Truan, Chair
______________________
Rhonda Pointer, Clerk