MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

1:00 p.m.

Capitol Extension, Room E1.028

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations was held on Wednesday, September 13, 2006, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.028, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:                                                      MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Royce West, Chair                                                     Senator Bob Deuell

Senator Jon Lindsay, Vice Chair                                            Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.

                                                                                                Senator Jeff Wentworth

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 1:04 p.m.  The following business was transacted:

 

Chairman West made opening remarks and announced that the purpose of the hearing was to consider invited and public testimony regarding interim committee charges 1 and 3 which were issued to the Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations by Lt. Governor David Dewhurst.   

 

The Chair recognized Vice Chairman Lindsay to make opening remarks.  The Chair recognized Joe Morris, Chief of Staff to Senator Wentworth, who made a statement to the Committee on behalf of Senator Wentworth.

 

The Chair laid out interim committee charge 1, study and make recommendations regarding the regulatory authority of counties in relation to development in unincorporated areas, including public safety and public health regulations, and the authority of counties to prevent new colonias development without sufficient water, wastewater, and other infrastructure.

 

Persons providing invited testimony on interim committee charge 1 are shown on the attached list.

 

The Chair laid out interim committee charge 2, study and make recommendations regarding the relationship between cities and special utility districts, including the formation of special utility districts in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of cities, and the ability of those districts to meet the future service needs of residents; the number of special utility districts currently existing and their effect of the overall property tax burden; as well as the significant growth/creation of special utility districts and their effect on the provision of services to residents.

 

Persons providing invited testimony of interim committee charge 3 are shown on the attached list.

 

Senator Lindsay assumed presiding duties at 4:25 p.m.

 

Persons providing public testimony on interim committee charges 1 and 3 are shown on the attached list.

 

With no other business to come before the committee, Senator Lindsay recessed the Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations at 4:47 p.m., subject to the call of the chair.

 

 

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Senator Royce West, Chair

 

 

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Scott Caffey, Senate Committee Coordinator