MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Thursday, April 19, 2007

10:00 a.m. or upon adjournment

Hearing Room E1.016

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services was held on Thursday, April 19, 2007, in hearing room E1.016 at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:                                                      MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Jane Nelson                                                               

Senator Bob Deuell

Senator Kyle Janek

Senator Robert Nichols

Senator Dan Patrick

Senator Eliot Shapleigh

Senator Carlos Uresti

Senator Royce West

Senator Judith Zaffirini

 

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Senator Janek assumed the Chair and called the meeting to order at 4:49 p.m.  The following business was transacted:

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 1834 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill. 

 

The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  

 

With no further witnesses wishing to testify, the Chair closed public testimony.

 

Senate Bill 1834 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 1549 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, to explain the bill. 

 

The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  

 

With no further witnesses wishing to testify, the Chair closed public testimony.

 

Senate Bill 1549 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 1896 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Patrick sent up a committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Lucio to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. 

 

The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  

 

With no further witnesses wishing to testify, the Chair closed public testimony.

 

Senate Bill 1896 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 1566 and recognized the author, Senator Patrick, to explain the bill. 

 

The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  

 

With no further witnesses wishing to testify, the Chair closed public testimony.

 

Senate Bill 1566 was left pending.

 

At 5:45 p.m., Senator Nichols assumed the Chair.

 

The Chair laid out House Bill 709 by Representative Puente and recognized Senator Janek on behalf of the sponsor, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Janek sent up Committee Amendment 1 and explained the amendment. 

 

Senator Janek sent up Committee Amendment 2 and explained the amendment. 

 

Senator Janek sent up Committee Amendment 3 and explained the amendment. 

 

Senator Janek sent up Committee Amendment 4 and explained the amendment. 

 

The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  

 

With no further witnesses wishing to testify, the Chair closed public testimony.

 

At 6:14 p.m., a quorum was established.

 

Senator Janek moved adoption of Committee Amendment 1; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 

 

Senator Janek moved adoption of Committee Amendment 2; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 

 

Senator Janek moved adoption of Committee Amendment 3; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 

 

Senator Janek moved adoption of Committee Amendment 4; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 

 

Senator Janek requested unanimous consent to incorporate the amendments into a committee substitute and that the new committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Janek moved that House Bill 709 do not pass but that CSHB 709 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, 1 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

Senator Janek requested that CSHB 709 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Zaffirini requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 6:16 p.m., Senator Nelson assumed the Chair.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1549, which had been previously left pending.

 

Senator West moved that SB 1549 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 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

Senator Nelson requested that SB 1549 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senators Deuell and Zaffirini requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1566, which had been previously left pending.

 

Senator Patrick sent up Committee Amendment 1 and explained the amendment. 

 

Senator Nelson moved adoption of Committee Amendment 1; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 

 

Senator Patrick requested unanimous consent to incorporate the amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Patrick moved that SB 1566 do not pass but that CSSB 1566 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 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

Senator Nelson requested that CSSB 1566 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senators Deuell and Zaffirini requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1834, which had been previously left pending.

 

Senator Janek moved that SB 1834 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 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

Senator Nelson requested that SB 1834 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Zaffirini requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1896, which had been previously left pending.

 

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

 

Senator West moved that SB 1896 do not pass but that CSSB 1896 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 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

Senator West requested that CSSB 1896 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Zaffirini requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1098, which had been previously left pending, and recognized Senator Patrick.

 

Senator Patrick sent up a new committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Patrick to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. 

 

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

 

Senator Patrick moved that SB 1098 do not pass but that CSSB 1098 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 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

Senator Patrick requested that CSSB 1098 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Zaffirini requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 1587 and recognized the author, Senator Shapleigh, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Shapleigh sent up a committee substitute and explained the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. 

 

The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  

 

With no witnesses wishing to testify, the Chair closed public testimony.

 

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

 

Senator Shapleigh moved that SB 1587 do not pass but that CSSB 1587 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, 2 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

Senator Shapleigh requested that CSSB 1587 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Zaffirini requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 1115 and recognized the author, Senator Deuell, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Deuell announced his request for unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on Senate Bill 1549 and CSSB 1566; without objection it was so ordered.

 

Senator Deuell sent up a committee substitute;  the Chair recognized Senator Deuell to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. 

 

Senator Deuell sent up Committee Amendment 1 and explained the amendment. 

 

Senator Deuell moved adoption of Committee Amendment 1; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 

 

Senator Nelson requested unanimous consent to incorporate the amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

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

 

The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  

 

With no further witnesses wishing to testify, the Chair closed public testimony.

 

CSSB 1115 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 368 and recognized the author, Senator Ellis, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Nelson sent up a committee substitute;  the Chair recognized Senator Ellis to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. 

 

The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  

 

With no further witnesses wishing to testify, the Chair closed public testimony.

 

Senate Bill 368 was left pending.

 

The Chair announced Senator Zaffirini's request for unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on CSSB 1098, SB 1549, CSSB 1566, CSSB 1587, SB 1834, CSSB 1896 and CSHB 709; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

There being no further business, at 9:09 p.m. the Chair announced that the Committee would stand recessed subject to the call of the Chair. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________

Senator Jane Nelson, Chair

 

 

 

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Tiffany Arrington, Clerk