MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Thursday, April 7, 2011

8:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.036

 

*****

 

Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance was held on Thursday, April 7, 2011, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

 

*****

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Steve Ogden, Chair

 

Senator Florence Shapiro

Senator Juan Hinojosa, Vice Chair

 

Senator Tommy Williams

Senator Bob Deuell

 

 

Senator Robert Duncan

 

 

Senator Kevin Eltife

 

 

Senator Craig Estes

 

 

Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.

 

 

Senator Jane Nelson

 

 

Senator Dan Patrick

 

 

Senator Kel Seliger

 

 

Senator Royce West

 

 

Senator John Whitmire

 

 

Senator Judith Zaffirini

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*****

 

The chair called the meeting to order at 8:08 AM. The following business was transacted:

 

The chair laid out SB 1663 and recognized Senator Zaffirini, in the absence of the author, 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.

 

Senator Ogden moved that SB 1663 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1652 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Whitmire sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Watson 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.

 

Senator Ogden moved that SB 1652 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1602 and recognized Senator Eltife, in the absence of the author, 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.

 

Senator Ogden moved that SB 1602 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SJR 4 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, 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.

 

Senator Ogden moved that SJR 4 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1647 and recognized Senator Hinojosa, in the absence of the author, 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.

 

Senator Ogden moved that SB 1647 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 9:09 AM Senator Ogden moved that the Committee stand recessed for 15 minutes. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

AT 9:22 AM the Committee reconvened.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1.

 

The chair laid out the recommendations for Article VIII.

 

The Legislative Budget Board gave testimony on the recommendation document. 

 

Senator Ogden moved to adopt the Article VIII recommendations as outlined. The motion carried with a record vote of 12 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent. 

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 540 and recognized Senator Lucio, Jr., in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that SB 540 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 13 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. 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 726 and recognized Senator Hinojosa, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 726 do not pass but that CSSB 726 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 3 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1088 and recognized Senator Lucio, Jr., in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that SB 1088 do not pass but that CSSB 1088 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 12 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1179, and a committee substitute adopted at a previous hearing. The chair recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.

 

The chair moved to reconsider the vote by which the committee substitute had previously been adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator West sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; the motion carried with a record vote of 12 ayes, 0 nays, 1 present not voting, and 2 absent.

 

Senator Ogden moved to roll Committee Amendment 1 into the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Ogden moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 1179 do not pass but that CSSB 1179 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 13 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1252 and recognized Senator Eltife, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Eltife sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.

 

Senator Ogden moved that SB 1252 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1505, and a committee substitute adopted at a previous hearing. The chair recognized Senator Hinojosa, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

The chair moved to reconsider the vote by which the committee substitute had previously been adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. The chair moved to pull down the previously adopted committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Hinojosa sent up a new committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Hinojosa to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Hinojosa moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden moved that SB 1505 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1535 and recognized Senator Eltife, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Eltife moved that SB 1535 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

 

Senator Ogden moved to reconsider the vote by which the Committee reported CSSB 1088 to the full Senate; without objection, it was ordered.

 

Senator Ogden moved that SB 1088 do not pass but that CSSB 1088 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 5 absent.

 

Members shown voting aye on the previous vote for CSSB 1088 were added into the final vote.  Motions in writing were submitted.  

 

Senator West submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on SB 1535. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Duncan asked to be shown voting aye on Article VIII recommendations. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

There was no action taken for the following bills: SJR 22, SJR 23, SJR 30, SJR 38 and SJR 42.

 

There being no further business, at 10:09 AM Senator Ogden moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Senator Steve Ogden, Chair

 

 

__________________________________________

Stephanie Hoover, Clerk

 

 

.