MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION & HOMELAND SECURITY

Thursday, March 31, 2011

8:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

 

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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 Transportation & Homeland Security was held on Thursday, March 31, 2011, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Tommy Williams, Chair

 

None

Senator Kirk Watson, Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Wendy Davis

 

 

Senator Rodney Ellis

 

 

Senator Chris Harris

 

 

Senator Juan Hinojosa

 

 

Senator Robert Nichols

 

 

Senator Florence Shapiro

 

 

Senator Jeff Wentworth

 

 

 

*****

 

The chair called the meeting to order at 8:04 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

The following members arrived after the roll was called:

Senator Rodney Ellis

Senator Chris Harris

Senator Juan Hinojosa

Senator Florence Shapiro

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 469.

 

Senator Nichols had previously sent up a committee substitute. Senator Watson moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Watson moved that SB 469 do not pass but that CSSB 469 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 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Watson 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 650 and recognized Senator Watson, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Watson moved that SB 650 do not pass but that CSSB 650 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 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

The chair laid out SB 295 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Watson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Watson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Watson 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 Williams moved that SB 295 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 565 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Watson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Hegar to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Watson 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 Williams moved that SB 565 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1650 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

The chair laid out SB 1885 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on SB 1650 and SB 1885 are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony for SB 1650 and SB 1885 be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Williams moved that SB 1650 and SB 1885 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 922 and recognized the author, Senator Deuell, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Watson assumed the chair.

 

No witnesses testified and registered on the bill.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Watson moved that SB 922 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1562 and recognized Senator Nichols, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

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 Watson moved that SB 1562 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1578 and recognized Senator Nichols, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

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 Watson moved that SB 1578 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1719 and recognized Senator Nichols, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

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 Watson moved that SB 1719 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Watson moved that the Committee stand at ease until 1 hour and 15 minutes upon adjournment of the Senate.

 

The chair reconvened the Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security at 1:41 PM.

 

Senator Nichols assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 20 and recognized the author, Senator Williams, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Williams sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Williams to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Williams 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 Nichols moved that SB 20 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Williams resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 1043 and recognized Senator Ellis, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

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 Williams moved that SB 1043 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1138 and recognized Senator Ellis, 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 Williams moved that SB 1138 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Williams moved that the Committee stand at ease upon arrival of a quorum.

 

Upon arrival of a quorum at 2:30 PM, the following business was transacted:

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 295.

 

Senator Watson moved that SB 295 do not pass but that CSSB 295 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 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 565.

 

Senator Watson moved that SB 565 do not pass but that CSSB 565 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 2 absent.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 922.

 

Senator Watson moved that SB 922 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 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Watson 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 1650.

 

Senator Watson moved that SB 1650 do not pass but that CSSB 1650 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 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Watson 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 1885.

 

Senator Watson moved that SB 1885 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 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

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

 

Senator Watson assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 20.

 

Senator Williams moved that SB 20 do not pass but that CSSB 20 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 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1578.

 

Senator Williams moved that SB 1578 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 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Williams 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 1719.

 

Senator Williams moved that SB 1719 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 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

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

 

Senator Williams resumed the chair.

 

Senator Ellis asked to be shown voting aye for: SB 469, SB 650.

 

Senator Harris asked to be shown voting aye for: SB 469, SB 650.

 

Senator Hinojosa asked to be shown voting aye for: SB 20, SB 295, SB 469, SB 650, SB 922, SB 1578, SB 1650, SB 1719, SB 1885.

 

Senator Shapiro asked to be shown voting aye for: SB 20, SB 295, SB 469, SB 565, SB 650, SB 922, SB 1650, SB 1885.

 

Senator Wentworth asked to be shown voting aye for: SB 20, SB 295, SB 922, SB 1578, SB 1650, SB 1719, SB 1885.

 

 

 

 

There being no further business, at 2:39 PM Senator Williams moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Senator Tommy Williams, Chair

 

 

__________________________________________

Tulsi Reddy, Clerk