MINUTES 
                                           
                           SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION 
                               Tuesday, March 8, 2005 
                                     8:30 a.m. 
                           Capitol Extension, Room E1.028 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Education was  
         held on Tuesday, March 8, 2005, in the Capitol Extension, Room  
         E1.028, at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Florence Shapiro                Senator Steve Ogden 
         Senator Royce West                      Senator Judith Zaffirini 
         Senator Kip Averitt 
         Senator Kyle Janek 
         Senator Todd Staples 
         Senator Leticia Van de Putte 
         Senator Tommy Williams 
                                           
                                       ***** 
         The chair called the meeting to order at 8:40 a.m. The following  
         business was transacted: 
          
         The chair referred the following bills to the Senate  
         Subcommittee on Higher Education:  SB 530, SB 532, & SB 549. 
          
         Senator Shapiro suspended the 24 hour posting rule pursuant to  
         Senate Rules 11.10 and 11.18 Monday, March 7, 2005, on the  
         Senate Floor so the Senate Committee on Education could take up  
         and consider SB 493 by Senator Van de Putte on Tuesday, March 8,  
         2005. 
          
         The chair laid out SB 493 and recognized Senator Staples, in the  
         absence of the author, to explain the bill.  Senator Van de  
         Putte sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized  
         Senator Van de Putte to explain the difference between the  
         committee substitute and the bill as filed.   
          
         There being a quorum present at 8:45 a.m., the clerk call the  
         roll. 
          
         Senator Janek moved adoption of the minutes from the previous  
         hearings held on February 8, 2005, February 22, 2005, and March  
         1, 2005; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chair resumed discussion on SB 493.  Senator Van de Putte  
         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 Van de Putte moved that SB 493 do not pass but  
         that CSSB 493 be reported back to the Senate with the  
         recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion  
         carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not  
         voting, and 3 absent.   
          
         The chair laid out SB 117 and recognized the author, Senator Van  
         de Putte, to explain the bill.  Senator Van de Putte sent up a  
         committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Van de Putte  
         to explain the difference between the committee substitute and  
         the bill as filed.  Senator Van de Putte moved adoption of the  
         committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.   
         Senator Van de Putte sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.  Senator  
         Van de Putte requested unanimous consent to roll the amendment  
         into a 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 Van de Putte then moved that the new committee  
         substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.   
         Senator Van de Putte moved that SB 117 do not pass but that CSSB  
         117 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that  
         it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record  
         vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.   
          
         Senator Van de Putte moved that SB 117 be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         Senator Van de Putte moved that SB 493 be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out SB 152 and recognized Senator Janek, 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 West moved that  
         SB 152 be reported favorably to the Senate with the  
         recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion  
         carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not  
         voting, and 2 absent.   
          
         The chair announced that Senator Janek requested unanimous  
         consent to be shown voting aye on the following bill:  SB 152. 
          
         There being no further business, at 9:05 a.m. Senator Shapiro  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
  
         the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         _____________________________ 
         Senator Florence Shapiro, Chair 
          
         _____________________________ 
         Tara Korstad, Clerk