MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & COMMERCE

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

10:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.016

 

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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 Business & Commerce was held on Tuesday, April 10, 2012, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator John Carona, Chair		Senator Chris Harris, Vice Chair
Senator Kevin Eltife		Senator Mike Jackson
Senator Craig Estes
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Senator Leticia Van de Putte
Senator Kirk Watson
Senator John Whitmire

 

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The meeting was called to order at 10:00 AM. A quorum being established, the following business was transacted:

 

The Committee heard quarterly updates from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, Public Utility Commission, and ERCOT (see witness list).

 

The Committee took invited and public testimony on the interim study charge “Study the state's approach to licensing and regulation of occupations to ensure protection of public welfare, trust, health, and safety and eliminate unnecessary, overly restrictive, or anti-competitive regulation. Review guidelines and other states' approaches for determining when regulation is necessary and make recommendations for improving Texas' regulatory system.”

 

The Committee took invited and public testimony on the interim study charge “Study and make recommendations for workforce training programs in Texas to ensure that such programs meet business and worker needs. Specifically, study whether such programs target economic growth areas and future workforce needs of the health care, skilled trades, construction, manufacturing, aerospace, and information technology industries and help retain workers in those trades and fields.”

 

 

There being no further business, at 2:35 PM Senator Carona moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator John Carona, Chair

 

 

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Steven Polunsky, Clerk