MINUTES

 

SENATE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Wednesday, March 23, 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 Higher Education Committee was held on Wednesday, March 23, 2011, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair		None
Senator Brian Birdwell, Vice Chair
Senator Robert Duncan		OTHER LEGISLATIVE
Senator Joan Huffman		MEMBERS PRESENT:
Senator Kirk Watson		Senator Rodney Ellis
Senator Jeff Wentworth		Senator Craig Estes
Senator Royce West		Senator José Rodríguez Senator Leticia Van de Putte

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

Senator Birdwell moved that the minutes of the March 16, 2011, hearing be approved. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1121 and recognized the author, Senator Estes, to explain the bill.          SB 1121 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1005 and recognized the author, Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill. SB 1005 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1020 and recognized the author, Senator Rodríguez, to explain the bill.  SB 1020 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out SB 419 and recognized the author, Senator West, to explain the bill. Senator West sent up committee amendment number one. SB 419 and committee amendment number one were left pending.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1009 and recognized the author, Senator Huffman, to explain the bill. Senator Huffman sent up the committee substitute for SB 1009 and moved its adoption. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. The chair recognized Senator Huffman to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed. CSSB 1009 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out anew SB 1020 by Senator Rodríguez and opened public testimony. There being no witnesses registered for, against, or on the bill, the Chair closed public testimony. Senator Birdwell moved that SB 1020 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 7 ayes and 0 nays, SB 1020 was reported favorably. Senator Watson moved that SB 1020 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew SB 419 by Senator West and opened public testimony. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. The Chair closed public testimony. Senator West moved to withdraw committee amendment number one. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. Senator West moved that      SB 419 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 7 ayes and 0 nays, SB 419 was reported favorably. Senator West moved that   SB 419 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew CSSB 1009 by Senator Huffman and opened public testimony. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. The Chair closed public testimony. Senator Huffman moved that SB 1009 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do not pass, but that the committee substitute adopted in lieu thereof do pass and be printed. There being 7 ayes and 0 nays, the committee substitute for      SB 1009 was reported favorably. Senator Huffman moved that CSSB 1009 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

The Chair laid out anew SB 1005 by Senator Van de Putte and opened public testimony. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. The Chair closed public testimony. SB 1005 was left pending.

The Chair laid out anew SB 1121 by Senator Estes and opened public testimony. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. The Chair closed public testimony. Senator Wentworth moved that SB 1121 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 7 ayes and 0 nays, SB 1121 was reported favorably. Senator Wentworth moved that SB 1121 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew SB 873 by Senator Duncan and opened public testimony. There being no witnesses registered for, against, or on the bill, the Chair closed public testimony. Senator Duncan moved that SB 873 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 7 ayes and 0 nays, SB 873 was reported favorably. Senator Duncan moved that SB 873 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

At 8:55 a.m. Senator Birdwell assumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out anew SB 28 by Senator Zaffirini. Senator Zaffirini sent up the committee substitute for SB 28 and moved its adoption. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. The chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed. The Chair opened public testimony. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. The Chair closed public testimony. Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 28 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do not pass, but that the committee substitute adopted in lieu thereof do pass and be printed. There being 7 ayes and 0 nays, the committee substitute for SB 28 was reported favorably.

At 9:45 a.m. Senator Zaffirini re-assumed the chair.

 

Having been present during the hearing, Senator Duncan requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 1020. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and his vote was included in the total vote count.

 

Having been present during the hearing, Senator Watson requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 1121, SB 873, and CSSB 28. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and his votes were included in the total vote count.

 

Having been present during the hearing, Senator West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 1121, SB 873, and CSSB 28. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and his votes were included in the total vote count.

 

No action was taken on the following bills: SB 1067 and SB 1107.

 

There being no further business, at 9:45 a.m. Senator Birdwell moved that the Senate Higher

Education Committee stand in recess, subject to the call of the Chair. The motion was

adopted by unanimous consent.

 

 

 

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Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair

 

 

 

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Gonzalo Serrano, Clerk