MINUTES

 

SENATE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

7:30 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, April 13, 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 Wendy Davis
Senator Jeff Wentworth		Senator Eddie Lucio
Senator Royce West		Senator José Rodríguez

                                                                                   Senator Leticia Van de Putte

 

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The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

Senator Birdwell moved that the minutes of the April 6, 2011, hearing be approved. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1555 and recognized the author, Senator Rodríguez, to explain the bill.  SB 1555 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1845 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, to explain the bill.         SB 1845 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1348 and recognized the author, Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill. Senator Wentworth sent up committee amendment number one. The Chair recognized Senator Van de Putte to explain the amendment. Senator Wentworth moved adoption of the amendment by Senator Van de Putte. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. Senator Wentworth moved that the amendment be rolled into a committee substitute and that the committee substitute be adopted. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. CSSB 1348 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1325 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill. Senator Watson sent up the committee substitute for SB 1325. The Chair recognized Senator Watson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed. Senator Watson moved adoption of CSSB 1325. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.  CSSB 1325 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1648 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill. Senator Watson sent up the committee substitute for SB 1648. The Chair recognized Senator Watson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed. Senator Watson moved adoption of CSSB 1648. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.  CSSB 1648 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1799 and recognized the author, Senator West, to explain the bill. SB 1799 was left pending.

 

At 7:51 a.m. Senator Birdwell assumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1726 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. Senator Zaffirini sent up the committee substitute for SB 1726. The Chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed.  Senator Zaffirini moved adoption of CSSB 1726. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. CSSB 1726 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1730 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. Senator Zaffirini sent up the committee substitute for SB 1730. The Chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed.  Senator Zaffirini moved adoption of CSSB 1730. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. CSSB 1730 was left pending.

 

At 7:56 a.m. Senator Zaffirini re-assumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out SJR 50 and recognized the author, Senator West, to explain the resolution. SJR 50 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out anew CSSB 1325 by Senator Watson 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. CSSB 1325 was left pending.

 

 

The Chair laid out anew SB 1555 by Senator Rodríguez 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 that SB 1555 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 4 ayes and 2 nays, SB 1555 was reported favorably.

 

The Chair appointed a workgroup to examine issues regarding SB 1555 by Senator Rodríguez. The workgroup members are as follows: Senator West, Chair; and Senators Duncan, Watson, and Wentworth, members. Senator Rodríguez and Senator Lucio were named ex-officio members of the workgroup.

 

The Chair laid out anew CSSB 1726 by Senator Zaffirini 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 CSSB 1726 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 1726 was reported favorably. Senator Wentworth moved that CSSB 1726 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew SB 1799 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. Senator West sent up the committee substitute for SB 1799. The Chair recognized Senator West to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed. Senator West moved adoption of CSSB 1799. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. The Chair closed public testimony. Senator West moved that SB 1799 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 1799 was reported favorably. Senator West moved that CSSB 1799 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew SJR 50 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 sent up the committee substitute for SJR 50. The Chair recognized Senator West to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed. Senator West moved adoption of CSSJR 50. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. Senator West moved that SJR 50 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 SJR 50 was reported favorably. Senator West moved that CSSJR 50 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew CSSB 1648 by Senator Watson 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 Watson moved that SB 1648 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 1648 was reported favorably. Senator Watson moved that CSSB 1648 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew CSSB 1730 by Senator Zaffirini 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 Birdwell moved that SB 1730 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 1730 was reported favorably. Senator Birdwell moved that CSSB 1730 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew CSSB 1348 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. CSSB 1348 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out anew CSSB 1325 by Senator Watson. Senator Watson moved that SB 1325 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 1325 was reported favorably. Senator Watson moved that         CSSB 1325 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew SB 1845 by Senator Lucio 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 1845 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out anew SB 145 by Senator Hinojosa. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. Senator Birdwell moved that SB 145  be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 5 ayes and 0 nays, SB 145 was reported favorably. Senator Birdwell moved that SB 145 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew CSSB 1348 by Senator Van de Putte. CSSB 1348 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out anew CSSB 1823 by Senator Patrick. CSSB 1823 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out anew SB 1107 by Senator Davis. SB 1107 was left pending.

 

Having been present during the hearing, Senator Birdwell requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 1325. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and his vote was included in the total vote count.

 

Having been present during the hearing, Senator Huffman requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 1726, SB 1799, and SJR 50. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and her votes were included in the total vote count.

 

Having been present during the hearing, Senator Watson requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 1730. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and his vote was included in the total vote count.

 

Having been present during the hearing, Senator West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 145, SB 1325, and SB 1730. 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 40, SB 557, SB 1365, and SB 1564.

 

There being no further business, at 10:13 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.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair

 

 

 

Gonzalo Serrano, Clerk