MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

9:00 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 Higher Education was held on Wednesday, March 27, 2013, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Kel Seliger, Chair		None
Senator Kirk Watson, Vice Chair
Senator Brian Birdwell
Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Dan Patrick
Senator Royce West
Senator Judith Zaffirini

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:04 AM.

 

At 9:05 AM Senator Duncan assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 15 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Seliger sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Seliger to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

At 9:13 AM the roll was called and a quorum was present.

 

At 10:05 AM Senator Watson assumed the chair.

 

 

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

 

Senator Seliger moved committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

Senator Watson moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on March 20, 2013; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 10:13 AM Senator Seliger resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 1113 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Zaffirini sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

 

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 Zaffirini moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 1113 do not pass but that CSSB 1113 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 0 absent. Senator Patrick and Senator West submitted motions in writing to be shown voting aye on SB 1113.

 

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

 

The chair laid out SB 566 and recognized the author, Senator Eltife, 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 Zaffirini moved that SB 566 be reported favorably 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 0 absent. Senator Patrick submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on SB 566.

 

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 SB 215 and recognized the author, Senator Birdwell, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Birdwell sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Birdwell to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

 

Senator Birdwell sent up Committee Amendment 1, and Senator Watson was recognized to explain the amendment. Senator Birdwell then moved to withdraw Committee Amendment 1.

 

Senator Birdwell sent up Committee Amendment 2, and Senator Watson was recognized to explain the amendment. Senator Birdwell then moved to withdraw Committee Amendment 2.

 

At 10:56 AM Senator Seliger moved that the Committee stand recessed until 30 minutes upon the adjournment of the Senate Caucus. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 3:30 PM Senator Seliger reconvened the meeting.

 

At 3:31 PM Senator Watson assumed the chair.

 

Senator Seliger sent up Committee Amendment 3, and Senator Seliger was recognized to explain the amendment. Senator Seliger then moved to withdraw Committee Amendment 3.

 

Senator Seliger sent up Committee Amendment 4, and Senator Seliger was recognized to explain the amendment for Senator West. Senator Seliger then moved to withdraw Committee Amendment 4.

 

At 3:52 PM Senator Seliger resumed the chair.

 

Senator Birdwell sent up Committee Amendment 5, and Senator Zaffirini was recognized to explain the amendment. Senator Birdwell then moved to withdraw Committee Amendment 5.

 

At 3:54 PM Senator Watson assumed the chair.

 

Senator Birdwell sent up Committee Amendment 6, and Senator Seliger was recognized to explain the amendment. Senator Seliger then moved to withdraw Committee Amendment 6.

 

At 3:55 PM Senator Seliger resumed the chair.

 

Senator Birdwell sent up Committee Amendment 7, and Senator Watson was recognized to explain the amendment. Senator Birdwell then moved to withdraw Committee Amendment 7.

 

Senator Birdwell sent up Committee Amendment 8, and was recognized to explain the amendment. Senator Birdwell then moved to withdraw Committee Amendment 8.

 

Senator Birdwell sent up Committee Amendment 9, and Senator Patrick was recognized to explain the amendment. Senator Birdwell then moved to withdraw Committee Amendment 9.

 

Senator Birdwell sent up Committee Amendment 10, and Senator Patrick was recognized to explain the amendment. Senator Birdwell then moved to withdraw Committee Amendment 10.

 

Senator Birdwell sent up Committee Amendment 11, and Senator Duncan was recognized to explain the amendment. Senator Birdwell then moved to withdraw Committee Amendment 11.

 

Senator Birdwell sent up Committee Amendment 12, and Senator Duncan was recognized to explain the amendment. Senator Birdwell then moved to withdraw Committee Amendment 12.

 

Senator Birdwell sent up Committee Amendment 13, and Senator Watson was recognized to explain the amendment. Senator Birdwell then moved to withdraw Committee Amendment 13.

 

Senator Birdwell sent up Committee Amendment 14, and Senator Duncan was recognized to explain the amendment. Senator Birdwell then moved to withdraw Committee Amendment 14.

 

Senator Birdwell sent up Committee Amendment 15, and Senator Duncan was recognized to explain the amendment. Senator Birdwell then moved to withdraw Committee Amendment 15.

 

Senator Birdwell sent up Committee Amendment 14 for further consideration. After discussion Senator Birdwell then moved to withdraw Committee Amendment 14.

 

Senator Birdwell sent up Committee Amendment 16, and Senator Duncan was recognized to explain the amendment. Senator Birdwell then moved to withdraw Committee Amendment 16.

 

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 Birdwell then moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Birdwell moved that SB 215 do not pass but that CSSB 215 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 0 absent.

 

The chair laid out SB 62 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Watson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nelson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

 

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 Watson moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Watson moved that SB 62 do not pass but that CSSB 62 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 0 absent. Senator Zaffirini submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on SB 62.

 

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 SB 143 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Watson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nelson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

 

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 Seliger moved committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Watson then moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Watson then withdrew his motion. 

 

At 5:26 PM Senator Watson assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 857 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, 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 Watson moved that SB 857 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 5:42 PM Senator Seliger resumed the chair.

 

There being no further business, at 5:43 PM Senator Seliger moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

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Senator Kel Seliger, Chair

 

 

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Sarah Willcox, Clerk