MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Wednesday, April 10, 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, April 10, 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 9:07 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

Senator Seliger moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on April 3, 2013; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1855 and recognized the author, Senator Eltife, to explain the bill.

 

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 Birdwell moved that SB 1855 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Watson and Senator Duncan submitted motions in writing to be shown voting aye on SB 1855.

 

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

 

At 9:10 AM Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 496 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. Senator Seliger 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.

 

At 9:18 AM Senator Watson assumed the chair.

 

At 9:36 AM Senator Duncan assumed the chair.

 

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

 

Senator Seliger moved that SB 496 do not pass but that CSSB 496 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Patrick submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on CSSB 496.

 

At 9:46 AM Senator Seliger resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 301 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, 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 301 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 0 absent. Senator Watson and Senator Patrick submitted motions in writing to be shown voting aye on SB 301.

 

The chair laid out SB 620 and recognized the author, Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Duncan sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Van de Putte to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Zaffirini 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 Seliger moved that SB 620 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 976 and recognized the author, Senator West, to explain the bill.

 

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 that SB 976 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 Watson and Senator Duncan submitted motions in writing to be shown voting aye on SB 976.

 

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

 

At 10:50 AM Senator Seliger moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 2:02 PM Senator Seliger reconvened the meeting.

 

At 2:03 PM Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 439 and recognized Senator Seliger, 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 Zaffirini moved that SB 439 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 2:07 PM Senator Seliger resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 27 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 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 that SB 27 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 2:14 PM Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 1509 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill.

 

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 that SB 1509 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 2:16 PM Senator Seliger resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 1668 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 Seliger moved that SB 1668 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 922 and recognized Senator Zaffirini, 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 Seliger moved that SB 922 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1741 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Zaffirini moved to withdraw the committee substitute heard at the previous week’s hearing. The motion was left pending upon the arrival of a quorum.

 

Senator Zaffirini then sent up a new committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to explain the difference between the new committee substitute and the previous committee substitute.

 

At 2:25 PM a quorum was established.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 439.

 

Senator Birdwell moved that SB 439 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Duncan and Senator Patrick submitted motions in writing to be shown voting aye on SB 439.

 

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

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 27.

 

Senator Zaffirini moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 27 do not pass but that CSSB 27 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 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Duncan and Senator Patrick submitted motions in writing to be shown voting aye on CSSB 27.

 

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

 

At 2:28 PM Senator Watson assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1509.

 

Senator Seliger moved that SB 1509 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Duncan and Senator Patrick submitted motions in writing to be shown voting aye on SB 1509.

 

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

 

At 2:29 PM Senator Seliger resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1668.

 

Senator Zaffirini moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 1668 do not pass but that CSSB 1668 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 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Duncan and Senator Patrick submitted motions in writing to be shown voting aye on CSSB 1668.

 

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 as a matter of pending business SB 922.

 

Senator Birdwell moved that SB 922 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Duncan and Senator Patrick submitted motions in writing to be shown voting aye on SB 922.

 

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

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1741.

 

As a matter of pending business, Senator Zaffirini moved to withdraw the previous committee substitute for SB 1741; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Zaffirini then moved adoption of the new committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 1741 do not pass but that CSSB 1741 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 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Duncan and Senator Patrick submitted motions in writing to be shown voting aye on CSSB 1741.

 

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 as a matter of pending business CSSB 620.

 

Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 620 do not pass but that CSSB 620 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 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Duncan and Senator Patrick submitted motions in writing to be shown voting aye on CSSB 620.

 

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

 

There being no further business, at 2:34 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