MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Wednesday, May 15, 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, May 15, 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 9:05 AM.

 

The chair laid out HB 3332 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Fraser, 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 Seliger moved that HB 3332 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 3659 and recognized Senator West, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, 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 Seliger moved that HB 3659 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 9:09 AM a quorum was established, the following business was transacted:

 

Senator Seliger moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on May 8, 2013; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair called back up as a matter of pending business, HB 3332.

 

Senator West moved that HB 3332 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 Duncan, Senator Patrick and Senator Zaffirini submitted motions in writing to be shown voting aye on HB 3332.

 

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

 

The chair called back up as a matter of pending business, HB 3659.

 

Senator West moved that HB 3659 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 Zaffirini submitted motions in writing to be shown voting aye on HB 3659.

 

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 HB 2760 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Birdwell, 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 Seliger moved that HB 2760 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 3640 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Birdwell, 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 HB 3640 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 9:19 AM Senator Birdwell assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out HB 29 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 house bill as engrossed.

 

The chair opened public testimony. There were no witnesses testifying or registered on the bill.

 

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

 

Senator Birdwell moved that HB 29 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 437 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 house bill as engrossed.

 

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.

 

At 9:32 AM Senator Seliger resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out HB 1753 and recognized Senator Birdwell, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, 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.

 

At 9:34 AM a quorum was reestablished, the following business was transacted:

 

The chair called back up as a matter of pending business, HB 1753.

 

Senator Birdwell moved that HB 1753 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 HB 1753.

 

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

 

The chair called back up as a matter of pending business, HB 2760.

 

Senator Watson moved that HB 2760 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 HB 2760.

 

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

 

At 9:37 AM Senator Watson assumed the chair.

 

The chair called back up as a matter of pending business, HB 437.


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

 

Senator Seliger moved that HB 437 do not pass but that CSHB 437 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. Senator Duncan submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on CSHB 437.

 

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

 

The chair called back up as a matter of pending business, CSHB 1752.

 

Senator Seliger moved that HB 1752 do not pass but that CSHB 1752 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. Senator Duncan submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on CSHB 1752.

 

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

 

At 9:38 AM Senator Seliger resumed the chair.

 

At 9:39 AM Senator Seliger moved that the Committee stand recessed. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 9:50 AM Senator Seliger reconvened the meeting.

 

At 9:50 AM Senator Watson assumed the chair.

 

The chair called back up as a matter of pending business, HB 29.

 

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

 

Senator Seliger moved that HB 29 do not pass but that CSHB 29 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.

 

At 9:55 AM Senator Seliger resumed the chair.

 

There being no further business, at 9:57 AM Senator Seliger moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

__________________________________________

Senator Kel Seliger, Chair

 

 

__________________________________________

Sarah Willcox, Clerk