MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Friday, May 17, 2013

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 Committee on Higher Education was held on Friday, May 17, 2013, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Kel Seliger, Chair		Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Kirk Watson, Vice Chair
Senator Brian Birdwell
Senator Dan Patrick
Senator Royce West
Senator Judith Zaffirini

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 8:11 AM.

 

The chair laid out HB 2474 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Estes, 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 2474 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 870 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Seliger sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Hegar 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.

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 3792 and recognized Senator Hegar, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.

 

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 Seliger moved that HB 3792 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 8:23 AM Senator Seliger moved that the Committee stand recessed.

 

At 8:43 AM Senator Seliger reconvened the meeting.

 

The chair laid out HB 31 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 house bill as engrossed.

 

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 8:44 AM a quorum was present, the following business was transacted:

 

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

 

Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 31 do not pass but that CSHB 31 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 Zaffirini moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Seliger moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on May 15, 2013; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair called back up as a matter of pending business, HB 2474.

 

Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 2474 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 Birdwell submitted motions in writing to be shown voting aye on HB 2474.

 

Senator West 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 870.

 

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

 

Senator West moved that HB 870 do not pass but that CSHB 870 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, 1 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Watson submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on CSHB 870.

 

Senator Zaffirini 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 3792.

 

Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 3792 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 moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 2550 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 house bill as engrossed. Senator Watson moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Zaffirini then moved to reconsider the vote by which the committee substitute for HB 2550 was adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. The committee substitute was then withdrawn.

 

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 HB 2550 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 Patrick submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on HB 2550.

 

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 HB 2036 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Watson, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Watson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Watson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed. Senator Watson moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

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 Watson moved that HB 2036 do not pass but that CSHB 2036 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 Patrick and Senator Zaffirini submitted motions in writing to be shown voting aye on CSHB 2036.

 

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 2448 and recognized Senator Watson, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Watson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Watson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed. Senator Watson moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

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 Watson moved that HB 2448 do not pass but that CSHB 2448 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 Patrick and Senator Zaffirini submitted motions in writing to be shown voting aye on CSHB 2448.

 

Senator West 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 HB 3640 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Birdwell, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Birdwell moved that HB 3640 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 Patrick and Senator Zaffirini submitted motions in writing to be shown voting aye on HB 3640.

 

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 HB 2099 and recognized Senator West, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.

 

Senator West sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator West to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed. Senator West 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 West moved that HB 2099 do not pass but that CSHB 2099 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 Patrick and Senator Zaffirini submitted motions in writing to be shown voting aye on CSHB 2099.

 

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

 

At 9:08 AM Senator Watson assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out HB 1843 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 Seliger moved that HB 1843 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 Patrick and Senator Zaffirini submitted motions in writing to be shown voting aye on HB 1843.

 

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

 

At 9:17 AM Senator Seliger resumed the chair.

 

There being no further business, at 9:19 AM 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