MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Monday, April 13, 2015

10:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.036

 

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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 Finance was held on Monday, April 13, 2015, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Jane Nelson, Chair

 

Senator Joan Huffman

Senator Juan Hinojosa, Vice Chair

 

Senator Charles Schwertner

Senator Paul Bettencourt

 

Senator John Whitmire

Senator Kevin Eltife

 

 

Senator Kelly Hancock

 

 

Senator Lois Kolkhorst

 

 

Senator Robert Nichols

 

 

Senator Kel Seliger

 

 

Senator Larry Taylor

 

 

Senator Carlos Uresti

 

 

Senator Kirk Watson

 

 

Senator Royce West

 

 

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 10:01 AM. The following business was transacted:

 

The chair laid out SB 1821 and recognized the author, Senator Campbell, 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.

 

The bill was temporarily left pending.

The chair laid out SJR 60 and recognized the author, Senator Campbell, 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.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 724 and recognized the author, Senator Perry, 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.

 

The bill was left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 974 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.

 

The bill was left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 70 and recognized the author, Senator Ellis, 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.

 

The bill was temporarily left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 514 and recognized the author, Senator Larry Taylor to explain the bill.

 

Senator Larry Taylor sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Larry Taylor 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 Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The bill was left pending.

 

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

 

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

 

The bill was left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1396 and recognized the author, Senator West, 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 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.

 

The bill was left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1280 and recognized Senator Larry Taylor, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

The bill was temporarily left pending.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 70 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 1821 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that SJR 60 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

 

Senator West moved that SB 1280 do not pass but that CSSB 1280 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 1 present not voting, and 3 absent.

 

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

 

The chair laid out SB 1835 and recognized Senator Uresti, 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.

 

The bill was left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1996 and recognized Senator Uresti, 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.

 

The bill was left pending.

 

Senator Kolkhorst asked to be shown present not voting on SB 1280. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 849 and recognized the author, Senator Bettencourt, 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 Bettencourt moved that SB 849 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 6 absent.

 

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

 

The chair laid out SB 1125 and recognized the author, Senator Van Taylor to explain the bill.

 

Senator Nichols sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Van Taylor to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Nelson 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 Nichols moved that SB 1125 do not pass but that CSSB 1125 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 7 absent.

 

There being no further business, at 12:09 PM Senator Nelson moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Senator Jane Nelson, Chair

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Stephanie Hoover, Clerk