MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

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 25, 2015, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Kel Seliger, Chair		None
Senator Royce West, Vice Chair
Senator Paul Bettencourt
Senator Konni Burton
Senator José Menéndez
Senator Charles Perry
Senator Kirk Watson

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:01 AM.

 

 

The chair laid out SB 596 and recognized the author, 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.

 

At 9:12 AM a quorum was established and the following business was transacted:

 

Senator Watson moved that SB 596 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 West, Senator Menéndez and Senator Perry submitted motions in writing to be shown voting aye on SB 596.

 

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

 

Senator Watson moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on March 18, 2015; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 420 and recognized the author, Senator Birdwell, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Seliger 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 Watson 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 SB 420 do not pass but that CSSB 420 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 Menéndez submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on CSSB 420.

 

The chair laid out SB 1066 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 Watson moved that SB 1066 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 Menéndez submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on SB 1066.

 

At 9:41 AM Senator West assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 1191 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.

 

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

 

At 9:46 AM Senator Watson assumed the chair.

 

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

 

Senator Seliger moved that SB 1191 do not pass but that CSSB 1191 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, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator West submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on CSSB 1191.

 

The chair laid out SB 778 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 778 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 10:30 AM Senator Seliger resumed the chair.

 

There being no further business, at 10:30 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 Harrington, Clerk