MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Thursday, March 28, 2019

9:00 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 Thursday, March 28, 2019, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Jane Nelson, Chair

 

None

Senator Juan Hinojosa, Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Paul Bettencourt

 

 

Senator Brian Birdwell

 

 

Senator Donna Campbell

 

 

Senator Peter Flores

 

 

Senator Kelly Hancock

 

 

Senator Joan Huffman

 

 

Senator Lois Kolkhorst

 

 

Senator Robert Nichols

 

 

Senator Charles Perry

 

 

Senator Larry Taylor

 

 

Senator Kirk Watson

 

 

Senator Royce West

 

 

Senator John Whitmire

 

 

 

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The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:02 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

Senator Nelson made opening remarks.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1.

 

The Chair recognized Senator Huffman on the workgroup recommendations for Articles I, IV and V.

 

The Legislative Budget Board laid out workgroup recommendations for Article I.

 

Senator Huffman moved to adopt workgroup recommendations for Article I; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Legislative Budget Board laid out workgroup recommendations for Article IV.

 

Senator Huffman moved to adopt workgroup recommendations for Article IV; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Legislative Budget Board laid out workgroup recommendations for Article V.

 

Senator Huffman moved to adopt workgroup recommendations for Article V; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair recognized Senator Kolkhorst on the workgroup recommendations for Article II.

 

The Legislative Budget Board laid out workgroup recommendations for Article II.

 

Senator West moved to amend the Health and Human Services Commission, Increased Access to Services for Child Victims of Sexual Assault rider; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Kolkhorst moved to adopt workgroup recommendations for Article II, as amended; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair recognized Senator Taylor on the workgroup recommendations for Article III, Public Education.

 

The Legislative Budget Board laid out workgroup recommendations for Article III, Public Education.

 

Senator Taylor moved to adopt workgroup recommendations for Article III, Public Education; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair recognized Senator Bettencourt on the workgroup recommendations for Article III, Higher Education.

 

The Legislative Budget Board laid out workgroup recommendations for Article III, Higher Education.

 

Senator Nichols moved to sever the Higher Education Coordinating Board, Northeast Texas Initiative, Article XI, Rider 5 and replace it with a new rider, Higher Education Coordinating Board, Northeast Texas Initiative and TC3, Rider 5a; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Hancock moved to amend Rider 10 to add Senator West; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Taylor moved to adopt the not adopted rider, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Health System Formula, Rider 40 and put it in Article XI; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Bettencourt moved to adopt workgroup recommendations for Article III, Higher Education, as amended; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair recognized Senator Nichols on the workgroup recommendations for Articles VI, VII and VIII.

 

The Legislative Budget Board laid out workgroup recommendations for Article VI.

 

Senator Nichols moved to adopt workgroup recommendations for Article VI; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Legislative Budget Board laid out workgroup recommendations for Article VII.

 

Senator West raised a point of order on the Department of Transportation, Limitation on Expenditures for High-speed Rail.

 

The Legislative Budget Board laid out workgroup recommendations for Article VIII.

 

Senator Nichols moved to adopt workgroup recommendations for Article VIII; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Legislative Budget Board laid out Article IX recommendations.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved adoption of Article IX recommendations; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Legislative Budget Board laid out Article X recommendations.

 

There was no objection to the adoption of Article X recommendations.

 

Senator Nelson read the Legislative Budget Board directives.  There was no objection to the directives.

 

The Committee recessed at 1:14 PM.

 

The Committee reconvened at 1:49 PM.

 

Senator Nichols moved to adopt workgroup recommendations for Article VII; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 1 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

There being no further business, at 1:54 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