MINUTES

 

SENATE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

7:30 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 Higher Education Committee was held on Wednesday, April 6, 2011, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair		Senator Joan Huffman
Senator Brian Birdwell, Vice Chair
Senator Robert Duncan		OTHER LEGISLATIVE
Senator Kirk Watson		MEMBERS PRESENT:
Senator Jeff Wentworth		Senator Dan Patrick
Senator Royce West		Senator José Rodríguez

                                                                                   Senator Florence Shapiro

                                                                                   Senator Leticia Van de Putte

 

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The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

Senator Birdwell moved that the minutes of the March 30, 2011, hearing be approved. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1304 and recognized the author, Senator Rodríguez, to explain the bill.  SB 1304 was left pending.

 

At 7:35 a.m. Senator Birdwell assumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out SB 40 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. SB 40 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1729 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. Senator Zaffirini sent up the committee substitute for SB 1729 and moved its adoption. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. The chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed. CSSB 1729 was left pending.

 

At 7:44 a.m. Senator Zaffirini re-assumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out SB 162 and recognized the author, Senator Shapiro, to explain the bill.        SB 162 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1823 and recognized the author, Senator Patrick, to explain the bill. Senator Watson sent up the committee substitute for SB 1823 and moved its adoption. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. The chair recognized Senator Patrick to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed. CSSB 1823 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1564 and recognized the author, Senator West, to explain the bill. SB 1564 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1662 and recognized the author, Senator West, to explain the bill. SB 1662 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out anew SB 1304 by Senator Rodríguez and opened public testimony. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. The Chair closed public testimony. Senator Duncan moved that SB 1304 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 6 ayes and 0 nays, SB 1304 was reported favorably. Senator Duncan moved that SB 1304 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew SB 40 by Senator Zaffirini and opened public testimony. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. The Chair closed public testimony. SB 40 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out anew SB 1662 by Senator West and opened public testimony. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. The Chair closed public testimony. Senator West moved that SB 1662 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 6 ayes and 0 nays, SB 1662 was reported favorably. Senator West moved that SB 1662 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew CSSB 1823 by Senator Patrick and opened public testimony. Names of

witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. The Chair closed public testimony. CCSB 1823 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out anew SB 1564 by Senator West and opened public testimony. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. The Chair closed public testimony. SB 1564 was left pending. 

 

The Chair laid out anew CSSB 1729 by Senator Zaffirni and opened public testimony. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. The Chair closed public testimony. Senator Birdwell moved that SB 1729 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do not pass, but that the committee substitute adopted in lieu thereof do pass and be printed. There being 6 ayes and 0 nays, the committee substitute for      SB 1729 was reported favorably. Senator Birdwell moved that CSSB 1729 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew SB 162 by Senator Shapiro and opened public testimony. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. The Chair closed public testimony. Senator Birdwell sent up a committee amendment for SB 162 on behalf of Senator Huffman and moved its adoption. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. The chair recognized Senator Birdwell to explain the amendment by Senator Huffman. Senator Birdwell moved that the amendment be rolled into a new committee substitute and that the committee substitute be adopted. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. Senator Birdwell moved that SB 162 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do not pass, but that the committee substitute adopted in lieu thereof do pass and be printed. There being 6 ayes and 0 nays, the committee substitute for SB 162 was reported favorably. Senator Birdwell moved that CSSB 162 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew SB 1005 by Senator Van de Putte. Senator Wentworth sent up the committee substitute for SB 1005. The chair recognized Senator Van de Putte to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed. Senator Duncan moved adoption of CSSB 1005. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. Senator Duncan moved that SB 1005 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do not pass, but that the committee substitute adopted in lieu thereof do pass and be printed. There being 6 ayes and 0 nays, the committee substitute for SB 1005 was reported favorably.

 

At 9:22 a.m. Senator Birdwell assumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out anew SB 5 by Senator Zaffirini. Senator Zaffirini moved to withdraw the CSSB 5. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. Senator Zaffirini sent up a new committee substitute for SB 5. The chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed. Senator Wentworth sent up a committee amendment for SB 5 on behalf of Senator West. The Chair recognized Senator Wentworth to explain the amendment by Senator West. Senator Zaffirini moved adoption of the amendment by Senator West. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. Senator Zaffirini moved that the amendment be rolled into a new committee substitute and that the committee substitute be adopted. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 5 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do not pass, but that the committee substitute adopted in lieu thereof do pass and be printed. There being 6 ayes and 0 nays, the committee substitute for SB 5 was reported favorably. Senator Zaffirini moved that CSSB 5 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

At 9:28 a.m. Senator Zaffirini re-assumed the chair.

 

Having been present during the hearing, Senator Watson requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 162, SB 1304, SB 1662, SB 1729, CSSB 1005, and CSSB 5. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and his vote was included in the total vote count.

 

Having been present during the hearing, Senator Wentworth requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 162, SB 1304, SB 1662, CSSB 1005, and CSSB 5. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and his vote was included in the total vote count.

 

Having been present during the hearing, Senator West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 162, CSSB 1005, and CSSB 5. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and his vote was included in the total vote count.

 

No action was taken on the following bills: SB 1648, SB 145, SB 557, SB 1107, and SB 1365.

 

There being no further business, at 9:29 a.m., Senator Birdwell moved that the Senate Higher

Education Committee stand in recess, subject to the call of the Chair. The motion was

adopted by unanimous consent.

 

 

Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair

 

 

Gonzalo Serrano, Clerk