MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

9:00 a.m.

Capitol Extension, Room E1.036

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Education was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Florence Shapiro Senator Kip Averitt Senator Steve Ogden Senator Dan Patrick Senator Leticia Van de Putte Senator Royce West Senator Tommy Williams		Senator Judith Zaffirini

 

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A joint hearing of the Senate Committee on Education and Senate Finance Subcommittee on Property Appraisal and Revenue Caps was held.

 

Senator Shapiro called the Education Committee to order at 9:09 a.m.  Senator Williams called the Subcommittee on Property Appraisal and Revenue Caps to order at 9:09 a.m.  The following business was transacted: 

 

Senator Shapiro and Senator Williams, as Co-Chairs, shared presiding duties throughout the hearing.

 

Senator Shapiro and Senator Williams made opening remarks to the committee, and then recognized other members for opening remarks.

 

At 9:32 a.m. the roll was called and a quorum was established for both the Senate Committee on Education and the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Property Appraisal and Revenue Caps.

 

Senator Shapiro called the following invited witnesses to provide testimony on the following charge:  Review current property tax rates at school districts. Explore what mechanisms may exist to prevent any future constitutional funding challenges. Review any funding issues that are particular to certain types of school districts, such as fast growth districts.  See attached list.

 

At 11:06 a.m. Senator Williams assumed the chair.

 

At 11:16 a.m. Senator Shapiro resumed the chair.

 

At 11:38 a.m. Senator Williams assumed the chair.

 

The Chair called the following invited witnesses to provide testimony on the following charge assigned to the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Property Appraisal and Revenue Caps:  Review the practice of school districts approving budgets contingent on the passage of a rate-rollback election. See attached list.

 

At 1:06 p.m. the chair called persons who registered as public witnesses to provide testimony on the interim committee charges.  See attached list.

 

At 1:20 p.m. Senator Shapiro resumed the chair.

 

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

 

There being no further business, at 1:45 p.m. Senator Williams moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Florence Shapiro, Chair

 

 

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Holly Mabry, Clerk