MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

10:00 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 Finance was held on Wednesday, June 23, 2010, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Steve Ogden Senator Juan Hinojosa Senator Bob Deuell Senator Robert Duncan Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. Senator Kel Seliger Senator Florence Shapiro Senator Royce West Senator Judith Zaffirini		Senator Kevin Eltife Senator Chris Harris Senator Jane Nelson Senator John Whitmire Senator Tommy Williams

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted. 

 

The Committee heard invited testimony regarding the Committees' following interim charge:

 

Study and make recommendations regarding formula funding and its impact on the cost of attendance and methods of financing higher education institutions, including funding differences for pharmacy and nursing programs; research funding; performance funding; and funding for institutions that face capacity student enrollment. Specifically address the following:  1.)Methods of financing capital projects at higher education institutions, including the levels of deferred maintenance on the ability to offer basic instructional services, and the methods used to finance deferred maintenance projects. Recommend alternatives for providing a structured and recurring funding mechanism more suited to the state's fiscal capacity and institutional needs.  2.)Supplemental funding for structured programs that are essential for student success and for meeting the goals of Closing the Gaps, including those that provide concentrated student academic and personal support services for universities that enroll a high proportion of non-traditional or at-risk students.  Study and make recommendations regarding the quality and effectiveness of academic advising, focusing on resources, staff development, and impact on time-to-degree.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the subject are shown on the attached list.

 

At 10:30 a.m. Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.  At 11:41 a.m. Senator Ogden resumed the chair. At 1:25 p.m. Senator West assumed the chair.  At 1:43 p.m. Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.  At 1:52 p.m. Senator Ogden resumed the chair.

 

The chair opened the floor for public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the subject are shown on the attached list.

 

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

 

There being no further business, at 3:09 p.m. Senator Ogden moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Steve Ogden, Chair

 

 

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Annette Graves, Clerk