MINUTES

 

SENATE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

8:00 a.m.

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Higher Education was held on Wednesday, March 18, 2009, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair Senator Dan Patrick, Vice Chair Senator Kip Averitt Senator Robert Duncan Senator Royce West		None

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.  The following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out SB 596 and recognized the author, Senator Nichols, to explain the bill.

 

Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. The chair closed public testimony. SB 596 was left pending to await a quorum.

 

At 8:03 a.m. Senator West assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 43 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Zaffirini sent up the committee substitute for SB 43 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.

 

Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. The chair closed public testimony.

 

Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 43 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 5 ayes and 0 nays, the committee substitute for SB 43 was reported favorably.

 

Having been present during the hearing, Senators Patrick and Averitt requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 43. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and their votes were included in the total vote count.

 

Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 43 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

Senator Duncan moved that the minutes of the March 4, 2009, hearing be approved. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. 

 

At 8:25 a.m. Senator Zaffirini resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 174 and recognized the author, Senator Shapiro, to explain the bill.

 

Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. The chair closed public testimony.

 

SB 174 was left pending.

 

SB 454 was withdrawn at the request of the author, Senator Shapiro.

 

The chair laid out SB 297 and recognized the author, Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill. Senator Duncan sent up the committee substitute for SB 297 and moved its adoption. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. The chair recognized Senator Van de Putte to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed.

 

Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. The chair closed public testimony.

 

Senator Patrick moved that SB 297 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 5 ayes and 0 nays, the committee substitute for SB 297 was reported favorably. 

 

Senator Patrick moved that SB 297 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The chair laid out anew SB 596 by Senator Nichols. Senator West moved that SB 596 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being

5 ayes and 0 nays, SB 596 was reported favorably. 

 

Having been present during the hearing, Senator Patrick requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 596. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and his vote was included in the total vote count.

 

Senator West moved that SB 596 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The chair laid out SB 194 and recognized the author, Senator Shapleigh, to explain the bill.

 

Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. The chair closed public testimony.

 

Senator Patrick moved that SB 194 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 5 ayes and 0 nays, SB 194 was reported favorably. 

 

Having been present during the hearing, Senators Duncan and West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 194. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and their votes were included in the total vote count.

 

Senator Patrick moved that SB 194 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The chair laid out SB 305 and recognized the author, Senator Shapleigh, to explain the bill.

 

Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. The chair closed public testimony.

 

Senator Patrick moved that SB 305 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 5 ayes and 0 nays, SB 305 was reported favorably. 

 

Having been present during the hearing, Senators Duncan and West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 305. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and their votes were included in the total vote count.

 

Senator Patrick moved that SB 305 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The chair laid out SB 847 and recognized the author, Senator Averitt, to explain the bill.

 

Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. The chair closed public testimony.

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 847 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 5 ayes and 0 nays, SB 847 was reported favorably. 

 

Having been present during the hearing, Senators Duncan and West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 847. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and their votes were included in the total vote count.

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 847 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The chair laid out SB 811 and recognized Senator Patrick to explain the bill by Senator Duncan.

 

Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. The chair closed public testimony.

 

Senator Patrick moved that SB 811 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 5 ayes and 0 nays, SB 811 was reported favorably. 

 

Having been present during the hearing, Senators Duncan and West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 811. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and their votes were included in the total vote count.

 

Senator Patrick moved that SB 811 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

At 9:11 a.m. Senator Patrick assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 48 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.

 

Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. The chair closed public testimony.

 

Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 48 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 5 ayes and 0 nays, SB 48 was reported favorably. 

 

Having been present during the hearing, Senators Duncan and West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 48. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and their votes were included in the total vote count.

 

Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 48 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

At 9:28 a.m. Senator Zaffirini resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 816 and recognized the author, Senator Patrick, to explain the bill.

 

Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. The chair closed public testimony.

 

SB 816 was left pending.

 

There being no further business, at 9:32 a.m. Senator Patrick moved that the committee stand recessed, subject to the call of the chair. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

 

 

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Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair

 

 

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Lauren Cook, Clerk