MINUTES

 

SENATE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Wednesday, May 6, 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, May 6, 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 Robert Duncan Senator Royce West		Senator Kip Averitt

 

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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 2077 and recognized the author, Senator Uresti, to explain the bill.

 

SB 2077 was left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1304 and recognized the author, Senator Patrick, to explain the bill. Senator Patrick sent up the committee substitute for SB 1304, and the chair recognized Senator Patrick to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed.

 

SB 1304 was left pending.

 

At 8:06 a.m. Senator Patrick assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out HB 51 by Representative Branch and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.

 

A quorum was established at 8:20 a.m.

 

HB 51 was left pending.

 

The chair laid out HB 1568 by Representative Gonzales and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.

 

HB 1568 was left pending.

 

The chair laid out HB 4476 by Representative Cohen and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. Senator Zaffirini sent up the committee substitute for HB 4476, and the chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the House bill as filed.

 

HB 4476 was left pending.

 

At 8:11 a.m. Senator Zaffirini resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out anew SB 1304 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.

 

SB 1304 was left pending.

 

At 8:12 a.m. Senator Patrick assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out anew HB 1568 by Representative Gonzales and 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.

 

HB 1568 was left pending.

 

The chair laid out anew SB 2077 by Senator Uresti 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 2077 was left pending.

 

The chair laid out anew HB 4476 by Representative Cohen and 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.

 

HB 4476 was left pending.

 

The chair laid out anew HB 51 by Representative Branch and 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.

 

HB 51 was left pending.

 

At 8:55 a.m. Senator Zaffirini resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out anew SB 1304 by Senator Patrick. Senator Patrick sent up the committee substitute for SB 1304 and moved its adoption. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. Senator Patrick moved that SB 1304 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 4 ayes and 0 nays, the committee substitute for SB 1304 was reported favorably. 

 

Senator Patrick moved that SB 1304 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

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

 

The chair laid out anew SB 2077 by Senator Uresti. Senator Duncan sent up a committee amendment for SB 2077 and moved its adoption. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. Senator Duncan moved that the amendment be rolled into a committee substitute and that the committee substitute be adopted. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

Senator Duncan moved that SB 2077 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 4 ayes and 0 nays, the committee substitute for SB 2077 was reported favorably. 

 

Having been present during the hearing, Senator West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 2077. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and his vote was included in the total vote count.

 

The chair laid out anew HB 4476 by Senator Cohen and Senator Zaffirini. Senator Patrick sent up the committee substitute for HB 4476 and moved its adoption. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. Senator Patrick moved that HB 4476 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 4 ayes and 0 nays, the committee substitute for HB 4476 was reported favorably. 

 

Having been present during the hearing, Senator West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on HB 4476. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and his vote was included in the total vote count.

 

The following bills were left pending: HB 51, HB 1568.

 

 

 

 

There being no further business, at 9:01 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