MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Monday, April 4, 2011

10:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.036

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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 Committee on Finance was held on Monday, April 4, 2011, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

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

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The chair called the meeting to order at 10:04 AM. The following business was transacted:

The chair announced the Committee would vote on pending bills at 12:00 PM.

The chair laid out SB 1505 and recognized the author, Senator Uresti, to explain the bill.

Senator Zaffirini sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Uresti to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

Senator Ogden moved that SB 1505 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SJR 23 and recognized the author, Senator Wentworth, to explain the bill.

Senator Ogden sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Wentworth to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Ogden moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Ogden moved that SJR 23 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SJR 38 and recognized the author, Senator Davis, to explain the bill.

Senator Ogden moved that SJR 38 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

Testimony was taken on SB 1505.

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

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

Testimony was taken on SJR 23 and SJR 38.

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

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

Senator Ogden moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 1505; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 517 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill.

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

Witnesses testifying and registering on SB 517 are shown on the attached list.

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

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 517 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1535 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill.

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

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

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 1535 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 726 and recognized the author, Senator Rodriguez, to explain the bill.

The chair laid out SB 1524 and recognized Senator Rodriguez, to explain the bill.

Senator Zaffirini sent up a committee substitute for SB 726; the chair recognized Senator Rodriguez to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

Witnesses testifying and registering on SB 726 and SB 1524 are shown on the attached list.

Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed on SB 726 and SB 1524; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 726 and SB 1524 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1088 and recognized the author, Senator Rodriguez, to explain the bill.

Senator Zaffirini sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Rodriguez to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

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

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

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 1088 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1179 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.

Senator Ogden sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nelson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

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

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

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 1179 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Ogden resumed the chair.

Senator Ogden moved adoption of the committee substitutes for SB 726; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Ogden moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 1088; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Ogden moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 1179; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 449, and a committee substitute adopted at a previous hearing. The chair moved to reconsider the vote by which the committee substitute had previously been adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. The chair moved to pull down the previously adopted committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Estes sent up a new committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Estes to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Estes moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Estes moved that SB 449 do not pass but that CSSB 449 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 758. Senator Seliger moved that SB 758 do not pass but that CSSB 758 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Ogden moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 776 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.

Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 776 do not pass but that CSSB 776 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SJR 12 and recognized the author, Senator Patrick, to explain the bill.

Senator Patrick moved that SJR 12 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 4 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SJR 16 and recognized the author, Senator Estes, to explain the bill.

Senator Estes moved that SJR 16 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Williams submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on SB 449, SB 758, SB 776, SJR 12 and SJR 16. Without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Duncan submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on SB 449, SB 758, SB 776 and SJR 16. Without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Ogden announced the appointments of two subcommittees. Members of each subcommittee are listed below.

Subcommittee on Higher Education Funding: Senator West, chair, Senator Duncan, Senator Hinojosa, Senator Patrick, Senator Seliger, Senator Shapiro and Senator Zaffirini.

Subcommittee on Articles VI and VII: Senator Williams, chair, Senator Deuell, Senator Eltife, Senator Estes, Senator Lucio, Senator Nelson and Senator Whitmire.

The chair laid out SB 540 and recognized the author, Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill.

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

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

Senator Ogden moved that SB 540 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SJR 22 and recognized the author, Senator Nichols, to explain the bill.

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

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

Senator Ogden moved that SJR 22 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1798 and recognized the author, Senator West, to explain the bill.

Senator West sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator West to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

Witnesses testifying and registering on SB 1798 are shown on the attached list.

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

SB 1798 was left pending.

Senator Ogden resumed the chair.

At 1:30 PM Senator Ogden moved that the Committee stand recessed until one hour after adjournment of the Senate. Without objection, it was so ordered.

At 6:40 PM the Committee reconvened.

Senator Nelson assumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 1590 and recognized the author, Senator Ogden, to explain the bill.

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

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed on SB 1590; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 1590 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

There was no action taken on SB 720.

There being no further business, at 7:29 PM Senator Hinojosa 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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Stephanie Hoover, Clerk