MINUTES

 

SENATE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

7:30 a.m.

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

 

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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 Higher Education Committee was held on Wednesday, April 20, 2011, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair

 

None

Senator Brian Birdwell, Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Robert Duncan

 

OTHER LEGISLATIVE

Senator Joan Huffman

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Senator Kirk Watson

 

Senator Wendy Davis

Senator Jeff Wentworth

 

Senator Glenn Hegar

Senator Royce West

 

Senator Eddie Lucio

 

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The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

Senator Birdwell moved that the minutes of the April 13, 2011, hearing be approved. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1624 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill.         SB 1624 was left pending.

 

At 7:33 a.m. Senator Birdwell assumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out SB 32 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. Senator Zaffirini sent up the committee substitute for SB 32. The committee substitute was not adopted. The Chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed. SB 32 was left pending.

The Chair laid out SB 1724 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. Senator Zaffirini sent up the committee substitute for SB 1724. The committee substitute was not adopted. The Chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed. SB 1724 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1727 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. Senator Zaffirini sent up the committee substitute for SB 1727. The Chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed. Senator Zaffirini moved adoption of CSSB 1727. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. CSSB 1727 was left pending.

 

At 7:43 a.m. Senator Zaffirini re-assumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1488 and recognized Senator Watson to explain the bill by Senator West. Senator Watson sent up the committee substitute for SB 1488. The Chair recognized Senator Watson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed. Senator Watson moved adoption of CSSB 1488. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. CSSB 1488 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1414 and recognized the author, Senator Duncan, to explain the bill. Senator Duncan sent up the committee substitute for SB 1414. The Chair recognized Senator Duncan to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed. Senator Duncan moved adoption of CSSB 1414. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. CSSB 1414 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out anew SB 1624 by Senator Hegar 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 1624 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out anew CSSB 1727 by Senator Zaffirini and opened public testimony. There being no witnesses registered for, against, or on the bill, the Chair closed public testimony. Senator Birdwell moved that SB 1727 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 7 ayes and 0 nays, the committee substitute for SB 1727 was reported favorably. Senator Duncan moved that CSSB 1727 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew SB 32 by Senator Zaffirini and opened public testimony. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. Senator Zaffirini moved adoption of CSSB 32. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. The Chair closed public testimony. Senator Birdwell moved that SB 32 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 7 ayes and 0 nays, the committee substitute for SB 32 was reported favorably. Senator Birdwell moved that CSSB 32 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew CSSB 1488 by Senator West 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. Senator West moved that SB 1488 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 6 ayes and 0 nays, the committee substitute for SB 1488 was reported favorably. Senator West moved that CSSB 1488 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew SB 1724 by 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. SB 1724 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out anew CSSB 1414 by Senator Duncan 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. Senator Duncan moved that SB 1414 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 7 ayes and 0 nays, the committee substitute for      SB 1414 was reported favorably. Senator Duncan moved that CSSB 1414 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew SB 1107 by Senator Davis and opened public testimony. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. Senator Duncan moved adoption of  CSSB 1107, which was sent up at a previous hearing. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. The Chair closed public testimony. Senator Duncan moved that SB 1107 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 6 ayes and 1 nay, the committee substitute for SB 1107 was reported favorably.

The Chair laid out anew CSSB 1348 by Senator Van de Putte. Senator Watson moved to reconsider the vote by which the committee substitute for SB 1348 was adopted. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. Senator Watson sent up a committee amendment for CSSB 1348 and moved its adoption. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. Senator Watson moved that the amendment be rolled into a new committee substitute and that the new committee substitute be adopted. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. Senator Watson moved that SB 1348 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        2 nays, the committee substitute for SB 1348 was reported favorably.

The Chair laid out anew SB 1564 by Senator West. Senator Watson sent up the committee substitute for SB 1564. The Chair recognized Senator Watson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed. Senator Watson moved adoption of      CSSB 1564. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. Senator Watson moved that        SB 1564 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 7 ayes and        0 nays, the committee substitute for SB 1564 was reported favorably. Senator West moved that CSSB 1564 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair laid out anew CSSB 1823 by Senator Patrick. Senator Duncan moved that SB 1823 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 7 ayes and 0 nays, the committee substitute for SB 1823 was reported favorably.

The Chair laid out anew SB 1845 by Senator Lucio. SB 1845 was left pending.

 

At 8:25 a.m. Senator Birdwell assumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out anew SB 40 by Senator Zaffirini. Senator Zaffirini sent up the committee substitute for SB 40. The Chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed. The committee substitute was not adopted. The Chair 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 40 was left pending.

 

At 8:32 a.m. Senator Zaffirini re-assumed the chair.

 

Having been present during the hearing, Senator Duncan requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 1727. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and his vote was included in the total vote count.

Having been present during the hearing, Senator Watson requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 1414. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and his vote was included in the total vote count.

 

Having been present during the hearing, Senator West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 1107, SB 1348, SB 1414, and SB 1727. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and his vote was included in the total vote count.

 

No action was taken on the following bills: SB 557 and SB 1365.

 

There being no further business, at 8:33 a.m. Senator Birdwell moved that the Senate Higher

Education Committee stand in recess, subject to the call of the Chair. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair

 

 

 

Gonzalo Serrano, Clerk