MINUTES

SENATE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

7:30 AM

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, May 18, 2011, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair	Senator Joan Huffman
Senator Brian Birdwell, Vice Chair
Senator Robert Duncan	OTHER LEGISLATIVE
Senator Kirk Watson	MEMBERS PRESENT:
Senator Jeff Wentworth	Senator Glenn Hegar
Senator Royce West	Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.

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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 May 11, 2011, hearing be approved. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

The Chair laid out HB 3689 by Representative Oliveira and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Lucio, to explain the bill. Senator Birdwell sent up the committee substitute for HB 3689. The Chair recognized Senator Lucio to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the Senate bill as filed. Senator Birdwell moved adoption of CSHB 3689. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. CSHB 3689 was left pending.

The Chair laid out HB 1163 by Representative Keffer and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill. HB 1163 was left pending.

At 7:36 a.m. Senator Birdwell assumed the chair.

The Chair laid out HB 9 by Representative Branch and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. HB 9 was left pending.

The Chair laid out HB 992 by Representative Castro and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. HB 992 was left pending.

The Chair laid out HB 1206 by Representative Guillen and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. HB 1206 was left pending.

The Chair laid out HB 1341 by Representative Walle and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. HB 1341 was left pending.

The Chair laid out HB 2758 by Representative Peña and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. HB 2758 was left pending.

The Chair laid out HB 3025 by Representative Branch and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. HB 3025 was left pending.

The Chair laid out HB 3578 by Representative Larry Gonzales and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. HB 3578 was left pending.

The Chair laid out HB 3579 by Representative Larry Gonzales and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. HB 3579 was left pending.

At 7:52 a.m. Senator Zaffirini reassumed the chair.

The Chair laid out HB 2911 by Representative Branch and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Birdwell, to explain the bill. HB 2911 was left pending.

The Chair laid out anew HB 992 by Representative Castro, sponsored by Senator Zaffirini, and opened public testimony. There being no witnesses registered for, against, or on the bill, the Chair closed public testimony. HB 992 was left pending.

The Chair laid out anew HB 2758 by Representative Peña, sponsored 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. Senator Birdwell moved that HB 2758 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 6 ayes and 0 nays, HB 2758 was reported favorably. Senator Birdwell moved that HB 2758 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

The Chair laid out anew HB 3689 by Representative Oliveira, sponsored by Senator Lucio, and opened public testimony. There being no witnesses registered for, against, or on the bill, the Chair closed public testimony. Senator Wentworth moved that HB 3689 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, CSHB 3689 was reported favorably. Senator Wentworth moved that CSHB 3689 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

The Chair laid out anew HB 1206 by Representative Guillen, sponsored 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. HB 1206 was left pending.

The Chair laid out anew HB 1341 by Representative Walle, sponsored 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. Senator West moved that HB 1341 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 6 ayes and 0 nays, HB 1341 was reported favorably. Senator West moved that HB 1341 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

The Chair laid out anew HB 2911 by Representative Branch, sponsored 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. Senator Birdwell moved that HB 2911 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 6 ayes and 0 nays, HB 2911 was reported favorably. Senator Birdwell moved that HB 2911 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

The Chair laid out anew HB 3579 by Representative Larry Gonzales, sponsored 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. Senator Wentworth moved that HB 3579 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 6 ayes and 0 nays, HB 3579 was reported favorably. Senator Wentworth moved that HB 3579 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

The Chair laid out anew HB 3025 by Representative Branch, sponsored 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. HB 3025 was left pending.

The Chair laid out anew HB 1163 by Representative Keffer, sponsored 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. HB 1163 was left pending.

The Chair laid out anew HB 9 by Representative Branch, sponsored 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. HB 9 was left pending.

The Chair laid out anew HB 3578 by Representative Larry Gonzales, sponsored 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 HB 3578 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 6 ayes and 0 nays, HB 3578 was reported favorably. Senator Birdwell moved that HB 3578 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

The Chair laid out anew HB 1163 by Representative Keffer, sponsored by Senator Hegar, and opened anew 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 Wentworth moved that HB 1163 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. There being 6 ayes and 0 nays, HB 1163 was reported favorably. Senator Wentworth moved that HB 1163 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

The Chair laid out anew HB 1000 by Representative Branch, sponsored by Senator Zaffirini. Names of witnesses who testified and registered for, against, or on the bill are on the attached list. Senator Duncan moved adoption of CSHB 1000, which was sent up at a previous hearing. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. Senator Duncan moved that HB 1000 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 HB 1000 was reported favorably. Senator Duncan moved that CSHB 1000 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

Having been present during the hearing, Senator Duncan requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on HB 1341, HB 2758, HB 2911, and HB 3689. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and his votes were included in the total vote count.

Having been present during the hearing, Senator Watson requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on HB 1000, HB 1163, HB 1341, HB 2911, HB 3578, HB 3579, and HB 3689. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and his votes were included in the total vote count

Having been present during the hearing, Senator West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on HB 1000, HB 1163, HB 3578, and HB 3579. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent, and his votes were included in the total vote count.

There being no further business, at 9:11 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