MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Thursday, April 4, 2013

8:30 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.028

 

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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 Education was held on Thursday, April 4, 2013, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.028, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Dan Patrick, Chair

 

None

Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Donna Campbell

 

 

Senator Robert Duncan

 

 

Senator Ken Paxton

 

 

Senator Kel Seliger

 

 

Senator Larry Taylor

 

 

Senator Leticia Van de Putte

 

 

Senator Royce West

 

 

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 8:30 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearings held on March 26, 2013, March 28, 2013, and April 2, 2013; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1362 and recognized the author, Senator Schwertner, 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 Lucio, Jr. moved that SB 1362 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

 

 

 

The chair laid out SB 1505 and recognized the author, Senator Schwertner, to explain the bill.  Senator Lucio, Jr. sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Schwertner 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 Patrick moved that SB 1505 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 48 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.  Senator Duncan sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Zaffirini 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 Seliger moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Seliger moved that SB 48 do not pass but that CSSB 48 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.  Senator Seliger moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 418 and recognized Senator Lucio, Jr., in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.  Senator Lucio, Jr. sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Lucio, Jr. 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 Lucio, Jr. moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that SB 418 do not pass but that CSSB 418 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 9:26 AM Senator Lucio, Jr. assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1408 and the proposed committee substitute and recognized the author, Senator Patrick, to explain the bill.  Senator Patrick sent up Committee Amendment 1 to the proposed committee substitute and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.    Senator Dan Patrick requested unanimous consent to incorporate the adopted amendment into the proposed committee substitute to create a new committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Dan Patrick then moved that the new committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Dan Patrick moved that SB 1408 do not pass but that CSSB 1408 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1406 and the proposed committee substitute and recognized the author, Senator Patrick, to explain the bill.  Senator Duncan sent up Committee Amendment 1 to the proposed committee substitute and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.  Senator Dan Patrick requested unanimous consent to incorporate the adopted amendment into the proposed committee substitute to create a new committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Dan Patrick then moved that the new committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Dan Patrick moved that SB 1406 do not pass but that CSSB 1406 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 2 present not voting, and 0 absent.   

 

At 10:08 AM Senator Patrick resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1474 and recognized the author, Senator Duncan, to explain the bill.  Senator Duncan moved that SB 1474 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  Senator Duncan moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 10:11 AM Senator Lucio, Jr. assumed the chair.  

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 17 and recognized the author, Senator Patrick, to explain the bill.  Senator Patrick moved to withdraw from consideration the substitute that was sent up on March 19, 2013; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Patrick sent up a new committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Patrick to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Patrick moved to withdraw from consideration Amendment 1 to the proposed committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Patrick sent up Committee Amendment 2 to the proposed committee substitute and moved adoption; the motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 1 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  Senator Duncan sent up Committee Amendment 3 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.  Senator Dan Patrick requested unanimous consent to incorporate adopted amendments 2 and 3 into the proposed substitute to SB 17 to create a new substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Dan Patrick then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Dan Patrick moved that SB 17 do not pass but that CSSB 17 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

At 10:29 AM Senator Patrick resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 1556 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill.  Senator Seliger sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.  Senator Patrick moved that SB 1556 and public testimony be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 376 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, to explain the bill.  Senator Lucio, Jr. sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Lucio, Jr. to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Lucio, Jr. moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Patrick moved that SB 376 and public testimony be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

There being no further business, at 10:35 AM Senator Dan Patrick moved that the Committee stand recessed until 15 minutes after the adjournment of the Senate; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Patrick reconvened the meeting at 2:39 PM.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1556.  Senator Seliger sent up Committee Amendment 2 and explained the amendment.  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 Patrick moved that SB 1556 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 2:41 PM Senator Patrick moved that the Committee stand recessed temporarily; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 2:48 PM Senator Patrick reconvened the committee.

 

As a matter of pending business, the chair opened public testimony on SB 376.  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.

 

The chair moved that SB 376 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 709 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, to explain the bill.  Senator Lucio, Jr. sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Lucio, Jr. 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. 

 

At 3:27 PM Senator Paxton assumed the chair.

 

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

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that SB 709 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. laid out and explained SB 860.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. 

 

At 3:57 PM Senator Van de Putte assumed the chair.

 

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

 

Senator Van de Putte moved that SB 860 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Paxton requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 48, and SB 1474; there being no objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 48, SB 418, and SB 1362; there being no objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

There was no action taken for the following bill(s): SB 1062, SB 1718, and SB 1775.

 

There being no further business, at 4:00 PM Senator Van de Putte moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

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Senator Dan Patrick, Chair

 

 

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Holly Mabry McCoy, Clerk