MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

9:00 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 Committee on Higher Education was held on Wednesday, April 3, 2013, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Kel Seliger, Chair	None
Senator Kirk Watson, Vice Chair
Senator Brian Birdwell
Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Dan Patrick
Senator Royce West
Senator Judith Zaffirini

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:15 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

Senator Zaffirini moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on March 27, 2013; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1157 and recognized the author, Senator Schwertner, to explain the bill.

Senator Watson 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 Watson moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Watson moved that SB 1157 do not pass but that CSSB 1157 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, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Patrick and Senator West submitted motions in writing to be shown voting aye on SB 1157.

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

The chair laid out SB 1019 and recognized the author, Senator Estes, 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 Watson moved that SB 1019 be reported favorably 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, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Duncan, Senator Patrick and Senator West submitted motions in writing to be shown voting aye on SB 1019.

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

At 9:29 AM Senator Watson assumed the chair.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 15 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill.

Senator Seliger sent up a new committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Seliger to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the previous committee substitute. Senator Seliger moved adoption of the new committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Seliger then moved to reconsider the vote by which the committee substitute was adopted; without objection it was so ordered.

Senator Watson sent up Committee Amendment 1, and explained the amendment. Senator Seliger then moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.

Senator Watson sent up Committee Amendment 2, and explained the amendment. Senator Seliger then moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.

Senator Seliger requested unanimous consent to incorporate the amendments into the new committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Seliger then moved that the new committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Seliger moved that SB 15 do not pass but that CSSB 15 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Duncan submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on SB 15.

At 9:41 AM Senator Seliger resumed the chair.

At 9:42 AM Senator Watson assumed the chair.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 857 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill.

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

Senator Seliger moved that SB 857 do not pass but that CSSB 857 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, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Patrick submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on SB 857.

At 9:46 AM Senator Seliger resumed the chair.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 143 and recognized Senator West, in the absence of the author, 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 West moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator West moved that SB 143 do not pass but that CSSB 143 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, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

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

The chair laid out SB 986 and recognized the author, Senator Duncan, to explain the bill.

Senator Duncan sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Duncan 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 Duncan moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Duncan moved that SB 986 do not pass but that CSSB 986 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, 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.

The chair laid out SB 1741 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.

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

Senator Watson sent up Committee Amendment 1 and explained the amendment. Senator Watson then moved to withdraw the amendment; without objection, it was so ordered.

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 that SB 1741 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

At 10:12 AM Senator Watson assumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 1530 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, 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 Seliger moved that SB 1530 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 1 absent. Senator Duncan submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on SB 1530.

At 10:47 AM Senator Seliger resumed the chair.

There being no further business, at 10:47 AM Senator Seliger moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Kel Seliger, Chair

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Sarah Willcox, Clerk