MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS

Monday, April 22, 2013

12:30 PM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.016

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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 Nominations was held on Monday, April 22, 2013, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Glenn Hegar, Chair	Senator John Carona
Senator Donna Campbell, Vice Chair	Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Sylvia Garcia
Senator Jane Nelson
Senator Kirk Watson

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Senator Donna Campbell, the acting chair, called the meeting to order at 12:30 PM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

The following member arrived after the roll was called: Senator Glenn Hegar

Senator Watson moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on April 15, 2013; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Watson was recognized to introduce August W. Harris, III, nominee to the Texas Historical Commission, to the committee.

Senator Estes was recognized to introduce Robert K. “Bob” Shepard, nominee to the Texas Historical Commission, to the committee.

Senator Nelson, on behalf of Senator Deuell, was recognized to introduce Michael D. Donegan, nominee to the Texas Historical Commission, to the committee.

At 12:40 PM Senator Hegar assumed the chair.

The nominees to the Texas Historical Commission made opening statements and answered questions from the members of the committee.

Senator Campbell moved that committee vote to approve the nominations of the individuals to the following entities: Administrative Judicial Region, Second, Office of Public Insurance Counsel, Sabine River Authority Board of Directors, State Employee Charitable Campaign Policy Committee, Texas Board of Architectural Examiners, Texas Board of Professional Engineers, Texas Commission on the Arts, Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Council, Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation, Texas Historical Commission, Texas Industrialized Building Code Council, and Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

Chairman Hegar indicated that the three nominees to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice were being held at the request of the Governor’s Appointments Office.  One nominee needs to be vetted further and a decision will be made in the near future whether or not to move forward with this particular nominee.  Chairman Hegar assured the members that the nominees to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice will appear before the committee once all issues are resolved.

Chairman Hegar indicated that he would be posting the proposed committee rule change for the next hearing of the Nominations Committee. 

There being no further business, at 12:49 PM Senator Hegar moved that the committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Glenn Hegar, Chair

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Jake Johnson, Clerk