MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS

Monday, May 6, 2013

11:00 AM or upon adjournment

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, May 6, 2013, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Glenn Hegar, Chair	None
Senator Donna Campbell, Vice Chair
Senator John Carona
Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Sylvia Garcia
Senator Jane Nelson
Senator Kirk Watson

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The chair called the meeting to order at 6:15 PM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

The following members arrived after the roll was called:  Senator Carona, Senator Fraser, and Senator Watson.

Chairman Hegar moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on April 22, 2013; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Fraser was recognized to introduce Cydney C. Donnell, nominee to the Employees Retirement System of Texas, to the committee.  Ms. Donnell made an opening statement and answered questions from the members of the committee.

Shad Rowe, Jr., a nominee to the Employees Retirement System of Texas, had his appearance waived by Senator Carona.

The nominees to the Employees Retirement System of Texas were left pending before the committee.

Chairman Hegar recognized Commissioner Ken Anderson, nominee to the Public Utility Commission of Texas, to come forward.  Commissioner Anderson made an opening statement and answered questions from the members of the committee.

Commissioner Anderson’s nomination was left pending before the committee.

Senator Campbell was recognized to introduce R. Terrell McCombs, nominee to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, to the committee.

Senator Carona was recognized to introduce J. Eric Gambrell, nominee to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, to the committee. 

The Honorable Thomas P. Wingate, nominee to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, was recognized to make a self-introduction. 

Mr. Gambrell, Mr. McCombs, and Judge Wingate all made opening statements and answered questions from the members of the committee.

The nominees to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice were left pending before the committee.

Chairman Hegar recognized Mr. Oliver Bell, Chairman of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, to come forward.  Mr. Bell addressed concerns raised by members of the Committee pertaining to the initial recommendation of his Sister-in-Law to be a member of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice.

Chairman Hegar discussed a proposed rule change requiring nominees to have up to date applications as well as personal financial statements.  See the rule language below.

11.01  The Committee shall not conduct a hearing or vote on a nominee or appointment, unless the nominee or appointment has provided the Committee with a completed and up to date application and personal financial statement in a form acceptable to the Committee or the nominee or appointment has a signed certification of application form attesting that all information contained in the application and personal financial statement on file is up to date, true, complete, and correct.

The new rule was adopted without objection.

Senator Garcia requested that the nomination of R. Terrell McCombs be held for a week, so that Mr. McCombs could correct his application and personal financial statement.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

Senator Hegar moved that the committee vote to approve the nominations of the remaining individuals to the following entities: 113th Judicial District Court, Harris County, Automobile Burglary and Theft Prevention Authority, Employees Retirement System of Texas Board of Trustees, Evergreen Underground Water Conservation District, Finance Commission of Texas, Public Utility Commission of Texas, Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners, Texas Board of Criminal Justice, Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners, Texas Diabetes Council, Texas Public Finance Authority, Texas Southern University Board of Regents, and University of North Texas System Board of Regents. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

There being no further business, at 6:45 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