MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS & MILITARY INSTALLATIONS

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

1:30 PM or upon adjournment

Senate Chamber

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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 Veteran Affairs & Military Installations was held on Wednesday, March 6, 2013, in the Senate Chamber.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Leticia Van de Putte, Chair	None
Senator Brian Birdwell, Vice Chair
Senator Donna Campbell
Senator Wendy Davis
Senator José Rodríguez

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The chair called the meeting to order at 1:30 PM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

The chair recognized Sergio Tristan, (CPT of the TXMF’s) to lead the committee in the United States Pledge of Allegiance and the Texas Pledge. 

Senator Van de Putte made opening remarks to the committee.

Senator Van de Putte called the following invited witnesses to provide testimony regarding state education benefits for veterans, families, and their children:

· M.D., Cigarroa, Francisco Chancellor (University of Texas Systems), Austin, TX

· Hance, Kent Chancellor (Texas Tech System), Lubbock, TX

· Jackson, Lee Chancellor (also providing written testimony) (University of North Texas

System), Dallas, TX

· McCall, Brian Chancellor (The Texas State University System), Austin, TX

· Sharp, John Chancellor (Texas A&M University Systems), College Station, TX

· Silva, Adelina Vice Chancellor (also providing written testimony) (Alamo Colleges), San

Antonio, TX

· Parades, Raymond Commissioner (Higher Education Coordinating Board), Austin, TX

· Weaver, Dan Assistant Commissioner (also providing written testimony) (Texas Higher

Education Coordinating Board), Austin, TX

· Palladino, Thomas Executive Director (Texas Veterans Commission), Austin, TX

· Coburn, Rufus Director, Education Program (also providing written testimony) (Texas

Veterans Commission), Austin, TX

· Rickhoff, Liesel Student at The University of Texas School of Law (also providing written

testimony) (Self), Austin, TX

· Yoder, Amy (also providing written testimony) (Self), San Marcos, TX

The following witnesses provided public testimony regarding state education benefits for veterans, families, and their children:

· Cunningham, James R. Major (Texas Council of Chapters - Military Officers Association

of America/Texas Coalition of Veterans Organizations), San Antonio, TX

· Dresner, Bo Sergeant U.S. Army Retired (Self), San Antonio, TX

· Hamlin, Marc President (Student Veterans Association at the University of Texas), Austin,

TX

· Heidenheimer, Mark Citizen (Self), McKinney, TX

· Jones, Charles Attorney, President Democratic Veterans of Texas (DemVets), San Antonio,

TX

· Kupcho, Bob (Veterans Initiative of Texas State University San Marcos), Buda, TX

· Lindner, Ray Executive Director (National Guard Association of Texas), Austin, TX

· Little, Morgan Chairman (Texas Coalition of Veterans Organizations), Dripping Springs,

TX

· McAfee, Dwayne Mr. (Self), Houston, TX

· Miterko, John A, Legislative Liaison (Texas Coalition of Veteran Organizations), Austin,

TX

· Ponce III, Domitilo (Self; Student Veterans Group, Texas State University), Del Valle, TX

· Salazar, Placido Veterans Legislation Liaison (Dr. Hector P. Garcia, American GI Forum,

Org. of Texas), Universal City, TX

· Tristan, Sergio Captain (Self), Austin, TX

· Dougherty, Will Staff Sergeant (University of Texas Student Veterans), Austin, TX

· Heisinger, Bryan (Self), Austin, TX

· Jude, Prather San Marcos City Councilman, Hays County Veterans Service Officer (Texas

State University Veterans), San Marcos, TX

· Stroud, Timothy Veterans Advocate, Member and Alum (Student Veterans of America),

Hutto, TX

At 3:40 PM Senator Davis assumed the chair.

At 3:44 PM Senator Van de Putte resumed the chair.

The following witnesses registered but did not testify:

· Barrientos, Jose Student Veteran Association Member (Self), Dallas, TX

· Lord, Fred Junior Vice Commander (Military Order of the Purple Heart #1919), Austin, TX

· Lune, Santiago Veterans Initiative at Texas State Intern/ Veteran (Veterans Initiative at

Texas State), San Marcos, TX

· Martinez, Jesus SGT TXARNG (Self), Round Rock, TX

· McAfee, Desmond Mr. (Self), San Antonio, TX

· Bush, Jean Sr. ARP Finance-UNT (UNT), Denton, TX

· Theobald, Paul Student Veteran (Self), Austin, TX

· Ollar, Stephen Staff Sergeant (Self), Austin, TX

· Nicoletti, Jaime Student Veteran (Self), Round Rock, TX

· Shaffer, Dean (Veterans Initiative at Texas State University), San Antonio, TX

There being no further business, at 5:32 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 Leticia Van de Putte, Chair

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Cinda Johnson, Clerk