MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

9:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.036

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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 Finance was held on Tuesday, March 24, 2015, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jane Nelson, Chair	None
Senator Juan Hinojosa, Vice Chair
Senator Paul Bettencourt
Senator Kevin Eltife
Senator Kelly Hancock
Senator Joan Huffman
Senator Lois Kolkhorst
Senator Robert Nichols
Senator Charles Schwertner
Senator Kel Seliger
Senator Larry Taylor
Senator Carlos Uresti
Senator Kirk Watson
Senator Royce West
Senator John Whitmire

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:03 AM. The following business was transacted:

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 2.

The chair made opening remarks.

Senator Nichols laid out workgroup recommendations for Article VI.

Resource witnesses are shown on the attached list.

Senator Nichols moved adoption of workgroup recommendations for Article VI. Without objection, the recommendations were adopted.

Senator Nichols laid out workgroup recommendations for Article VII.

Resource witnesses are shown on the attached list.

Senator Schwertner moved to sever item 1 on page 18 under Workgroup Revisions and Additions. Senator Watson objected to the motion. The item was severed. 

Senator Seliger moved to sever item 3 on page 18 under Workgroup Revisions and Additions.  Senator Hinojosa objected to the motion.  The item was severed.

Senator Nichols moved adoption of workgroup recommendations for Article VII, excluding the two severed items. Without objection, the recommendations were adopted.  

Senator Watson moved adoption of item 1 on page 18.  The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 6 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

Senator Nichols moved adoption of item 3 on page 18. The motion carried with a record vote of 13 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Nichols laid out workgroup recommendations for Article VIII.

Resource witnesses are shown on the attached list.

Senator Nichols moved adoption of workgroup recommendations for Article VIII. Without objection, the recommendations were adopted.

Senator Huffman laid out workgroup recommendations for Article I.

Resource witnesses are shown on the attached list.

At 10:53 AM the Committee recessed.

At 1:37 PM the Committee reconvened.

Workgroup recommendations for Article I continued.

Senator Uresti moved to sever 2b on page 64 under Agency Requests. There was no objection.  The item was severed.

Senator Watson moved to pend item 1 on page 56 under Agency Requests,  and 1f on page 39 under Agency Requests. There was no objection.

Senator Huffman moved adoption of workgroup recommendations for Article I, as amended. Without objection, the recommendations were adopted.

Senator Uresti moved that 2b on page 64 be changed to $335,320 to fund four additional FTEs. There was no objection.

Senator Huffman laid out workgroup recommendations for Article IV.

Resource witnesses are on the attached list. 

Senator Huffman moved adoption of workgroup recommendations for Article IV. Without objection, the recommendations were adopted.

Senator Huffman laid out workgroup recommendations for Article V.

Resource witnesses are shown on the attached list.

Senator Bettencourt moved to pend item 5b on page 4 under Agency Requests. There was no objection.

Senator Huffman moved to adopt workgroup recommendations for Article V, as amended. Without objection, the recommendations were adopted.

Senator Taylor laid out workgroup recommendations for Article III, Public Education.

Resource witnesses are shown on the attached list.

Senator Taylor laid out workgroup recommendations for Article III, Higher Education.

Resource witnesses are shown on the attached list.

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

Senator Taylor moved that riders not adopted in Article III, Higher Education be moved to Article XI.  There was no objection.

Senator Taylor moved adoption of workgroup recommendations for Article III. Without objection, the recommendations were adopted.

Senator Schwertner laid out workgroup recommendations for Article II.

Resource witnesses are shown on the attached list.

Senator West moved to sever item 2 on page 26 under Workgroup Revisions and Additions. There was no objection. The item was severed.

Senator Schwertner moved adoption of workgroup recommendations for Article II. Without objection, the recommendations were adopted.

Senator Schwertner moved to adopt item 2a, 2b and 2c on page 26.  Senator West objected to the motion.  The motion carried with a record vote of 13 ayes, 0 nays, 1 present not voting, and 1 absent.

SB 2 was left pending.

Senator Whitmire asked to be shown voting aye on Article I and severed item on Veterans, Article IV, Article VI, Article VII and severed items on Ports and Lone Star Rail, and Article VIII. Senator Whitmire submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on Articles II and III.

There being no further business, at 5:05 PM Senator Nelson moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Jane Nelson, Chair

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Stephanie Hoover, Clerk