MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Tuesday, April 21, 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, April 21, 2015, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jane Nelson, Chair	Senator Kel Seliger
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 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 9:01 AM. The following business was transacted:

The chair laid out SB 1049 and recognized the author, Senator Campbell, 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.

The bill was left pending.

The chair laid out SB 1158 and recognized the author, Senator Hall, 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.

The bill was left pending.

The chair laid out SB 80 and recognized the author, Senator Ellis, 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.

The bill was left pending.

The chair laid out SB 139 and SJR 12, and recognized the author, Senator Perry, to explain the bills.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bills are shown on the attached list.

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

The bills were temporarily left pending.

The chair laid out SB 904 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, 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 Hinojosa moved that SB 904 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 5 absent.

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

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 139 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 12 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

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

Senator Hinojosa moved that SJR 12 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 12 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

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

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 724 by Senator Perry.

Senator Nichols sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.

Senator Nichols requested unanimous consent to incorporate Amendment 1 into the bill to create a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Nichols then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Nichols moved that SB 724 do not pass but that CSSB 724 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 12 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

The chair laid out SB 228 and recognized the author, Senator Creighton, to explain the bill.

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

Senator Kolkhorst sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Creighton 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.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

The chair laid out SB 677 and recognized the author, Senator Creighton, to explain the bill.

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

The bill was temporarily left pending.

Senator Hinojosa  moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 228; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1025 and recognized Senator Kolkhorst, in the absence of the author, 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.

The bill was left pending.

The chair laid out SB 1850 and recognized the author, Senator Nichols, to explain the bill.

Senator Nichols sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nichols 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.

The bill was left pending.

The chair laid out SB 951 and recognized the author, Senator Uresti, to explain the bill.

Senator Uresti sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Uresti 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.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

At 10:51 AM Senator Nelson moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

At 1:47 PM the Committee reconvened.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 762 and recognized the author, Senator Bettencourt, to explain the bill.

Senator Bettencourt moved that SB 762 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 12 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

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

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1356 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, to explain the bill.

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 1356 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 3 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Nichols moved that SB 228 do not pass but that CSSB 228 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 12 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

Senator Kolkhorst moved that SB  677 do not pass but that CSSB 677 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

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

Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 951; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Uresti moved that SB 951 do not pass but that CSSB 951 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 13 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 281 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill.

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

The bill was left pending.

The chair laid out SB 545 and SJR 30, and recognized the author, Senator Larry Taylor, to explain the bills.

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.

The bill was left pending.

Senator Schwertner submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 139, SJR 12, SB 724 and SB 904.

Senator Watson submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 904, SB 139, SJR 12 and SB 724.

Senator Whitmire submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 139, SB 724, SJR 12, SB 762 and SB 1356.      

There being no further business, at 2:24 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