MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Wednesday, April 22, 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 Wednesday, April 22, 2015, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jane Nelson, Chair	Senator Kevin Eltife
Senator Juan Hinojosa, Vice Chair	Senator Kel Seliger
Senator Paul Bettencourt	Senator John Whitmire
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

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:06 AM. The following business was transacted:

The chair laid out SB 309 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 temporarily left pending.

The chair laid out SJR 19 and recognized the author, Senator Perry, to explain the bill. 

Senator Bettencourt sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Perry 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 1215 and recognized the author, Senator Bettencourt, to explain the bill. 

Senator Bettencourt sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Bettencourt 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 1832 and recognized the author, Senator Menéndez, 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 2029 and recognized the author, Senator Menéndez, 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 1379 and SJR 50 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, to explain the bill.

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 left pending.

The chair laid out SB 593 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.

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 1468 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.

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 1469 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.

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 1248 and recognized Senator Hinojosa, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

Senator Hinojosa sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Hinojosa 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 1843 and SJR 61, and recognized Senator Hinojosa, in the absence of the author, to explain the bills.

Senator Hinojosa sent up a committee substitute for SB 1843; the chair recognized Senator Hinojosa to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

Senator West sent up a committee substitute for SJR 61; the chair recognized Senator West to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

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 left pending.

The chair laid out SJR 37 and recognized the author, Senator Van Taylor, 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 as a matter of pending business SB 279 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. Senator Jane Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Watson moved that SB 279 do not pass but that CSSB 279 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 as a matter of pending business SJR 20 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. Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Watson moved that SJR 20 do not pass but that CSSJR 20 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 as a matter of pending business SB 545 and recognized the author, Senator Larry Taylor, to explain the bill.

Senator Larry Taylor moved that SB 545 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.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SJR 30 and recognized the author, Senator Larry Taylor to explain the bill.

Senator Larry Taylor moved that SJR 30 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.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1049 and explained the bill.

Senator Huffman moved that SB 1049 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 Jane Nelson moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Huffman moved that SB 309 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 Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 593; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Watson moved that SB 593 do not pass but that CSSB 593 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 1 present not voting, and 3 absent.

Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 1215; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Bettencourt moved that SB 1215 do not pass but that CSSB 1215 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.

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

Senator Bettencourt sent up Amendment 1 for the Committee Substitute to SB 1468, and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.

Senator Nelson requested unanimous consent to incorporate Amendment 1 into the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Nelson then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Watson moved that SB 1468 do not pass but that CSSB 1468 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.

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

There being no further business, at 10:55 AM Senator Jane 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