MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Thursday, May 14, 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 Thursday, May 14, 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 Paul Bettencourt
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 9:01 AM. The following business was transacted:

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

The chair laid out HB 5 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.

Senator Nelson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nelson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.

There were no witnesses testifying or registering on the bill.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

The chair laid out HB 7 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.

Senator Nelson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nelson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.

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.

The chair laid out HB 1022 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Rodríguez, 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 HB 1261 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Uresti, 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 HB 1463 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 house bill as engrossed.

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 HB 2507 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill. 

There were no witnesses testifying or registering on the bill.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

The chair laid out HB 994 and recognized Senator Hinojosa, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.

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

Senator Whitmire assumed the chair.

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

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 HB 2293 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator West, 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 HB 2853 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator West, 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 HB 992 and HJR 75 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Larry Taylor, 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.

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

Senator Hinojosa moved adoption of the committee substitute to HB 5; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Nelson moved that HB 5 do not pass but that CSHB 5 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, 0 present not voting, and 4 absent.

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

Senator West sent up Committee Amendment 1 to HB 7 .

Senator West pulled down Committee Amendment 1 to HB 7.

Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute to HB 7; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Nelson moved that HB 7 do not pass but that CSHB 7 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 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

Senator Larry Taylor moved that HB 992 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Larry Taylor moved that HJR 75 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Nichols sent up Committee Amendment 1 to HB 994. Without objection, the amendment was adopted.

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

Senator West moved that HB 994 do not pass but that CSHB 994 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, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Hinojosa moved that HB 1022 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 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 Uresti moved that HB 1261 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 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 to HB 1463; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Uresti moved that HB 1463 do not pass but that CSHB 1463 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 nays, 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 West moved that HB 2293 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 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 Seliger moved that HB 2507 be reported favorably 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, 1 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator West moved that HB 2853 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 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.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1009 and explained the bill.

Senator West sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator West 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 West moved that SB 1009 do not pass but that CSSB 1009 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, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. .

Senator Seliger submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on HB 5.

Senator Watson submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on HB 5.

Senator Whitmire submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on HB 5, HB 7, HB 992, HB 994, HB 1022, HB 1261, HB 1463, HB 2293, HB 2507, HB 2853, HJR 75 and SB 1009.

There being no further business, at 10:53 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