MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

9:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.028

*****

Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Higher Education was held on Wednesday, April 8, 2015, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.028, at Austin, Texas.

*****

MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Kel Seliger, Chair	None
Senator Royce West, Vice Chair
Senator Paul Bettencourt
Senator Konni Burton
Senator José Menéndez
Senator Charles Perry
Senator Kirk Watson

*****

The chair called the meeting to order at 9:01 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

Senator Seliger moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on April 1, 2015; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 691 and recognized the author, Senator Birdwell, 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 Watson moved that SB 691 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator West and Senator Bettencourt submitted  motions in writing to be shown voting aye on SB 691.

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

The chair laid out SB 42 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.

Witnesses 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 Perry moved that SB 42 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator West and Senator Bettencourt submitted  motions in writing to be shown voting aye on SB 42.

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

The chair laid out SB 1714 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.

Senator West sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator West moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Witnesses 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 West moved that SB 1714 do not pass but that CSSB 1714 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Bettencourt submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on CSSB 1714.

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

The chair laid out SB 1205 and recognized the author, Senator Rodríguez, to explain the bill.

Senator Seliger sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Rodríguez to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator West moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

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 Seliger moved that CSSB 1205 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

At 9:33 AM Senator West assumed the chair.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 778.

Senator Watson sent up a committee substitute. Senator Watson moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Watson moved that SB 778 do not pass but that CSSB 778 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Bettencourt submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on CSSB 778.

At 9:34 AM Senator Seliger resumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 1750 and recognized the author, Senator West, to explain the bill.

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

Senator Watson requested unanimous consent to incorporate the amendments into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Perry then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.

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 Seliger moved that SB 1750 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1470 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill.

Senator West 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 West moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

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 West moved that SB 1470 do not pass but that CSSB 1470 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Bettencourt submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on CSSB 1470.

Senator Burton 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 1750. Senator Menéndez moved that SB 1750 do not pass but that CSSB 1750 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Bettencourt submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on CSSB 1750.

The chair laid out SB 915 and recognized the author, Senator Kolkhorst, to explain the bill.

Senator Seliger sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Kolkhorst to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Watson moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

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 Perry moved that SB 915 do not pass but that CSSB 915 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

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

The chair laid out SB 1543 and recognized the author, Senator Perry, to explain the bill.

Senator Burton 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.

Senator Seliger moved that SB 1543 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

At 9:59 AM Senator Seliger moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

At 3:21 PM Senator Seliger reconvened the meeting.

At 3:22 PM Senator Perry assumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 1189 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill.

Senator Seliger sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Seliger 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 Perry moved that SB 1189 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 685 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill.

Witnesses 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 Perry moved that SB 685 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

At 3:37 PM Senator Seliger resumed the chair.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1543.

Senator Seliger moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Bettencourt moved that SB 1543 do not pass but that CSSB 1543 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. Senator Burton submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on CSSB 1543.

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

At 3:53 PM Senator Perry assumed the chair.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1189.

Senator Bettencourt moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Bettencourt moved that SB 1189 do not pass but that CSSB 1189 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Burton and Senator Watson submitted  motions in writing to be shown voting aye on CSSB 1189.

Senator Seliger 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 685.

Senator Bettencourt moved that SB 685 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Burton and Senator Watson submitted  motions in writing to be shown voting aye on SB 685.

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

At 3:56 PM Senator Seliger resumed the chair.

There being no further business, at 3:57 PM Senator Seliger moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

__________________________________________

Senator Kel Seliger, Chair

__________________________________________

Sarah Harrington, Clerk