MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

9:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

*****

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, May 13, 2015, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, 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 Watson moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on May 6, 2015; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 3245 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hancock, 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 Watson moved that HB 3245 be reported favorably 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 West, Senator Menéndez and Senator Perry submitted motions in writing to be shown voting aye on HB 3245.

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 HB 2628 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Garcia, 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 Bettencourt moved that HB 2628 be reported favorably 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 West and Senator Menéndez submitted motions in writing to be shown voting aye on HB 2628.

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 HB 671 and recognized Senator Watson, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, 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 West moved that HB 671 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, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Menéndez submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on HB 2628.

At 9:17 AM Senator West assumed the chair.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business CSHB 100.

Senator Seliger moved that HB 100 do not pass but that CSHB 100 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 Menéndez submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on CSHB 100.

At 9:18 AM Senator Seliger resumed the chair.

The chair laid out HB 197 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.

Senator Seliger sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nelson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed. 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 Bettencourt moved that HB 197 do not pass but that CSHB 197 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 Menéndez submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on CSHB 197.

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 HB 3062 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.

Senator West moved that HB 3062 be reported favorably 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 Menéndez submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on HB 3062.

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

At 9:30 AM Senator West assumed the chair.

The chair laid out HB 1992 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 house bill as engrossed. 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 HB 1992 do not pass but that CSHB 1992 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 Seliger moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 3078 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 Seliger moved that HB 3078 do not pass but that CSHB 3078 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 Seliger moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

At 9:38 AM Senator Seliger resumed the chair.

There being no further business, at 9:39 AM 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