MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE AFFAIRS

Thursday, February 18, 2016

9:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.016

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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 State Affairs was held on Thursday, February 18, 2016, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Joan Huffman, Chair	Senator Rodney Ellis, Vice Chair
Senator Brian Birdwell	Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Brandon Creighton	Senator Jane Nelson
Senator Craig Estes	Senator Charles Schwertner
Senator Judith Zaffirini

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

The committee heard invited and public testimony regarding the following interim charge:

Examine the need to adjust Texas judicial salaries to attract, maintain, and support a qualified judiciary capable of meeting the current and future needs of Texas and its citizens. Study and recommend whether Texas should delink legislators' standard service retirement annuities from district judge salaries. Examine the effect of eliminating straight-party voting for candidates for judicial office and make recommendations to ensure candidates are given individual consideration by voters.

Witnesses testifying on the charge are shown on the attached list. The chair moved that the testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

There being no further business, at 11:57 AM Senator Huffman moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Joan Huffman, Chair

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Ashley Brooks, Clerk