MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS

Thursday, February 26, 2015

8:00 AM

Betty King Committee Room

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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 Nominations was held on Thursday, February 26, 2015, in the Betty King Committee Room at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Brian Birdwell, Chair	Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Van Taylor, Vice Chair
Senator Konni Burton
Senator Craig Estes
Senator José Rodríguez
Senator Kirk Watson

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The chair called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

Senator Estes moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on February 19, 2015; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Estes moved that the committee vote to approve the nominations of Phillip Adams, Robert L. Albritton, and William Mahomes, Jr., to be members of the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents.  The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Chairman Birdwell mentioned that the appearance of Mr. Frederick “Shad” Rowe, Jr., to be the Speaker of the House of Representatives nominee to the Employees’ Retirement System of Texas Board of Trustees, would be waived.  Mr. Rowe’s nomination would be left pending before the committee.

Chairman Birdwell recognized Senator Huffines to introduce his constituent Sara Martinez Tucker, who has been nominated to be a member of the University of Texas System Board of Regents, to the committee.

Chairman Birdwell recognized Senator Watson to introduce his constituent Robert S. Hicks, who has been re-nominated to be a member of the University of Texas System Board of Regents, to the committee.

Chairman Birdwell recognized Senator Huffman to introduce her constituent David J. Beck, who has been nominated to be a member of the University of Texas System Board of Regents, to the committee.

Chairman Birdwell called Robert S. Hicks forward to the witness table.  Mr. Hicks answered questions from the members of the committee as well as from Senator Schwertner.  Upon the completion of questions from the members of the committee, public testimony was offered on the re-nomination of Robert S. Hicks.  See attached witness list.

Chairman Birdwell called Sara Martinez Tucker forward to the witness table.  Mrs. Tucker answered questions from the members of the committee as well as from Senator Schwertner.  Upon the completion of questions from the members of the committee, public testimony was offered on the nomination of Sara Martinez Tucker.  See attached witness list.

Chairman Birdwell announced at 11:04 a.m., the committee would stand at ease for five minutes, without objection; it was so ordered.

Chairman Birdwell called the meeting back to order at 11:15 a.m., and called David J. Beck forward to the witness table.  Mr. Beck answered questions from the members of the committee as well as from Senator Schwertner.  Upon the completion of questions from the members of the committee, public testimony was offered on the nomination of David J. Beck.  See attached witness list.

Chairman Birdwell announced that the nominees to the University of Texas System Board of Regents would be left pending before the committee.

There being no further business, at 1:23 p.m., Senator Rodríguez moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Brian Birdwell, Chair

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Inga Dedow, Clerk