MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS

Thursday, April 16, 2015

8:00 a.m.

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, April 16, 2015, in the Betty King Committee Room at Austin, Texas.

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

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The chair called the meeting to order at 8:05 a.m. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

The following member arrived after the roll was called: Senator Craig Estes.

Senator Taylor moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearings held on April 9, 2015, and April 13, 2015; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Estes moved that committee vote to approve the nominations of the individuals to the following entities: Public Safety Commission, State Board of Dental Examiners, Statewide Health Coordinating Council, Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, Texas Council on Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders, and Texas Health Services Authority Board of Directors. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 

Senator Campbell introduced her constituent, Ida Steen, to the members of the committee.  Ida Steen, nominee to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, was called to the witness table and answered questions from the members of the committee. Mrs. Steen’s nomination was left pending before the committee. See attached witness list.

Senator Rodriguez, on behalf of Senator Uresti, introduced the Honorable Dora Alcala to the committee. Mrs. Alcala, nominee to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, was called to the witness table and answered questions from the members of the committee. Mrs. Alcala’s nomination was left pending before the committee. See attached witness list.

All non-appearing nominees, on today’s posted agenda, were left pending before the committee.

At 9:00 a.m., Chairman Birdwell 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