MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS

Thursday, April 30, 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 30, 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 Burton moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on April 23, 2015; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Estes moved that committee vote to approve the nominations of the individuals to the following entities: Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Oversight Committee, Family and Protective Services Council, Governing Board of the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Governing Board of the Texas School for the Deaf, Manufactured Housing Board, Office of Injured Employee Counsel, Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners, Texas Board of Criminal Justice, Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners, Texas State Technical College System Board of Regents, University of Houston System Board of Regents, University of North Texas System Board of Regents, and Veterans' Land Board. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Watson moved to reconsider the vote by which the minutes were adopted; without objection it was so ordered. Senator Watson moved that the minutes, from the previous hearing held on April 23, 2015, be amended to show that Senator Estes moved to approve the nominees to the Finance Commission of Texas; without objection, it was so ordered.

 Senator Nichols introduced his constituent, David Koonce, a nominee to the Sabine River Authority Board of Directors, to the members of the committee.

On behalf of Senator Creighton, Senator Nichols also introduced James Alexander, a nominee to the San Jacinto River Authority Board of Directors, to the members of the committee.

Chairman Birdwell called Mr. Alexander and Mr. Koonce to the witness table and both answered questions from the members of the committee.

Mr. Alexander’s and Mr. Koonce’s nominations were 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 8:41 a.m., Senator Taylor 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