MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

9:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.036

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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 Finance was held on Wednesday, March 15, 2017, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jane Nelson, Chair	None
Senator Juan Hinojosa, Vice Chair
Senator Paul Bettencourt
Senator Brian Birdwell
Senator Kelly Hancock
Senator Joan Huffman
Senator Lois Kolkhorst
Senator Robert Nichols
Senator Charles Schwertner
Senator Kel Seliger
Senator Larry Taylor
Senator Carlos Uresti
Senator Kirk Watson
Senator Royce West
Senator John Whitmire

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:03 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

Senator Nelson made opening remarks.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1.

The chair recognized Senator Nichols to layout workgroup recommendations for Articles VI, VII and VIII.

Witnesses registering and testifying are shown on the attached list.

Senator Nichols laid out Article VI.

Senator Seliger moved to sever the Parks and Wildlife Department rider regarding Funding for the Center for Urban Ecology at Quinta Mazatlan. Without objection, the item was severed.

Senator Whitmire moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations for Article VI, as amended.

The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

Senator Hinojosa moved that the severed rider be adopted.  The motion failed with a record vote of 5 ayes, 10 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

Senator Nichols laid out Article VII.

Senator West moved to sever the Department of Transportation rider regarding Limitation on Expenditures for High-speed Rail.  Without objection, the item was severed.

Senator Seliger moved to sever the Department of Transportation rider regarding Photographic Traffic Signal Enforcement Systems.  Without objection, the item was severed.

Senator Nichols moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations, as amended.

The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Schwertner moved to adopt the severed rider regarding Limitation on Expenditures for High-speed Rail. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

Senator Kolkhorst moved to adopt the severed rider regarding Photographic Traffic Signal Enforcement Systems. The motion carried with a record vote of 12 ayes, 3 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

Senator Nichols laid out Article VIII.

Senator Nichols moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations for Article VIII including the adopted riders. Without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair recognized Senator Huffman to layout workgroup recommendations for Articles I, IV and V.

Witnesses registering and testifying are shown on the attached list.

Senator Huffman laid out Article I.

Senator Nelson moved to adopt the workgroup recommendation riders for Article I. Without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Huffman moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations for Article I.  The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

At 11:44 AM Senator Nelson moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

At 3:25 PM the Committee reconvened.

Senator Huffman laid out Article IV.

Senator Nelson moved that the Judiciary Section, Comptroller’s Department Fraud Investigations rider be moved to Article XI. Without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Huffman moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations for Article IV, as amended.  The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Huffman laid out Article V.

Senator Nelson moved to adopt the workgroup recommendation riders for Article V.  Without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Huffman moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations for Article V.  The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

The chair recognized Senator Taylor to layout workgroup recommendations for Article III, Public Education.

Witnesses registering and testifying are shown on the attached list.

Senator Nelson moved to adopt the workgroup recommendation riders for Article III, Public Education. Without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Taylor moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations for Article III, Public Education.  The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

The chair recognized Senator Taylor to layout workgroup recommendations for Article III, Higher Education.

Witnesses registering and testifying are shown on the attached list.

Senator Nelson moved to adopt the workgroup recommendation riders for Article III, Higher Education. Without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Seliger moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations for Article III, Higher Education.  The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

There being no further business, at 6:03 PM Senator Nelson moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Jane Nelson, Chair

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Stephanie Hoover, Clerk