MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

9:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

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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 Higher Education was held on Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Kel Seliger, Chair	None
Senator Royce West, Vice Chair
Senator Paul Bettencourt
Senator Dawn Buckingham
Senator José Menéndez
Senator Larry Taylor
Senator Kirk Watson

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:03 AM.

The chair laid out SB 537 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, to explain the bill.

A quorum was established at 9:09 AM.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

Senator Seliger moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on April 19, 2017; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1746 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, to explain the bill.

Witnesses registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Seliger moved that SB 1746 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1964 and recognized the author, Senator Creighton, to explain the bill.

Senator West sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Creighton to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator West moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Seliger moved that SB 1964 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1151 and recognized the author, Senator Buckingham, to explain the bill.

Senator Buckingham sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Buckingham to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Watson moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Seliger moved that CSSB 1151 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

At 10:56 AM Senator Seliger moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

At 3:12 PM Senator Seliger reconvened the meeting.

The chair laid out SB 2109 and recognized the author, Senator Menéndez, to explain the bill.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Seliger moved that SB 2109 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 2247 and recognized the author, Senator Hughes, to explain the bill.

Senator Menéndez sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Hughes to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Seliger moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Seliger moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

The chair laid out SB 1799 and recognized the author, Senator West, to explain the bill.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

The chair laid out SB 2079 and recognized the author, Senator Larry Taylor, to explain the bill.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Seliger moved that SB 2079 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 537 and explained the bill.

Senator Watson moved that SB 537 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Bettencourt and Senator Buckingham submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on SB 537.

Senator Watson moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1799 and explained the bill.

Senator Menéndez moved that SB 1799 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Bettencourt and Senator Buckingham submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on SB 1799.

Senator Menéndez moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 2247 and explained the bill.

Senator Taylor moved that SB 2247 do not pass but that CSSB 2247 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Bettencourt and Senator Buckingham submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on CSSB 2247.

Senator Taylor moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business CSSB 496 explained the bill.

Senator Watson moved that SB 496 do not pass but that CSSB 496 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

Senator Watson moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 247 and recognized Senator Menéndez, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

Senator Menéndez sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Menéndez to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Menéndez moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Menéndez moved that SB 247 do not pass but that CSSB 247 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Bettencourt and Senator Buckingham submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting no on CSSB 247.

Senator West assumed the chair.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 837 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill.

Senator Seliger sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Seliger to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator West moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

Senator Seliger moved that SB 837 do not pass but that CSSB 837 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Bettencourt submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on CSSB 837.

Senator Seliger moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 885 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill.

Senator Seliger moved to reconsider the vote by which the committee substitute for SB 885 was adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Seliger moved to withdraw the committee substitute.

Senator Seliger sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Seliger to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator West moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Seliger moved that SB 885 do not pass but that CSSB 885 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Bettencourt and Senator Buckingham submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on CSSB 885.

Senator Seliger moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 886 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill.

Senator Seliger moved to reconsider the vote by which the committee substitute for SB 886 was adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Seliger moved to withdraw the committee substitute.

Senator Seliger sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Seliger to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator West moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Seliger moved that SB 886 do not pass but that CSSB 886 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Bettencourt and Senator Buckingham submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on CSSB 886.

Senator Seliger moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Seliger resumed the chair.

There being no further business, at 4:13 PM Senator Seliger moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Kel Seliger, Chair

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Daniel Warner, Clerk