MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Monday, May 15, 2017

10:00 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 Higher Education was held on Monday, May 15, 2017, in the Betty King Committee Room 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 10:08 AM.

Senator Buckingham assumed the chair.

The chair laid out HB 17 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Seliger, 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 Buckingham moved that HB 17 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator West assumed the chair.

A quorum was established at 10:13 AM.

The chair laid out HB 961 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill.

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

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 HB 961 do not pass but that CSHB 961 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 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 HB 2223 and recognized Senator Seliger, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, 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 HB 2223 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 HB 2223.

The chair laid out HB 2432 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 house bill as engrossed. 

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.

Senator Seliger moved that HB 2432 do not pass but that CSHB 2432 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 CSHB 2432.

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

Senator Seliger assumed the chair.

The chair laid out HB 16 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Watson, to explain the bill.

Senator Watson sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Watson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.  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 CSHB 16 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 3808 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Menéndez, 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.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 2994 in lieu of SB 1746 and recognized Senator Menéndez, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.

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

Senator West moved that HB 2994 do not pass but that CSHB 2994 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 Buckingham and Senator Watson submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on CSHB 2994.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 3808 and explained the bill.

Senator West moved that HB 3808 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Buckingham submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on HB 3808.

There being no further business, at 11:25 AM 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