MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

9:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

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Pursuant to suspension of Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Higher Education was held on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Kel Seliger, Chair	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 9:02 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

Senator Bettencourt moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on May 15, 2017; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 66 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.

Senator Buckingham sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Zaffirini 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.

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 66 do not pass but that CSHB 66 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 Menéndez submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on CSHB 66.

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 2285 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Larry Taylor, 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 Taylor moved that HB 2285 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Menéndez submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on HB 2285.

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 HCR 102 and recognized Senator Buckingham, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, 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 Buckingham moved that HCR 102 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Buckingham 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 CSHB 16 and explained the bill.

Senator Watson moved that HB 16 do not pass but that CSHB 16 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.

There being no further business, at 9:19 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