MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS

Thursday, March 14, 2019

9:00 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 Nominations was held on Thursday, March 14, 2019, in the Betty King Committee Room at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Dawn Buckingham, Chair	None
Senator Kirk Watson, Vice Chair
Senator Carol Alvarado
Senator Bob Hall
Senator Lois Kolkhorst
Senator Borris Miles
Senator Kel Seliger

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

The following members arrived after the roll was called: Vice Chair Watson, Senator Hall, Senator Kolkhorst, and Senator Miles.

Senator Kolkhorst moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on Thursday, March 7, 2019; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Seliger moved that the committee vote to approve the nominations of the individuals to the following entities: Supreme Court of Texas, Automobile Burglary and Theft Prevention Authority, Board of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, Nonresident Violator Compact Administrator, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Texas Woman’s University Board of Regents, Brazos River Authority Board of Directors, Correctional Managed Health Care Committee, Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents, Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation, Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, Texas Funeral Service Commission, Texas State Technical College System Board of Regents, Texas Veterans Commission, and Upper Colorado River Authority. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Miles and Senator Hall both submitted motions in writing to be shown voting aye. This did not change the outcome of the vote. Without objection; it was so ordered.

Vice Chair Watson requested to sever the nominees to the Finance Commission of Texas. These nominees were left pending before the committee.

Senator Bettencourt was recognized to introduce John Prewitt, appointed to the Board of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, and Jack Moore, appointed to the University of Houston System Board of Regents.

Senator Menéndez was recognized to introduce Milton Lee, re-appointed to the University of North Texas System Board of Regents.

Chair Buckingham was recognized to introduce Hasan Mack, appointed to the Texas Southern University Board of Regents.

Senator Fallon was recognized to introduce Guy Fidelie, appointed to the Midwestern State University Board of Regents.

Mr. Mack made an opening statement. Questions and comments were offered by the following members: Chair Buckingham, Senator Hall, Senator Miles, and Senator Seliger. No public testimony was offered.

Mr. Fidelie made an opening statement. Questions and comments were offered by the following members: Chair Buckingham, Senator Seliger, and Senator Hall. One card was submitted registering a position only against Mr. Fidelie’s nomination.  See attached witness list.

Mr. Prewitt made an opening statement. Questions and comments were offered by the following members: Chair Buckingham and Senator Hall. No public testimony was offered.

Mr. Moore made an opening statement. Questions and comments were offered by the following members: Chair Buckingham, Senator Seliger, Senator Hall, Senator Miles, Senator Kolkhorst, and Senator Menéndez. No public testimony was offered.

Mr. Lee made an opening statement. Questions and comments were offered by the following members: Chair Buckingham, Vice Chair Watson, and Senator Menéndez. One card was submitted registering a position only against Mr. Lee’s nomination.  See attached witness list.

Chair Buckingham announced that all appearing and non-appearing nominees, on the posted agenda, would be left pending before the committee.

There being no further business, at 10:27 a.m., Vice Chair Watson moved that the committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair; without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Dawn Buckingham, M.D., Chair

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Britton Davis, Clerk