MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Thursday, April 22, 2021

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 Education was held on Thursday, April 22, 2021, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Larry Taylor, Chair	None
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., Vice Chair
Senator Paul Bettencourt
Senator Bob Hall
Senator Bryan Hughes
Senator José Menéndez
Senator Angela Paxton
Senator Charles Perry
Senator Beverly Powell
Senator Charles Schwertner
Senator Royce West

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:02 AM. A quorum not being present, the following business was transacted: The roll was called at 9:15AM and a quorum was established. The following members arrived after the roll was called: Senator Bettencourt, Senator Hughes, Senator West.

The chair laid out SB 1082 and recognized the author, Senator Campbell, 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 Taylor moved that SB 1082 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 168 and recognized the author, Senator Blanco, to explain the bill.

Senator Lucio, Jr. sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Blanco to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

Public testimony began on SB 168.

At 9:59 AM Senator Taylor moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

At 1:05 PM Senator Taylor reconvened the meeting.

Public Testimony resumed on SB 168.

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 chair laid out SB 194 and recognized the author, Senator Powell, 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 Taylor moved that SB 194 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1526 and recognized the author, Senator Perry, to explain the bill.

Senator Perry sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Perry 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 Taylor moved that SB 1526 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1527 and recognized the author, Senator Perry, 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 Bettencourt moved that SB 1527 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Bettencourt 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 215.

Senator Bettencourt moved that SB 215 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Hall and Senator Powell submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on SB 215.

Senator Perry 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 879.

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that SB 879 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Hall and Senator Powell submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on SB 879.

Senator Bettencourt 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 1277.

Senator West moved that SB 1277 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Powell submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on SB 1277.

Senator Bettencourt 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 1351.

Senator West moved that SB 1351 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Hall and Senator Powell submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on SB 1351.

Senator Bettencourt 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 2044.

Senator Menéndez moved that SB 2044 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Hall and Senator Powell submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on SB 2044.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1590.

Senator Bettencourt moved that SB 1590 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Hall submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on SB 1590. Senator Powell submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting nay on SB 1590.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1776.

Senator Perry moved that SB 1776 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Hall and Senator Powell submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on SB 1776.

Senator Bettencourt 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 1365.

Senator Bettencourt sent up a committee substitute.  Senator Bettencourt moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Bettencourt moved that SB 1365 do not pass but that CSSB 1365 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, 2 nays, 2 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Hall submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on CSSB 1365. Senator Powell submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting nay on CSSB 1365.

At 2:24 PM Senator Lucio, Jr. assumed the chair.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1716.

Senator Taylor sent up a committee substitute.  Senator Taylor moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Taylor moved that SB 1716 do not pass but that CSSB 1716 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Hall submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on CSSB 1716.

Senator Bettencourt 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 1955.

Senator Taylor sent up a committee substitute.  Senator Taylor moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Taylor moved that SB 1955 do not pass but that CSSB 1955 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Hall and Senator Powell submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on CSSB 1955.

Senator Bettencourt 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 2026.

Senator Taylor sent up a committee substitute.  Senator Taylor moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Taylor moved that SB 2026 do not pass but that CSSB 2026 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Powell submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on CSSB 2026.

At 2:34 PM Senator Taylor resumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 534 and recognized the author, Senator Hughes, 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 Taylor moved that SB 534 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

At 2:47 PM Senator West assumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 1444 and recognized the author, Senator Taylor, to explain the bill.

Senator Taylor sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Taylor 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 that SB 1444 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

At 2:55 PM Senator Taylor resumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 348 and recognized Senator Paxton, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

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

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 SB 348 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

There being no further business, at 2:57 PM Senator Taylor moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Larry Taylor, Chair

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Bradley Hurt, Clerk