MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

9:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.036

 

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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 Finance was held on Tuesday, April 7, 2015, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Jane Nelson, Chair

 

Senator Larry Taylor

Senator Juan Hinojosa, Vice Chair

 

Senator John Whitmire

Senator Paul Bettencourt

 

 

Senator Kevin Eltife

 

 

Senator Kelly Hancock

 

 

Senator Joan Huffman

 

 

Senator Lois Kolkhorst

 

 

Senator Robert Nichols

 

 

Senator Charles Schwertner

 

 

Senator Kel Seliger

 

 

Senator Carlos Uresti

 

 

Senator Kirk Watson

 

 

Senator Royce West

 

 

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:03 AM. The following business was transacted:

 

Senator Huffman assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 53 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill. 

 

No witnesses provided oral testimony or submitted witness cards for SB 53.

 

The bill was left pending to await the arrival of a quorum.

Senator Nelson assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 853 and recognized the author, Senator Kolkhorst, 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 left pending to await the arrival of a quorum.

 

Senator Huffman assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 881 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Nelson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Jane Nelson 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.

 

The bill was left pending to await the arrival of a quorum.

 

Senator Nelson assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 1364 and recognized the author, Senator Kolkhorst, 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 left pending to await the arrival of a quorum.

 

The chair laid out SB 683 and recognized Senator Huffman, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Huffman sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Huffman 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. 

 

The bill was left pending to await the arrival of a quorum.

 

The chair laid out SB 1512 and recognized Senator Huffman, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Huffman sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Huffman 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. 

 

The bill was left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 624 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 624 do not pass but that CSSB 624 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 12 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

 

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

 

The chair laid out SB 1356 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, 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 left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1985 and recognized the author, Senator Uresti, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

Senator Uresti moved that SB 1985 do not pass but that CSSB 1985 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 12 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

 

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

 

The chair laid out SB 574 and recognized Senator Seliger, in the absence of the author, 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 Watson moved that SB 574 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 12 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

 

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

 

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 53 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 12 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

 

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

 

Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 881; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 881 do not pass but that CSSB 881 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 13 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

 

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

 

Senator Kolkhorst moved that SB 1364 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 13 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

 

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

 

Testimony was reopened for SB 853.

 

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

 

Senator Kolkhorst moved that SB 853 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 13 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

 

The chair laid out SB 1076 and recognized the author, Senator Eltife, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

The bill was left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1657 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, 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 Watson moved that SB 1657 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 13 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

 

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

 

Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 683; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Bettencourt moved that SB 683 do not pass but that CSSB 683 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 12 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

 

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

 

The chair laid out SB 773 and recognized Senator Huffman, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Huffman sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Hancock to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

 

Senator Bettencourt sent up Committee Amendment 1.

 

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 left pending.

 

Senator Watson submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on the following bills: SB 1985, SB 624, SB 881, SB 1364 and SB 853.

 

Senator West submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on the following bills: SB 624, SB 1985, SB 574, SB 53, SB 853, SB 881, SB 1364, SB 1657 and SB 683.     

 

Senator Schwertner submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on the following bills: SB 624 and SB 1985.

 

Senator Seliger submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on the following bills: SB 574, SB 683, SB 853, SB 881, SB 1364, SB 1657 and SB 53.

 

Senator Nichols submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on the following bills:  SB 574, SB 53, SB 881, SB 1364, SB 853, SB 1657 and SB 683.

 

Senator Hancock submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on the following bills: SB 853, SB 683 and SB 1657.

 

There being no further business, at 10:55 AM Senator Nelson moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

_________________________________________

Senator Jane Nelson, Chair

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Stephanie Hoover, Clerk