MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

8:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

 

*****

 

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 Wednesday, April 19, 2017, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

*****

 

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

 

 

 

*****

 

The chair called the meeting to order at 8:07 AM.

 

The chair laid out SB 1813 and recognized the author, Senator Buckingham, 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 Seliger moved that SB 1813 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 496 and recognized Senator Bettencourt, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

A quorum was established at 8:12 AM.

 

 

Senator Seliger moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on April 12, 2017; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Seliger moved to withdraw the committee substitute sent up at a previous hearing.

 

Senator Bettencourt sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Bettencourt to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Buckingham moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Seliger moved that CSSB 496 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1367 and recognized the author, Senator Menéndez, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Menéndez sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Menéndez to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Bettencourt 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 temporarily left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 2082 and recognized Senator Menéndez, in the absence of the author, 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 SB 1782 and recognized the author, Senator West, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

The bill was temporarily left pending,

 

Senator West assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 828 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, 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 SB 2118 and recognized the author, 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 senate bill as filed.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

Senator Taylor assumed the chair.

 

Senator Watson assumed the chair.

 

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

 

The bill was temporarily left pending.

 

Senator Seliger resumed the chair.

 

At 9:42 AM Senator Seliger moved that the Committee stand recessed until after adjournment of the Senate. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 2:18 PM Senator Seliger reconvened the meeting.

 

Senator Watson assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1092 and recognized the author, 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 senate bill as filed.  Senator Watson moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The bill was temporarily left pending.

 

Senator Seliger resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1813 and recognized the author, Senator Buckingham, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Buckingham sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Buckingham to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Watson moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Menéndez moved that SB 1813 do not pass but that CSSB 1813 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, Senator Taylor, and Senator West, submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on CSSB 1813.

 

Senator Menéndez 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 1367 and explained the bill.

 

Senator Buckingham moved that SB 1367 do not pass but that CSSB 1367 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, Senator Taylor, and Senator West, submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on CSSB 1367.

 

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 SB 2082 and explained the bill.

 

Senator Menéndez moved that SB 2082 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, Senator Taylor, and Senator West, submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on CSSB 2082.

 

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 as a matter of pending business SB 1782 and explained the bill.

 

Senator Menéndez moved that SB 1782 do not pass but that CSSB 1782 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, Senator Taylor, and Senator West, submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on CSSB 1782.

 

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

 

Senator Watson assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 828 and explained the bill.

 

Senator Seliger moved that SB 828 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, Senator Taylor, and Senator West, submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on SB 828.

 

Senator Seliger 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 2119 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Seliger moved to withdraw the committee substitute sent up at a previous hearing.

 

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

 

The bill was temporarily left pending.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 2118 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Seliger moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Seliger moved that SB 2118 do not pass but that CSSB 2118 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, 1 nay, 1 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Taylor submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on CSSB 2118. Senator West submitted a motion in writing to be shown present not voting on CSSB 2118.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 2119 and explained the bill.

 

Senator Seliger moved that SB 2119 do not pass but that CSSB 2119 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, 3 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator West submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting no on CSSB 2119.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1092 and explained the bill.

 

Senator Seliger moved that SB 1092 do not pass but that CSSB 1092 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, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator West submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye on CSSB 1092.

 

Senator Seliger resumed the chair.

 

There being no further business, at 2:46 PM Senator Seliger moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Senator Kel Seliger, Chair

 

 

__________________________________________

Daniel Warner, Clerk