MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS

Thursday, February 21, 2019

9:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.016

 

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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, February 21, 2019, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, 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 member arrived after the roll was called:  Senator Lois Kolkhorst.

 

Senator Hall moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on Thursday, February 14, 2019; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Watson moved that committee vote to approve the nominations of the individuals to the following entities:  200th Judicial District Court, Travis County, 213th Judicial District Court, Tarrant County, 254th Judicial District Court, Dallas County, 453rd Judicial District Court, Hays County, 462nd Judicial District Court, Denton County, 464th Judicial District Court, Hidalgo County, 51st Judicial District Court, Coke, Irion, Schleicher, Sterling, and Tom Green Counties, 76th Judicial District Court, Camp, Morris, and Titus Counties, Administrative Judicial Region, Eighth, Administrative Judicial Region, Eleventh, Administrative Judicial Region, First, Administrative Judicial Region, Fourth, Administrative Judicial Region, Second, Administrative Judicial Region, Tenth, Administrative Judicial Region, Third, Commissioner of Insurance, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Protective Services, Executive Commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission, Office of State-Federal Relations, Public Utility Commission of Texas, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Military Department (Adjutant General of Texas), and Texas Mutual Insurance Company Board of Directors.  The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  Senator Kolkhorst submitted a motion in writing to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Zaffirini was recognized to introduce the Commissioner of Workers’ Compensation, Commissioner Cassie Brown, and former State Representative Jose Aliseda, reappointed to the Governing Board of the Texas Civil Commitment Office.

 

Senator Watson was recognized to introduce Melissa Hamilton, reappointed as the Public Council for the Office of Public Insurance Counsel.

 

Senator Campbell was recognized to introduce Major Jeffrey D. Robertson, reappointed as the Independent Ombudsman for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, and Inspector General Sylvia Hernandez Kauffman, reappointed as the Inspector General for Health and Human Services.

 

Senator Birdwell was recognized to introduce John Hatchel, reappointed to the Texas State Technical College System Board of Regents.

 

Senator Johnson was recognized to introduce Scott Rohrman, appointed by the Attorney General of Texas, to the School Land Board.

 

Commissioner Brown made an opening statement.  Questions and comments were offered by the following members:  Chair Buckingham and Vice-Chair Watson.  No public testimony was offered.

 

Ms. Hamilton made an opening statement.  Questions and comments were offered by the following members:  Chair Buckingham, Vice-Chair Watson, Senator Kolkhorst, and Senator Miles.  No public testimony was offered.

 

Major Robertson made an opening statement.  Questions and comments were offered by the following members:  Chair Buckingham, Senator Kolkhorst, and Senator Miles.  No public testimony was offered.

 

Inspector General Kauffman made an opening statement.  Questions and comments were offered by the following members:  Chair Buckingham, Vice-Chair Watson, Senator Hall, and Senator Alvarado.  No public testimony was offered.

 

Ms. Albers made an opening statement.  Senator Hughes was recognized to introduce Ms. Albers.  Questions were offered by the following member:  Chair Buckingham.  No public testimony was offered. 

 

Senator Hall moved that the committee vote to approve the nomination of Angela Lea Albers to be the Criminal District Attorney for Wood County.  The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

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

 

Representative Aliseda made an opening statement.  Questions and comments were offered by the following members:  Chair Buckingham, Senator Kolkhorst, and Senator Alvarado.  No public testimony was offered. 

 

Mr. Rohrman made an opening statement.  Questions and comments were offered by the following member:  Vice-Chair Watson.  No public testimony was offered.

 

Chair Buckingham announced that the remaining appearing and non-appearing nominees would be left pending before the committee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There being no further business, at 10:53 a.m., Senator Alvarado 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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Robert Haley, Committee Director