MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

9:00 a.m.

Capitol Extension, Room E1.036

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance was held on Wednesday, March 14, 2007, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Steve Ogden

Senator Judith Zaffirini

Senator Kip Averitt

Senator Bob Deuell

Senator Robert Duncan

Senator Kevin Eltife

Senator Troy Fraser

Senator Juan Hinojosa

Senator Kyle Janek

Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.

Senator Jane Nelson

Senator Florence Shapiro

Senator Royce West

Senator John Whitmire

 

Senator Tommy Williams

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.  The following business was transacted: 

 

Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out as pending business, SB 1.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. 

 

A quorum being present, the following business was transacted:

 

The chair recognized Senator Janek to lay out the workgroup recommendations for Article III, regarding higher education.

 

Senator Zaffirini moved to pend the balance of Item 7 on page 4 of the workgroup recommendations for Article III, relating to the Higher Education Coordinating Board.  Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair recognized the clerk to call the roll, and a quorum was present.

 

Senator Janek continued to lay out the workgroup recommendations for Article III, regarding higher education.

 

Senator Ogden moved to pend the entire budget for the Texas Southern University; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Janek moved to adopt the amended workgroup recommendations for Article III, regarding higher education, with the exception of pending items.  The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.  Senator Fraser, Senator Nelson, and Senator Whitmire requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on the workgroup recommendations for Article III, regarding higher education; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair recognized Senator Duncan to lay out the workgroup recommendations for Workgroup E, Special Topics.

 

Senator Duncan moved to pend all Health Related Institutions; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Eltife moved to sever Item 1 on page 9 of the workgroup recommendations for Workgroup E, relating to the Teacher Retirement System.  Senator Eltife withrew the motion to sever; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Duncan moved to adopt the amended workgroup recommendations for Workgroup E, Special Topics, with the exception of pending items.  The motion carried with a record vote of 12 ayes, 0 nay, 2 present not voting, and 1 absent.  Senator Fraser, Senator Nelson, and Senator West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on the workgroup recommendations for Workgroup E, Special Topics; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 1 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

There being no further business, at 10:49 a.m. Senator Zaffirini moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Steve Ogden, Chair

 

 

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Amy Jeter, Clerk