By Harris S.C.R. No. 125
74R8396 SRD-F
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas Legislature for each of the last six
1-2 regular sessions has adopted a concurrent resolution authorizing
1-3 the creation and appointment of joint interim legislative study
1-4 committees by the lieutenant governor and speaker of the house of
1-5 representatives; and
1-6 WHEREAS, Renewal of the prior authorizations to the presiding
1-7 officers enables the legislature to address and study issues that
1-8 remain unresolved on sine die adjournment or that emerge subsequent
1-9 to that time; and
1-10 WHEREAS, It is also desirable to adopt by resolution various
1-11 rules and policies regarding the operation of joint committees to
1-12 supplement, and reconcile differences between, the senate and house
1-13 rules of procedure; now, therefore, be it
1-14 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
1-15 hereby authorize the lieutenant governor and speaker of the house
1-16 of representatives to create by mutual agreement such joint
1-17 committees as they consider necessary during the term of this
1-18 legislature; and, be it further
1-19 RESOLVED, That each joint committee created pursuant to this
1-20 resolution be composed of such combination of legislators, state
1-21 officials, or citizen members as shall be determined mutually by
1-22 the presiding officers of each house; and, be it further
1-23 RESOLVED, That on the request of the presiding officers, the
1-24 governor may appoint members to a joint committee created pursuant
2-1 to this resolution; and, be it further
2-2 RESOLVED, That the presiding officers issue for each
2-3 committee so created a joint proclamation identifying the issue or
2-4 issues to be studied and listing the committee membership or
2-5 describing the committee composition and that the proclamation be
2-6 filed with the secretary of the senate and the chief clerk of the
2-7 house of representatives; and, be it further
2-8 RESOLVED, That the presiding officers designate jointly a
2-9 chair, or designate alternatively two cochairs, from among the
2-10 committee membership; and, be it further
2-11 RESOLVED, That the chair or cochairs, acting jointly and
2-12 within four weeks of the proclamation, prepare and present to the
2-13 presiding officers a proposal for budget and staffing; and, be it
2-14 further
2-15 RESOLVED, That the chair or cochairs be directed to use to
2-16 the greatest extent possible the existing staff and administrative
2-17 resources of committee members, standing committees, officers of
2-18 the senate and house, and legislative service agencies; and, be it
2-19 further
2-20 RESOLVED, That the presiding officers jointly review each
2-21 budget and staffing proposal, adopt budgetary and staffing
2-22 allocations, and determine the manner in which each joint committee
2-23 is to be funded; and, be it further
2-24 RESOLVED, That the joint committee chair, or the cochairs
2-25 acting by mutual agreement, have authority to create and appoint
2-26 subcommittees or affiliated advisory panels and to designate
2-27 respective chairs for each, contingent on the advance approval of
3-1 the presiding officers for the creation and appointment of
3-2 subcommittees or advisory panels containing membership external to
3-3 the committee; and, be it further
3-4 RESOLVED, That each joint committee, and its subcommittees
3-5 and advisory panels, convene at the call of its chair or cochairs;
3-6 provided that no joint committee, nor its subcommittees or advisory
3-7 panels, shall convene in a public hearing or other meeting for the
3-8 transaction of business unless public notice has been posted by its
3-9 chair or cochairs at the locations specified by the senate and
3-10 house rules of procedure for posting of notice of standing
3-11 committee meetings at least five calendar days in advance of the
3-12 hearing or meeting; and, be it further
3-13 RESOLVED, That the preceding clause be construed for purposes
3-14 of Section 551.046, Government Code, as a joint rule of the senate
3-15 and house of representatives controlling the posting of notice for
3-16 joint committees, and their subcommittees and advisory panels, in
3-17 lieu of required posting with the secretary of state; and, be it
3-18 further
3-19 RESOLVED, That each joint committee have authority to issue
3-20 process as provided in Sections 301.024-301.027, Government Code,
3-21 provided that any motion for the issuance of process must receive
3-22 the record vote of at least two-thirds of those present and voting,
3-23 a quorum being present; and, be it further
3-24 RESOLVED, That each joint committee be entitled to accept
3-25 gifts, grants, and donations as provided by Subsections (b) and
3-26 (c), Section 301.032, Government Code, and that, on expiration of a
3-27 joint committee, any unexpended funds remaining from a gift, grant,
4-1 or donation be transferred in equal proportions to the accounts of
4-2 the senate and house of representatives unless otherwise provided
4-3 by the grantor or donor; and, be it further
4-4 RESOLVED, That each joint committee, except as modified by or
4-5 pursuant to this resolution, have all other powers and duties
4-6 provided to special committees by Subchapter B, Chapter 301,
4-7 Government Code, and the senate and house rules of procedure; and,
4-8 be it further
4-9 RESOLVED, That the operating accounts for each joint
4-10 committee created pursuant to this resolution and any gifts,
4-11 grants, and donations that such committee may receive be
4-12 administered by the Texas Legislative Council; and, be it further
4-13 RESOLVED, That the Texas Legislative Council prepare for
4-14 review and approval by the presiding officers a manual of
4-15 procedures for joint committees and other entities created by the
4-16 legislature for which funds are to be administered by the Texas
4-17 Legislative Council establishing requirements as to printing needs,
4-18 accounting procedures, ultimate disposition of records, and other
4-19 administrative and financial matters; and, be it further
4-20 RESOLVED, That citizen members appointed by the lieutenant
4-21 governor or speaker of the house of representatives to joint
4-22 committees created pursuant to this resolution be reimbursed from
4-23 funds appropriated to the Texas Legislative Council for expenses of
4-24 transportation, meals, lodging, and incidentals for travel on
4-25 official committee business, at rates established by the chair and
4-26 vice chair of the Texas Legislative Council consistent with
4-27 provisions of the General Appropriations Act; and, be it further
5-1 RESOLVED, That citizen members appointed by the governor to
5-2 joint committees created pursuant to this resolution be reimbursed
5-3 from funds appropriated to the office of the governor for expenses
5-4 of travel on official committee business, at rates established by
5-5 the chair and vice chair of the Texas Legislative Council
5-6 consistent with provisions of the General Appropriations Act; and,
5-7 be it further
5-8 RESOLVED, That citizen members appointed by the lieutenant
5-9 governor to senate select committees and citizen members appointed
5-10 by the speaker of the house of representatives to house committees
5-11 expanded or created under House Rule 4, Sections 24, 57, and 58,
5-12 when engaged in travel on official committee business, be
5-13 reimbursed for (1) transportation expenses at the same rates as
5-14 authorized for state employees by the General Appropriations Act,
5-15 and (2) actual expenses for meals, lodging, and incidentals,
5-16 subject to any maximum reimbursement limitations for meals and
5-17 lodging set by the Senate Administration Committee for senate
5-18 select committees and by the Committee on House Administration for
5-19 house select committees; and, be it further
5-20 RESOLVED, That the Texas Legislative Council be authorized to
5-21 reimburse the senate and house of representatives for expenses
5-22 incurred by members of the senate and house for transportation,
5-23 meals, lodging, and incidentals for travel on official business of
5-24 joint committees created pursuant to this resolution; and, be it
5-25 further
5-26 RESOLVED, That the final report of each joint committee be
5-27 approved by a majority of the voting membership of the committee;
6-1 dissenting voting members may attach statements to the final report
6-2 subject to any limitations specified in the rules adopted by the
6-3 committee; and, be it further
6-4 RESOLVED, That each joint committee created pursuant to this
6-5 resolution expire on January 14, 1997, or an earlier date specified
6-6 in the proclamation creating the committee.