1-1 By: Harris S.C.R. No. 125
1-2 (In the Senate - Filed April 19, 1995; April 19, 1995, read
1-3 first time and referred to Committee on Administration;
1-4 April 24, 1995, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 7,
1-5 Nays 0; April 24, 1995, sent to printer.)
1-6 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-7 WHEREAS, The Texas Legislature for each of the last six
1-8 regular sessions has adopted a concurrent resolution authorizing
1-9 the creation and appointment of joint interim legislative study
1-10 committees by the lieutenant governor and speaker of the house of
1-11 representatives; and
1-12 WHEREAS, Renewal of the prior authorizations to the presiding
1-13 officers enables the legislature to address and study issues that
1-14 remain unresolved on sine die adjournment or that emerge subsequent
1-15 to that time; and
1-16 WHEREAS, It is also desirable to adopt by resolution various
1-17 rules and policies regarding the operation of joint committees to
1-18 supplement and reconcile differences between the senate and house
1-19 rules of procedure; now, therefore, be it
1-20 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
1-21 hereby authorize the lieutenant governor and speaker of the house
1-22 of representatives to create by mutual agreement such joint
1-23 committees as they consider necessary during the term of this
1-24 legislature; and, be it further
1-25 RESOLVED, That each joint committee created pursuant to this
1-26 resolution be composed of such combination of legislators, state
1-27 officials, or citizen members as shall be determined mutually by
1-28 the presiding officers of each house; and, be it further
1-29 RESOLVED, That on the request of the presiding officers, the
1-30 governor may appoint members to a joint committee created pursuant
1-31 to this resolution; and, be it further
1-32 RESOLVED, That the presiding officers issue for each
1-33 committee so created a joint proclamation identifying the issue or
1-34 issues to be studied and listing the committee membership or
1-35 describing the committee composition and that the proclamation be
1-36 filed with the secretary of the senate and the chief clerk of the
1-37 house of representatives; and, be it further
1-38 RESOLVED, That the presiding officers designate jointly a
1-39 chair, or designate alternatively two cochairs, from among the
1-40 committee membership; and, be it further
1-41 RESOLVED, That the chair or cochairs, acting jointly and
1-42 within four weeks of the proclamation, prepare and present to the
1-43 presiding officers a proposal for budget and staffing; and, be it
1-44 further
1-45 RESOLVED, That the chair or cochairs be directed to use to
1-46 the greatest extent possible the existing staff and administrative
1-47 resources of committee members, standing committees, officers of
1-48 the senate and house, and legislative service agencies; and, be it
1-49 further
1-50 RESOLVED, That the presiding officers jointly review each
1-51 budget and staffing proposal, adopt budgetary and staffing
1-52 allocations, and determine the manner in which each joint committee
1-53 is to be funded; and, be it further
1-54 RESOLVED, That the joint committee chair, or the cochairs
1-55 acting by mutual agreement, have authority to create and appoint
1-56 subcommittees or affiliated advisory panels and to designate
1-57 respective chairs for each, contingent on the advance approval of
1-58 the presiding officers for the creation and appointment of
1-59 subcommittees or advisory panels containing membership external to
1-60 the committee; and, be it further
1-61 RESOLVED, That each joint committee, and its subcommittees
1-62 and advisory panels, convene at the call of its chair or cochairs;
1-63 provided that no joint committee, nor its subcommittees or advisory
1-64 panels, shall convene in a public hearing or other meeting for the
1-65 transaction of business unless public notice has been posted by its
1-66 chair or cochairs at the locations specified by the senate and
1-67 house rules of procedure for posting of notice of standing
1-68 committee meetings at least five calendar days in advance of the
2-1 hearing or meeting; and, be it further
2-2 RESOLVED, That the preceding clause be construed for purposes
2-3 of Section 551.046, Government Code, as a joint rule of the senate
2-4 and house of representatives controlling the posting of notice for
2-5 joint committees, and their subcommittees and advisory panels, in
2-6 lieu of required posting with the secretary of state; and, be it
2-7 further
2-8 RESOLVED, That each joint committee have authority to issue
2-9 process as provided in Sections 301.024 through 301.027, Government
2-10 Code, provided that any motion for the issuance of process must
2-11 receive the record vote of at least two-thirds of those present and
2-12 voting, a quorum being present; and, be it further
2-13 RESOLVED, That each joint committee be entitled to accept
2-14 gifts, grants, and donations as provided by Subsections (b) and
2-15 (c), Section 301.032, Government Code, and that, on expiration of a
2-16 joint committee, any unexpended funds remaining from a gift, grant,
2-17 or donation be transferred in equal proportions to the accounts of
2-18 the senate and house of representatives unless otherwise provided
2-19 by the grantor or donor; and, be it further
2-20 RESOLVED, That each joint committee, except as modified by or
2-21 pursuant to this resolution, have all other powers and duties
2-22 provided to special committees by Subchapter B, Chapter 301,
2-23 Government Code, and the senate and house rules of procedure; and,
2-24 be it further
2-25 RESOLVED, That the operating accounts for each joint
2-26 committee created pursuant to this resolution and any gifts,
2-27 grants, and donations that such committee may receive be
2-28 administered by the Texas Legislative Council; and, be it further
2-29 RESOLVED, That the Texas Legislative Council prepare for
2-30 review and approval by the presiding officers a manual of
2-31 procedures for joint committees and other entities created by the
2-32 legislature for which funds are to be administered by the Texas
2-33 Legislative Council establishing requirements as to printing needs,
2-34 accounting procedures, ultimate disposition of records, and other
2-35 administrative and financial matters; and, be it further
2-36 RESOLVED, That citizen members appointed by the lieutenant
2-37 governor or speaker of the house of representatives to joint
2-38 committees created pursuant to this resolution be reimbursed from
2-39 funds appropriated to the Texas Legislative Council for expenses of
2-40 transportation, meals, lodging, and incidentals for travel on
2-41 official committee business, at rates established by the chair and
2-42 vice chair of the Texas Legislative Council consistent with
2-43 provisions of the General Appropriations Act; and, be it further
2-44 RESOLVED, That citizen members appointed by the governor to
2-45 joint committees created pursuant to this resolution be reimbursed
2-46 from funds appropriated to the office of the governor for expenses
2-47 of travel on official committee business, at rates established by
2-48 the chair and vice chair of the Texas Legislative Council
2-49 consistent with provisions of the General Appropriations Act; and,
2-50 be it further
2-51 RESOLVED, That citizen members appointed by the lieutenant
2-52 governor to senate select committees and citizen members appointed
2-53 by the speaker of the house of representatives to house committees
2-54 expanded or created under House Rule 4, Sections 24, 57, and 58,
2-55 when engaged in travel on official committee business, be
2-56 reimbursed for (1) transportation expenses at the same rates as
2-57 authorized for state employees by the General Appropriations Act,
2-58 and (2) actual expenses for meals, lodging, and incidentals,
2-59 subject to any maximum reimbursement limitations for meals and
2-60 lodging set by the Senate Administration Committee for senate
2-61 select committees and by the Committee on House Administration for
2-62 house select committees; and, be it further
2-63 RESOLVED, That the Texas Legislative Council be authorized to
2-64 reimburse the senate and house of representatives for expenses
2-65 incurred by members of the senate and house for transportation,
2-66 meals, lodging, and incidentals for travel on official business of
2-67 joint committees created pursuant to this resolution; and, be it
2-68 further
2-69 RESOLVED, That the final report of each joint committee be
2-70 approved by a majority of the voting membership of the committee;
3-1 dissenting voting members may attach statements to the final report
3-2 subject to any limitations specified in the rules adopted by the
3-3 committee; and, be it further
3-4 RESOLVED, That each joint committee created pursuant to this
3-5 resolution expire on January 14, 1997, or an earlier date specified
3-6 in the proclamation creating the committee.
3-7 * * * * *