By: Truan S.R. No. 1008
SENATE RESOLUTION
1-1 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-2 SECTION 1. CAUCUS REPORT. At a caucus held on June 2, 1997,
1-3 and attended by 31 members of the senate, the caucus made the
1-4 recommendations for the operation of the senate contained in this
1-5 resolution.
1-6 SECTION 2. EMPLOYEES. (a) The lieutenant governor may
1-7 employ the employees necessary for the operation of the office of
1-8 the lieutenant governor from the closing of this session and until
1-9 the convening of the next session. The lieutenant governor and the
1-10 secretary of the senate shall be furnished postage, telegraph,
1-11 telephone, express, and all other expenses incident to their
1-12 respective offices.
1-13 (b) The secretary of the senate shall be retained during the
1-14 interval between adjournment of this session and the convening of
1-15 the next session of the legislature. The secretary of the senate
1-16 may employ the employees necessary for the operation of the senate
1-17 and to perform duties as may be required in connection with the
1-18 business of the state from the closing of this session and until
1-19 the convening of the next session.
1-20 (c) Each senator may employ secretarial and other office
1-21 staff for the senator's office.
1-22 (d) The chairman of the administration committee is
1-23 authorized to retain a sufficient number of staff employees to
2-1 conclude the work of the enrolling clerk, calendar clerk, journal
2-2 clerk, and sergeant-at-arms. The administration committee shall
2-3 establish the salaries for the senate staff.
2-4 SECTION 3. SENATE OFFICERS. (a) The following elected
2-5 officers of the 75th Legislature shall serve for the interval
2-6 between adjournment of this session and the convening of the next
2-7 session of the legislature:
2-8 (1) Calendar Clerk--Pat Rodgers
2-9 (2) Doorkeeper--Don Long
2-10 (3) Enrolling Clerk--Patsy Spaw
2-11 (4) Journal Clerk--Dianne Arrington
2-12 (5) Sergeant-at-Arms--Carleton Turner
2-13 (b) All employees and elected officers of the senate shall
2-14 operate under the direct supervision of the secretary of the senate
2-15 during the interim.
2-16 (c) Officers named in this section serve at the will of the
2-17 senate.
2-18 SECTION 4. DUTIES OF CHAIRMAN OF ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE.
2-19 (a) The chairman of the administration committee shall place the
2-20 senate chamber in order and purchase supplies and make all
2-21 necessary repairs and improvements between the adjournment of this
2-22 session and the convening of the next session of the
2-23 legislature.
2-24 (b) The chairman shall make an inventory of all furniture
2-25 and fixtures in the senate chamber and in the private offices of
3-1 the members, as well as of the supplies and equipment on hand in
3-2 the purchasing and supply department and shall close the books for
3-3 the Regular Session of the 75th Legislature.
3-4 (c) The chairman shall not acquire any equipment on a
3-5 rental/purchase plan unless the equipment is placed on the senate
3-6 inventory at the termination of the plan.
3-7 (d) The chairman shall examine records and accounts payable
3-8 out of the contingent expense fund as necessary to approve all
3-9 claims and accounts against the senate, and no claim or account
3-10 shall be paid without the consent and approval of the chairman.
3-11 (e) The chairman and any member of the administration
3-12 committee shall be entitled to receive actual and necessary
3-13 expenses incurred during the interim.
3-14 (f) In addition to the duties of the administration
3-15 committee expressly imposed by this resolution, the committee shall
3-16 take actions necessary to ensure that the administrative operations
3-17 of the senate comply with applicable law and are conducted
3-18 effectively and efficiently.
3-19 SECTION 5. JOURNAL. (a) The secretary of the senate shall
3-20 have 325 volumes of the Senate Journal of the Regular Session of
3-21 the 75th Legislature printed. Two hundred and fifty copies shall
3-22 be bound in buckram and delivered to the secretary of the senate
3-23 who shall forward one volume to each member of the senate, the
3-24 lieutenant governor, and each member of the house of
3-25 representatives on request.
4-1 (b) The printing of the journals shall be done in accordance
4-2 with the provisions of this resolution under the supervision of the
4-3 chairman of the administration committee. The chairman shall
4-4 refuse to receive or receipt for the journals until corrected and
4-5 published in accordance with the preexisting law as finally
4-6 approved by the chairman of the administration committee. When the
4-7 accounts have been certified by the chairman of the administration
4-8 committee, the accounts shall be paid out of the contingent expense
4-9 fund of the 75th Legislature.
4-10 SECTION 6. PAYMENT OF SALARIES AND EXPENSES. (a) Salaries
4-11 and expenses authorized by this resolution shall be paid out of the
4-12 per diem and contingent expense fund of the 75th Legislature as
4-13 provided by this section.
4-14 (b) The senate shall request the comptroller of public
4-15 accounts to issue general revenue warrants for:
4-16 (1) payment of the employees of the lieutenant
4-17 governor's office, the lieutenant governor, members of the senate,
4-18 employees of the senate committees, and employees of the senate,
4-19 except as provided in Section 301.030, Government Code, upon
4-20 presentation of the payroll account signed by the chairman of the
4-21 administration committee and the secretary of the senate; and
4-22 (2) the payment of materials, supplies, and expenses
4-23 of the senate, including travel expenses for members and employees,
4-24 upon vouchers signed by the chairman of the administration
4-25 committee and the secretary of the senate.
5-1 SECTION 7. EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT AND PER DIEM. (a) In
5-2 furtherance of the legislative duties and responsibilities of the
5-3 senate, the administration committee shall charge to the individual
5-4 member's office budget:
5-5 (1) the reimbursement of all actual expenses incurred
5-6 by the members when traveling in performance of legislative duties
5-7 and responsibilities or incident to those duties; and
5-8 (2) the payment of all other reasonable and necessary
5-9 expenses for the operation of the office of the individual senator
5-10 during any period the legislature is not in session. Expenditures
5-11 for these services by the administration committee are authorized
5-12 as an expense of the senate and shall not be restricted to Austin
5-13 but may be incurred in individual senatorial districts. Such
5-14 expenses shall be paid from funds appropriated for the use of the
5-15 senate on vouchers approved by the chairman of the administration
5-16 committee and the secretary of the senate in accordance with
5-17 regulations governing such expenditures.
5-18 (b) Each senator shall be permitted to employ secretarial
5-19 and other office staff and for intrastate travel expenses for staff
5-20 employees a payroll of $25,000 per month. Any unexpended portion
5-21 of this amount may be carried forward from month to month until the
5-22 end of the fiscal year. Other expenses, including travel expenses
5-23 or other reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the
5-24 furtherance and performance of legislative duties or in operation
5-25 of the member's office or incident thereto, shall be provided in
6-1 addition to the maximum salary authorized.
6-2 (c) The secretary of the senate may order reimbursement for
6-3 legislative expenses consistent with this resolution and the
6-4 establishment by the Texas Ethics Commission of per diem rates.
6-5 (d) Any member of the senate and the lieutenant governor are
6-6 eligible to receive such reimbursement on application of the member
6-7 or the lieutenant governor to the secretary of the senate.
6-8 (e) On the application of a member of the senate or the
6-9 lieutenant governor, the applicant shall be entitled to
6-10 reimbursement for legislative expenses for each legislative day.
6-11 (f) For purposes of this section, a legislative day includes
6-12 each day of a regular or special session of the legislature,
6-13 including any day the legislature is not in session for a period of
6-14 four consecutive days or less, and all days the legislature is not
6-15 in session if the senator or lieutenant governor attends a meeting
6-16 of a joint, special, or legislative committee as evidenced by the
6-17 official record of the body, and each day, limited to 10 days per
6-18 month, the senator or the lieutenant governor, including those
6-19 living within a 50-mile radius, is otherwise engaged in legislative
6-20 business in Travis County as evidenced by claims submitted to the
6-21 chairman of the administration committee.
6-22 SECTION 8. MEMBER'S EMPLOYEE LEAVE POLICY. (a) An employee
6-23 of a senator accrues vacation leave, compensatory leave, or sick
6-24 leave in accordance with policies adopted by the senator consistent
6-25 with the requirements of this section.
7-1 (b) An employee may accrue vacation leave, compensatory
7-2 leave, or sick leave only if the employee files a monthly time
7-3 record with the senate human resources office. Time records are
7-4 due not later than the 10th day of the following month.
7-5 (c) Compensatory time must be used not later than the last
7-6 day of the 12th month following the month in which the time was
7-7 accrued.
7-8 (d) An employee is not entitled to compensation for accrued
7-9 but unused compensatory time.
7-10 SECTION 9. DESIGNATION FOR ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS AND
7-11 FUNCTIONS. (a) The lieutenant governor may appoint any member of
7-12 the senate, the secretary of the senate, or any other senate
7-13 employee to attend meetings of the National Conference of State
7-14 Legislatures and other similar meetings. Necessary and actual
7-15 expenses are authorized upon the approval of the chairman of the
7-16 administration committee and the secretary of the senate.
7-17 (b) The lieutenant governor may designate a member of the
7-18 senate to represent the senate at ceremonies and ceremonial
7-19 functions. The necessary expenses of the senator and necessary
7-20 staff for this purpose shall be paid pursuant to a budget approved
7-21 by the administration committee.
7-22 SECTION 10. MEETINGS DURING INTERIM. (a) Each of the
7-23 standing committees and subcommittees of the senate of the 75th
7-24 Legislature may continue to meet at such times and places during
7-25 the interim as determined by such committees and subcommittees and
8-1 to hold hearings, recommend legislation, and perform research on
8-2 matters directed either by resolution, the lieutenant governor, or
8-3 as determined by majority vote of each committee.
8-4 (b) Each continuing committee and subcommittee shall
8-5 continue to function under the rules adopted during the legislative
8-6 session where applicable.
8-7 (c) Expenses for the operation of these committees and
8-8 subcommittees shall be paid pursuant to a budget prepared by each
8-9 committee and approved by the administration committee.
8-10 (d) The operating expenses of these committees shall be paid
8-11 from the contingent expense fund of the senate, and committee
8-12 members shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred in
8-13 carrying out the duties of the committees.
8-14 SECTION 11. SENATE OFFICES. Members not returning for the
8-15 76th Legislature shall vacate their senate offices by December 15,
8-16 1998.
8-17 SECTION 12. FURNISHING OF INFORMATION BY SENATE EMPLOYEE.
8-18 An employee of the senate may not furnish any information to any
8-19 person, firm, or corporation other than general information
8-20 pertaining to the senate and routinely furnished to the public.
8-21 SECTION 13. OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT. An employee of the senate
8-22 may not be employed by and receive compensation from any other
8-23 person, firm, or corporation during the employee's senate
8-24 employment without the permission of the employee's senate
8-25 employer.
9-1 SECTION 14. REMOVAL OF SENATE PROPERTY. The secretary of
9-2 the senate is specifically directed not to permit the removal of
9-3 any of the property of the senate from the senate chamber or the
9-4 rooms of the senate except as authorized by the chairman of the
9-5 administration committee.
9-6 ______________________________________
9-7 President of the Senate
9-8 I hereby certify that the above
9-9 Resolution was adopted by the Senate
9-10 on June 2, 1997.
9-11 ______________________________________
9-12 Secretary of the Senate