By: Truan S.R. No. 1221
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 May 31, 1999,
1-3 and attended by 30 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
1-24 conclude the work of the enrolling clerk, calendar clerk, journal
2-1 clerk, and sergeant-at-arms. The administration committee shall
2-2 establish the salaries for the senate staff.
2-3 SECTION 3. SENATE OFFICERS. (a) The following elected
2-4 officers of the 76th Legislature shall serve for the interval
2-5 between adjournment of this session and the convening of the next
2-6 session of the legislature:
2-7 (1) Calendar Clerk--Pat Rodgers
2-8 (2) Doorkeeper--Don Long
2-9 (3) Enrolling Clerk--Patsy Spaw
2-10 (4) Journal Clerk--Diane Arrington
2-11 (5) Sergeant-at-Arms--Carleton Turner
2-12 (b) All employees and elected officers of the senate shall
2-13 operate under the direct supervision of the secretary of the senate
2-14 during the interim.
2-15 (c) Officers named in this section serve at the will of the
2-16 senate.
2-17 SECTION 4. DUTIES OF CHAIRMAN OF ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE.
2-18 (a) The chairman of the administration committee shall place the
2-19 senate chamber in order and purchase supplies and make all
2-20 necessary repairs and improvements between the adjournment of this
2-21 session and the convening of the next session of the
2-22 legislature.
2-23 (b) The chairman shall make an inventory of all furniture
2-24 and fixtures in the senate chamber and in the private offices of
2-25 the members, as well as of the supplies and equipment on hand in
2-26 the purchasing and supply department and shall close the books for
3-1 the Regular Session of the 76th Legislature.
3-2 (c) The chairman shall not acquire any equipment on a
3-3 rental/purchase plan unless the equipment is placed on the senate
3-4 inventory at the termination of the plan.
3-5 (d) The chairman shall examine records and accounts payable
3-6 out of the contingent expense fund as necessary to approve all
3-7 claims and accounts against the senate, and no claim or account
3-8 shall be paid without the consent and approval of the chairman.
3-9 (e) The chairman and any member of the administration
3-10 committee shall be entitled to receive actual and necessary
3-11 expenses incurred during the interim.
3-12 (f) In addition to the duties of the administration
3-13 committee expressly imposed by this resolution, the committee shall
3-14 take actions necessary to ensure that the administrative operations
3-15 of the senate comply with applicable law and are conducted
3-16 effectively and efficiently.
3-17 SECTION 5. JOURNAL. (a) The secretary of the senate shall
3-18 have 325 volumes of the Senate Journal of the Regular Session of
3-19 the 76th Legislature printed. Two hundred and fifty copies shall
3-20 be bound in buckram and delivered to the secretary of the senate
3-21 who shall forward one volume to each member of the senate, the
3-22 lieutenant governor, and each member of the house of
3-23 representatives on request.
3-24 (b) The printing of the journals shall be done in accordance
3-25 with the provisions of this resolution under the supervision of the
3-26 chairman of the administration committee. The chairman shall
4-1 refuse to receive or receipt for the journals until corrected and
4-2 published in accordance with the preexisting law as finally
4-3 approved by the chairman of the administration committee. When the
4-4 accounts have been certified by the chairman of the administration
4-5 committee, the accounts shall be paid out of the contingent expense
4-6 fund of the 76th Legislature.
4-7 SECTION 6. PAYMENT OF SALARIES AND EXPENSES. (a) Salaries
4-8 and expenses authorized by this resolution shall be paid out of the
4-9 per diem and contingent expense fund of the 76th Legislature as
4-10 provided by this section.
4-11 (b) The senate shall request the comptroller of public
4-12 accounts to issue general revenue warrants for:
4-13 (1) payment of the employees of the lieutenant
4-14 governor's office, the lieutenant governor, members of the senate,
4-15 employees of the senate committees, and employees of the senate,
4-16 except as provided in Section 301.030, Government Code, upon
4-17 presentation of the payroll account signed by the chairman of the
4-18 administration committee and the secretary of the senate; and
4-19 (2) the payment of materials, supplies, and expenses
4-20 of the senate, including travel expenses for members and employees,
4-21 upon vouchers signed by the chairman of the administration
4-22 committee and the secretary of the senate.
4-23 SECTION 7. EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT AND PER DIEM. (a) In
4-24 furtherance of the legislative duties and responsibilities of the
4-25 senate, the administration committee shall charge to the individual
4-26 member's office budget:
5-1 (1) the reimbursement of all actual expenses incurred
5-2 by the members when traveling in performance of legislative duties
5-3 and responsibilities or incident to those duties; and
5-4 (2) the payment of all other reasonable and necessary
5-5 expenses for the operation of the office of the individual senator
5-6 during any period the legislature is not in session. Expenditures
5-7 for these services by the administration committee are authorized
5-8 as an expense of the senate and shall not be restricted to Austin
5-9 but may be incurred in individual senatorial districts. Such
5-10 expenses shall be paid from funds appropriated for the use of the
5-11 senate on vouchers approved by the chairman of the administration
5-12 committee and the secretary of the senate in accordance with
5-13 regulations governing such expenditures.
5-14 (b) Each senator shall be permitted to employ secretarial
5-15 and other office staff and for intrastate travel expenses for staff
5-16 employees a payroll of $27,500 per month to September 1, 1999, and
5-17 with administration committee approval, may be increased to $30,000
5-18 per month. Any unexpended portion of this amount may be carried
5-19 forward from month to month until the end of the fiscal year.
5-20 Other expenses, including travel expenses or other reasonable and
5-21 necessary expenses incurred in the furtherance and performance of
5-22 legislative duties or in operation of the member's office or
5-23 incident thereto, shall be provided in addition to the maximum
5-24 salary authorized.
5-25 (c) The secretary of the senate may order reimbursement for
5-26 legislative expenses consistent with this resolution and the
6-1 establishment by the Texas Ethics Commission of per diem rates.
6-2 (d) Any member of the senate and the lieutenant governor are
6-3 eligible to receive such reimbursement on application of the member
6-4 or the lieutenant governor to the secretary of the senate.
6-5 (e) On the application of a member of the senate or the
6-6 lieutenant governor, the applicant shall be entitled to
6-7 reimbursement for legislative expenses for each legislative day.
6-8 (f) For purposes of this section, a legislative day includes
6-9 each day of a regular or special session of the legislature,
6-10 including any day the legislature is not in session for a period of
6-11 four consecutive days or less, and all days the legislature is not
6-12 in session if the senator or lieutenant governor attends a meeting
6-13 of a joint, special, or legislative committee as evidenced by the
6-14 official record of the body, and each day, limited to 10 days per
6-15 month, the senator or the lieutenant governor, including those
6-16 living within a 50-mile radius, is otherwise engaged in legislative
6-17 business as evidenced by claims submitted to the chairman of the
6-18 administration committee.
6-19 SECTION 8. MEMBER'S EMPLOYEE LEAVE POLICY. (a) An employee
6-20 of a senator accrues vacation leave, compensatory leave, or sick
6-21 leave in accordance with policies adopted by the senator consistent
6-22 with the requirements of this section.
6-23 (b) An employee may accrue vacation leave, compensatory
6-24 leave, or sick leave only if the employee files a monthly time
6-25 record with the senate human resources office. Time records are
6-26 due not later than the 10th day of the following month.
7-1 (c) Compensatory time must be used not later than the last
7-2 day of the 12th month following the month in which the time was
7-3 accrued.
7-4 (d) An employee is not entitled to compensation for accrued
7-5 but unused compensatory time.
7-6 SECTION 9. DESIGNATION FOR ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS AND
7-7 FUNCTIONS. (a) The lieutenant governor may appoint any member of
7-8 the senate, the secretary of the senate, or any other senate
7-9 employee to attend meetings of the National Conference of State
7-10 Legislatures and other similar meetings. Necessary and actual
7-11 expenses are authorized upon the approval of the chairman of the
7-12 administration committee and the secretary of the senate.
7-13 (b) The lieutenant governor may designate a member of the
7-14 senate to represent the senate at ceremonies and ceremonial
7-15 functions. The necessary expenses of the senator and necessary
7-16 staff for this purpose shall be paid pursuant to a budget approved
7-17 by the administration committee.
7-18 SECTION 10. MEETINGS DURING INTERIM. (a) Each of the
7-19 standing committees and subcommittees of the senate of the 76th
7-20 Legislature may continue to meet at such times and places during
7-21 the interim as determined by such committees and subcommittees and
7-22 to hold hearings, recommend legislation, and perform research on
7-23 matters directed either by resolution, the lieutenant governor, or
7-24 as determined by majority vote of each committee.
7-25 (b) Each continuing committee and subcommittee shall
7-26 continue to function under the rules adopted during the legislative
8-1 session where applicable.
8-2 (c) Expenses for the operation of these committees and
8-3 subcommittees shall be paid pursuant to a budget prepared by each
8-4 committee and approved by the administration committee.
8-5 (d) The operating expenses of these committees shall be paid
8-6 from the contingent expense fund of the senate, and committee
8-7 members shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred in
8-8 carrying out the duties of the committees.
8-9 SECTION 11. SENATE OFFICES. Members not returning for the
8-10 77th Legislature shall vacate their senate offices by
8-11 December 15, 2000.
8-12 SECTION 12. FURNISHING OF INFORMATION BY SENATE EMPLOYEE.
8-13 An employee of the senate may not furnish any information to any
8-14 person, firm, or corporation other than general information
8-15 pertaining to the senate and routinely furnished to the public.
8-16 SECTION 13. OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT. An employee of the senate
8-17 may not be employed by and receive compensation from any other
8-18 person, firm, or corporation during the employee's senate
8-19 employment without the permission of the employee's senate
8-20 employer.
8-21 SECTION 14. REMOVAL OF SENATE PROPERTY. The secretary of
8-22 the senate is specifically directed not to permit the removal of
8-23 any of the property of the senate from the senate chamber or the
8-24 rooms of the senate except as authorized by the chairman of the
8-25 administration committee.
8-26 ______________________________________
8-27 President of the Senate
9-1 I hereby certify that the above
9-2 Resolution was adopted by the Senate
9-3 on May 31, 1999.
9-4 ______________________________________
9-5 Secretary of the Senate