By: Truan S.R. No. 1263
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 28, 2001,
1-3 and attended by 29 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
1-25 clerk, and sergeant-at-arms. The administration committee shall
2-1 establish the salaries for the senate staff.
2-2 SECTION 3. SENATE OFFICERS. (a) The following elected
2-3 officers of the 77th Legislature shall serve for the interval
2-4 between adjournment of this session and the convening of the next
2-5 session of the legislature:
2-6 (1) Patsy Spaw--Secretary of the Senate;
2-7 (2) Calendar Clerk--Pat Rodgers;
2-8 (3) Doorkeeper--Don Long;
2-9 (4) Enrolling Clerk--Mardi Alexander;
2-10 (5) Journal Clerk--Dianne Arrington; and
2-11 (6) 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 legislature.
2-22 (b) The chairman shall make an inventory of all furniture
2-23 and fixtures in the senate chamber and in the private offices of
2-24 the members, as well as of the supplies and equipment on hand in
2-25 the purchasing and supply department and shall close the books for
2-26 the Regular Session of the 77th Legislature.
3-1 (c) The chairman shall not acquire any equipment on a
3-2 rental/purchase plan unless the equipment is placed on the senate
3-3 inventory at the termination of the plan.
3-4 (d) The chairman shall examine records and accounts payable
3-5 out of the contingent expense fund as necessary to approve all
3-6 claims and accounts against the senate, and no claim or account
3-7 shall be paid without the consent and approval of the chairman.
3-8 (e) The chairman and any member of the administration
3-9 committee shall be entitled to receive actual and necessary
3-10 expenses incurred during the interim.
3-11 (f) In addition to the duties of the administration
3-12 committee expressly imposed by this resolution, the committee shall
3-13 take actions necessary to ensure that the administrative operations
3-14 of the senate comply with applicable law and are conducted
3-15 effectively and efficiently.
3-16 SECTION 5. JOURNAL. (a) The secretary of the senate shall
3-17 have 325 volumes of the Senate Journal of the Regular Session of
3-18 the 77th Legislature printed. Two hundred and fifty copies shall
3-19 be bound in buckram and delivered to the secretary of the senate
3-20 who shall forward one volume to each member of the senate, the
3-21 lieutenant governor, and each member of the house of
3-22 representatives on request.
3-23 (b) The printing of the journals shall be done in accordance
3-24 with the provisions of this resolution under the supervision of the
3-25 chairman of the administration committee. The chairman shall
3-26 refuse to receive or receipt for the journals until corrected and
4-1 published in accordance with the preexisting law as finally
4-2 approved by the chairman of the administration committee. When the
4-3 accounts have been certified by the chairman of the administration
4-4 committee, the accounts shall be paid out of the contingent expense
4-5 fund of the 77th Legislature.
4-6 SECTION 6. PAYMENT OF SALARIES AND EXPENSES. (a) Salaries
4-7 and expenses authorized by this resolution shall be paid out of the
4-8 per diem and contingent expense fund of the 77th Legislature as
4-9 provided by this section.
4-10 (b) The senate shall request the comptroller of public
4-11 accounts to issue general revenue warrants for:
4-12 (1) payment of the employees of the lieutenant
4-13 governor's office, the lieutenant governor, members of the senate,
4-14 employees of the senate committees, and employees of the senate,
4-15 except as provided in Section 301.030, Government Code, upon
4-16 presentation of the payroll account signed by the chairman of the
4-17 administration committee and the secretary of the senate; and
4-18 (2) the payment of materials, supplies, and expenses
4-19 of the senate, including travel expenses for members and employees,
4-20 upon vouchers signed by the chairman of the administration
4-21 committee and the secretary of the senate.
4-22 SECTION 7. EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT AND PER DIEM. (a) In
4-23 furtherance of the legislative duties and responsibilities of the
4-24 senate, the administration committee shall charge to the individual
4-25 member's office budget:
4-26 (1) the reimbursement of all actual expenses incurred
5-1 by the members when traveling in performance of legislative duties
5-2 and responsibilities or incident to those duties; and
5-3 (2) the payment of all other reasonable and necessary
5-4 expenses for the operation of the office of the individual senator
5-5 during any period the legislature is not in session. Expenditures
5-6 for these services by the administration committee are authorized
5-7 as an expense of the senate and shall not be restricted to Austin
5-8 but may be incurred in individual senatorial districts. Such
5-9 expenses shall be paid from funds appropriated for the use of the
5-10 senate on vouchers approved by the chairman of the administration
5-11 committee and the secretary of the senate in accordance with
5-12 regulations governing such expenditures.
5-13 (b) Each senator shall be permitted to employ secretarial
5-14 and other office staff and for intrastate travel expenses for staff
5-15 employees a payroll of $32,000.00 per month for chairs and
5-16 $35,000.00 per month for non-chairs. Any unexpended portion of
5-17 this amount may be carried forward from month to month until the
5-18 end of the fiscal year. Other expenses, including travel expenses
5-19 or other reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the
5-20 furtherance and performance of legislative duties or in operation
5-21 of the member's office or incident thereto, shall be provided in
5-22 addition to the maximum salary authorized.
5-23 (c) The secretary of the senate may order reimbursement for
5-24 legislative expenses consistent with this resolution and the
5-25 establishment by the Texas Ethics Commission of per diem rates.
5-26 (d) Any member of the senate and the lieutenant governor are
6-1 eligible to receive such reimbursement on application of the member
6-2 or the lieutenant governor to the secretary of the senate.
6-3 (e) On the application of a member of the senate or the
6-4 lieutenant governor, the applicant shall be entitled to
6-5 reimbursement for legislative expenses for each legislative day.
6-6 (f) For purposes of this section, a legislative day includes
6-7 each day of a regular or special session of the legislature,
6-8 including any day the legislature is not in session for a period of
6-9 four consecutive days or less, and all days the legislature is not
6-10 in session if the senator or lieutenant governor attends a meeting
6-11 of a joint, special, or legislative committee as evidenced by the
6-12 official record of the body, and each day, limited to 12 days per
6-13 month for non-chairs or 16 days per month for chairs and the
6-14 lieutenant governor, the senator or the lieutenant governor,
6-15 including those living within a 50-mile radius, is otherwise
6-16 engaged in legislative business as evidenced by claims submitted to
6-17 the chairman of the administration committee.
6-18 SECTION 8. MEMBER'S EMPLOYEE LEAVE POLICY. (a) An employee
6-19 of a senator accrues vacation leave, compensatory leave, or sick
6-20 leave in accordance with policies adopted by the senator consistent
6-21 with the requirements of this section.
6-22 (b) An employee may accrue vacation leave, compensatory
6-23 leave, or sick leave only if the employee files a monthly time
6-24 record with the senate human resources office. Time records are
6-25 due not later than the 10th day of the following month.
6-26 (c) Compensatory time must be used not later than the last
7-1 day of the 12th month following the month in which the time was
7-2 accrued.
7-3 (d) An employee is not entitled to compensation for accrued
7-4 but unused compensatory time.
7-5 SECTION 9. DESIGNATION FOR ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS AND
7-6 FUNCTIONS. (a) The lieutenant governor may appoint any member of
7-7 the senate, the secretary of the senate, or any other senate
7-8 employee to attend meetings of the National Conference of State
7-9 Legislatures and other similar meetings. Necessary and actual
7-10 expenses are authorized upon the approval of the chairman of the
7-11 administration committee and the secretary of the senate.
7-12 (b) The lieutenant governor may designate a member of the
7-13 senate to represent the senate at ceremonies and ceremonial
7-14 functions. The necessary expenses of the senator and necessary
7-15 staff for this purpose shall be paid pursuant to a budget approved
7-16 by the administration committee.
7-17 SECTION 10. MEETINGS DURING INTERIM. (a) Each of the
7-18 standing committees and subcommittees of the senate of the 77th
7-19 Legislature may continue to meet at such times and places during
7-20 the interim as determined by such committees and subcommittees and
7-21 to hold hearings, recommend legislation, and perform research on
7-22 matters directed either by resolution, the lieutenant governor, or
7-23 as determined by majority vote of each committee.
7-24 (b) Each continuing committee and subcommittee shall
7-25 continue to function under the rules adopted during the legislative
7-26 session where applicable.
8-1 (c) Expenses for the operation of these committees and
8-2 subcommittees shall be paid pursuant to a budget prepared by each
8-3 committee and approved by the administration committee.
8-4 (d) The operating expenses of these committees shall be paid
8-5 from the contingent expense fund of the senate, and committee
8-6 members shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred in
8-7 carrying out the duties of the committees.
8-8 SECTION 11. SENATE OFFICES. Members not returning for the
8-9 78th Legislature shall vacate their senate offices by December 15,
8-10 2002.
8-11 SECTION 12. FURNISHING OF INFORMATION BY SENATE EMPLOYEE.
8-12 An employee of the senate may not furnish any information to any
8-13 person, firm, or corporation other than general information
8-14 pertaining to the senate and routinely furnished to the public.
8-15 SECTION 13. OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT. An employee of the senate
8-16 may not be employed by and receive compensation from any other
8-17 person, firm, or corporation during the employee's senate
8-18 employment without the permission of the employee's senate
8-19 employer.
8-20 SECTION 14. REMOVAL OF SENATE PROPERTY. The secretary of
8-21 the senate is specifically directed not to permit the removal of
8-22 any of the property of the senate from the senate chamber or the
8-23 rooms of the senate except as authorized by the chairman of the
8-24 administration committee.
8-25 ______________________________________
8-26 President of the Senate
8-27 I hereby certify that the above
9-1 Resolution was adopted by the Senate
9-2 on May 28, 2001.
9-3 ______________________________________
9-4 Secretary of the Senate