SENATE FLOOR ACTION

Friday

April 24, 2009

The Senate suspended the necessary rules to consider and finally pass:

Proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for the ad valorem taxation of a residence homestead solely on the basis of the property's value as a residence homestead; and authorizing the legislature to authorize a single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities that elect to provide for consolidated equalizations.

Relating to the prevention, investigation, prosecution, and punishment for certain gang-related and other criminal offenses and to the consequences and costs of engaging in certain activities of a criminal street gang or certain other criminal activity; providing penalties.

4 Floor Amendments

Relating to disaster preparedness and emergency management and to certain vehicles used in emergencies; providing a penalty.

10 Floor Amendments

Relating to the application for and continuation of certain health benefit plan coverage; providing a civil penalty.

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to the creation of a public corruption unit in the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to notice required before and period to vacate after foreclosure sale of real property.

3 Floor Amendments

Relating to the designation of a candidate as an incumbent on a primary ballot.

Relating to the vaccination against bacterial meningitis of certain first-time students at public and private or independent institutions of higher education.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to offering the classroom portion of a driver education course through an alternative method of instruction.

Relating to the jurisdiction and administration of, and procedures relating to, certain courts in this state, including procedures for appeals.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to death benefits for the survivors of certain members of the Texas National Guard.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the powers of certain hospital districts and to the retirement benefits of employees of the districts and related entities.

Relating to the investigation of child abuse or neglect.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to certain procedures for delivery of a warrant of execution and modifications or withdrawals of a warrant of execution.

Relating to consumption advisories for mercury contamination in fish, crustaceans, molluscan shellfish, and other aquatic and terrestrial animals.

Relating to the authority of certain juvenile probation officers to carry firearms.

Relating to the certification of a county jailer as a special officer for offenders with mental impairments.

Relating to the protection and care of individuals with mental retardation residing in certain residential care facilities.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the control of access to state highways by the Texas Department of Transportation.

Relating to the provision of information by health and human services agencies to assist children with velocardiofacial syndrome.

Relating to the establishment of the Texas Bioenergy Policy Council and the Texas Bioenergy Research Committee.

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to the regulation of poultry facilities and poultry litter.

Relating to the continuation of the Texas Bleeding Disorders Advisory Council.

Relating to a temporary faculty license for chiropractic faculty.

Relating to public participation in the development of transportation projects by the Texas Department of Transportation.

Relating to the interception or the collection of information from certain communications in an investigation of criminal conduct.

Relating to the annual allocation of certain constitutional funds to eligible agencies and institutions of higher education.

Relating to the jurisdiction and operation of the district courts in McLennan County.

Relating to the eligibility of employees of certain businesses or organizations established as part of the state's economic development program and of dependents of those employees to pay resident tuition at public institutions of higher education.

Relating to the authority of a school district to impose ad valorem taxes.

Relating to the use of discretionary funds raised by public school campuses.

Relating to the confidentiality of certain information pertaining to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

Relating to responsibility and criminal penalties for certain violations committed by commercial oyster boat crews.

Relating to the payment of certain costs associated with educational programs of the John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership Institute of The University of Texas of the Permian Basin.

Relating to the creation of the Maverick Improvement District of Palo Pinto County; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting a limited power of eminent domain.

Relating to certain fees for future transfer of real property.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the powers and duties of the Lake View Management and Development District; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting certain powers relating to navigation improvements; and granting powers of a road district.

Relating to the creation of the Montgomery County Municipal Utility Districts Nos. 128 and 129; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting a limited power of eminent domain.

The Senate suspended the regular order, read third time and finally passed:

Relating to summer nutrition programs provided for by school districts.

1 Floor Amendment

The Senate suspended the regular order, read second time and passed to engrossment:

Relating to a prohibition on parking a commercial motor vehicle in certain residential subdivisions.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the creation of district courts in certain counties.

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to filing fees for civil actions or proceedings in a district, county, justice, or small claims court.

Relating to the confidentiality of certain travel vouchers submitted by certain peace officers.

1 Floor Amendment

The Senate refused to suspend the regular order to consider:

Relating to the reapportionment of congressional districts and the creation, function, and duties of the Texas Congressional Redistricting Commission.

The Senate adopted the following resolutions:

Recognizing April 25, 2009, as Texas Meningitis Awareness Day.

The Senate refused to concur in House amendments and requested the appointment of a Conference Committee on the following:

General Appropriations Bill.

Committee referral on the following:

Relating to the administration, powers, and duties of the Texas Health Services Authority.

Health & Human Services

Relating to adoption of alternative payment method pilot programs for the provision of health care services to certain state employees and certain active and retired public school employees.

State Affairs

Relating to the appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes of a real property interest in oil or gas in place.

Finance

Relating to the promotion and marketing of alcoholic beverages.

Business & Commerce

Relating to the imposition and rate of the county hotel occupancy tax in certain counties.

International Relations & Trade

Relating to requirements for drugs dispensed by pharmacists.

Health & Human Services

Relating to the waiting period for issuing a decree in certain suits for divorce.

Jurisprudence

Relating to block grant funding for certain workforce training and employment programs and functions by the Texas Workforce Commission.

Economic Development

Relating to the designation of enterprise projects during a biennium.

Economic Development

Relating to the nondisclosure of certain personal information in voter registration records, concealed handgun license records, and tax appraisal records that relates to a justice of the peace.

State Affairs

Relating to an exemption from the structural pest control license requirement for certain falconers.

Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Relating to the authority of certain municipalities to enter into an agreement with a school district to dedicate revenue from a tax increment fund to the district for the acquisition, construction, or reconstruction of an educational facility.

Economic Development

Relating to extending the expiration date of the Property Redevelopment and Tax Abatement Act.

Administration

Relating to the establishment of the Texas Invasive Species Coordinating Committee.

Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Relating to the transfer of certain state property from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to the City of Burnet.

Criminal Justice

Relating to a memorandum of understanding between certain authorized entities to share suicide data that does not identify a deceased individual.

Health & Human Services

Relating to the authority of the governor to grant one or more reprieves in a capital case.

Criminal Justice

Relating to the designation of a person to act as the agent of a property owner in a property tax matter.

Finance

Relating to responsibility for public school textbooks and technological equipment and to failure by students to return textbooks or technological equipment.

Education

Relating to the terms of office of certain elected members of the board of trustees of the Employees Retirement System of Texas.

State Affairs

Relating to achievement awards presented by the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.

Criminal Justice

Relating to construction contract trust funds and the misapplication of those funds.

Business & Commerce

Relating to services for persons with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders and their families.

Health & Human Services

Relating to temporary housing and emergency shelters provided by a political subdivision for disaster victims.

Intergovernmental Relations

Relating to adoption of the Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act; providing criminal penalties.

Health & Human Services

Relating to the notice requirements following impoundment of an estray.

Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Relating to requirements for county mutual insurance companies.

Business & Commerce

Relating to the regulation of commercial fertilizer.

Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Military Preparedness Commission.

Government Organization

Relating to regional participation agreements.

Intergovernmental Relations

Relating to participation in, contributions to, and the benefits and administration of retirement systems for police officers in certain municipalities.

State Affairs

Relating to the regulation of massage parlors by certain counties; providing penalties.

Criminal Justice

Relating to an interim study of recreational boating safety in Texas.

Administration

Relating to the regulation of certain consumer transactions involving plumbing, air conditioning, and electrical services.

Business & Commerce

Relating to the use of information and records acquired during a fatality review and investigation.

Jurisprudence

Relating to plan qualification provisions for the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.

State Affairs

Relating to the sale of glassware and nonalcoholic beverages by certain wholesalers and distributors.

Business & Commerce

Relating to the education and preparation of resident physicians.

Higher Education

Relating to public school prekindergarten classes.

Education

Relating to standards for installing fire hydrants in certain residential areas.

Natural Resources

Relating to the powers of certain development corporations related to Hurricane Ike disaster relief and to the validation of certain governmental acts or proceedings of counties affected by Hurricane Ike.

Intergovernmental Relations

Relating to the powers and duties of the Hopkins County Hospital District.

Intergovernmental Relations

Committee re-referral on the following:

Relating to the disclosure of certain payments or other transfers of value by manufacturers of prescription drugs, medical devices, and medical supplies; providing a penalty.

Re-referred from State Affairs to Health & Human Services