SENATE FLOOR ACTION

Tuesday

April 28, 2009

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

Relating to ad valorem taxation.

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to tuition exemptions at public institutions of higher education for students enrolled in certain interinstitutional academic programs.

Relating to modifications, adjustments, and reimbursements under the public school finance system and contract delegation authority for a school district located in a disaster area.

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to the Texas emerging technology fund.

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to the creation of the Fort Bend-Waller Counties Municipal Utility District No. 2; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting a limited power of eminent domain.

Relating to creating an online resource center for individuals handling child abuse and neglect cases.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the creation, administration, financing, and use of a Texas Transportation Revolving Fund; granting the authority to issue bonds.

3 Floor Amendments

Relating to the establishment of an advisory committee to assist the Texas Water Development Board in incorporating the potential effects of climate variability into the state water plan.

Relating to the consideration of the effects of climate variability on water supplies in regional and state water plans.

Relating to the delay of retail electric competition in the areas of the state covered by the Southeastern Electric Reliability Council and to the recovery of certain transmission costs by electric utilities in those areas.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the authority of certain transportation and transit authorities to enforce compliance with high occupancy vehicle lane restrictions by an automated enforcement system; providing for the imposition of penalties.

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to the monitoring and oversight of certain public retirement systems and public investments; providing civil penalties.

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to the creation of three additional county courts at law in Bexar County.

Relating to state purchasing of certain environmentally friendly items.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to requiring criminal history background checks for employees of public institutions of higher education.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the authority of owners and managers of apartment houses to assess a service charge for the submetering of water and wastewater services.

Relating to consideration of mitigating factors in determining appropriate disciplinary action to be taken against a public school student.

Relating to compensation of certain state employees.

Relating to the functions of the Texas School Safety Center and safety and security at public educational institutions.

4 Floor Amendments

Relating to the creation of the Country Place Management District; providing authority to impose an assessment, impose a tax, and issue bonds.

Relating to the powers of the North Fort Bend Water Authority.

Relating to the board of directors of the Greater East End Management District.

Relating to the creation of the Red River Groundwater Conservation District; providing authority to issue bonds; granting the power of eminent domain.

1 Committee Amendment

Relating to a qualified privilege of a journalist not to testify.

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

Relating to the persons exempted from the required prepayment of the personnel costs incurred by a governmental body in responding to requests from a requestor under the public information law that require large amounts of personnel time.

The Senate refused to suspend the regular order to consider:

Relating to the right of certain counties to maintain local control over wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment.

The Senate adopted the following resolutions:

In memory of Frederick Martin Baron.

Recognizing April 28, 2009, as Williamson County Day.

Recognizing April 28, 2009, as Texas Juvenile Probation Day.

Recognizing James Langford on the occasion of his retirement from the Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Companies in Waco.

Designating May 12, 2009, as Mary Kay Ash Day in the State of Texas.

Commending Tommy Nobis for his many notable achievements, in his remarkable football career with The University of Texas Longhorns and the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL.

Committee referral on the following:

Relating to the creation of the Driftwood Economic Development Municipal Management District; providing authority to impose a tax.

Intergovernmental Relations

Relating to the regulation of property tax consultants.

Finance

Committee re-referral on the following:

Relating to the creation of the Comal County Water Control and Improvement District No. 6; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting a limited power of eminent domain.

Re-referred from Intergovernmental Relations to Natural Resources

Relating to the creation of the Comal County Water Control and Improvement District No. 5; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting a limited power of eminent domain.

Re-referred from Intergovernmental Relations to Natural Resources