SENATE FLOOR ACTION

Thursday

April 30, 2009

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

Proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the issuance of additional general obligation bonds by the Texas Water Development Board.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the operation of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association and the Texas FAIR Plan Association; making an appropriation.

3 Floor Amendments

Relating to the offense of failing to secure a child passenger in a motor vehicle and to fines for the offense.

Relating to the application of new requirements for commercial underground injection control wells to be adopted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Relating to the regulation of the practice of dental assistants, including the delegation of certain dental acts.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to a requirement that the board of directors of an appraisal district develop a plan for reappraising property after a natural disaster.

Relating to the ability of electric utilities to provide electric service during a major power outage.

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to proof of identification to purchase an alcoholic beverage.

Relating to the administration of psychoactive medications to persons receiving services in a residential care facility.

Relating to the use of restraints in state schools.

Relating to the appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes of land used for wildlife management.

Relating to the collection and allocation of local sales and use taxes.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to optional annuity increases for certain retirees and beneficiaries of the Texas Municipal Retirement System.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to authorizing certain counties and municipalities to regulate land development; providing a penalty.

Relating to the coordination of the planning, construction, operation, and maintenance of a statewide passenger rail system by the Texas Department of Transportation.

Relating to certain corrective actions by the Texas Board of Nursing, including a pilot program on deferred disciplinary action; providing corrective actions.

Relating to the authority of a community health center to contract with or employ an optometrist or therapeutic optometrist.

Relating to the regulation of certain boarding houses and assisted living facilities; providing penalties.

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to the establishment of a shared database for deer breeder reporting requirements.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the reporting and handling of unclaimed property.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to covenants not to compete by physicians.

Relating to practices and procedures in child abuse and neglect cases.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the establishment of the official citrus producers' pest and disease management corporation; providing penalties.

Relating to the licensing and regulation of genetic counselors; providing penalties.

Relating to the terms of members of the governing board of junior college districts.

Relating to the construction of nonsubstantive codifications and revisions of statutes.

Relating to the establishment of a centralized sex offender registration authority in certain counties in this state.

Relating to access to precinct conventions by the elderly and persons with physical disabilities.

Relating to determining a student's eligibility for a school district's special education program on the basis of the student's visual impairment.

Relating to the compulsory inspection of motor vehicles; providing penalties.

Relating to the booting of vehicles by private entities in parking facilities; providing penalties.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the appointment of counsel for the purposes of community supervision revocation or appellate proceedings.

Relating to certain reporting duties of the attorney general and the Department of Aging and Disability Service.

Relating to financial assistance by the Texas Water Development Board for the connection of residences in economically distressed areas to public water supply and sanitary sewer systems.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the curriculum that must be provided by a disciplinary alternative education program.

Relating to the creation of the Gray County Municipal Utility District No. 1; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting a limited power of eminent domain.

Relating to the dissolution of the Ballinger Memorial Hospital District and the North Runnels County Hospital District and the creation of the Runnels County Hospital District; granting the authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting the power of eminent domain.

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

Relating to the national research university fund and the allocation of amounts appropriated from the fund, the abolition of the higher education fund, and the institutional groupings established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

2 Floor Amendments

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

Relating to informed consent to an abortion.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the regulation and certification of medical examiners and the conduct of autopsy and inquest investigations by justices of the peace and medical examiners; providing penalties.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to changing the name of the Railroad Commission of Texas to the Texas Energy Commission.

Relating to the issuance of "Choose Life" license plates and the creation of the Choose Life account in the general revenue fund.

Relating to the authorization of airport authorities and the issuance of bonds and the exercise of eminent domain by the authorities.

The Senate adopted the following resolutions:

Welcoming the Texas Association of Fairs and Events delegation to the State Capitol.

Recognizing the centennial anniversary of the Twentieth Century Club of Lubbock.

Recognizing Ballet Lubbock on the occasion of its 40th anniversary.

In memory of Manuel Benavidez, Jr.

The following bills were passed on the Local and Uncontested Bills Calendar:

Supporting the establishment of a veterans' hospital in the city of El Paso.

Relating to tuition exemptions at public institutions of higher education for certain students who volunteer for outreach programs.

Relating to training for employees and operators of certain child-care facilities.

Relating to insurance coverage for certain devices that facilitate insulin therapy and enhance glucose control in the treatment of diabetes.

Relating to the participation of the medical school at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso in the Joint Admission Medical Program.

Relating to the sale or transportation of certain desert plants; providing a penalty.

Relating to a manifest system to record the transportation of certain liquid wastes.

Relating to the sale of instructional materials to students of public institutions of higher education.

Relating to the interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications.

Relating to fees charged by a justice of the peace for certain documents in a criminal case.

Relating to the statute of limitations for a misdemeanor.

Relating to the compilation, maintenance, and release of information in a criminal street gang intelligence database by law enforcement agencies and criminal justice agencies.

Relating to birth records of adopted children.

Relating to the civil consequences of certain convictions on a person who holds a commercial driver's license and of certain adjudications on the driver's license or permit of a child.

Relating to a notification requirement if a counselor is not assigned to a public school campus.

Relating to the creation of the Waller County Municipal Utility District No. 9; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting a limited power of eminent domain.

Relating to the creation of the Caldwell County Municipal Utility District No. 1; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting a limited power of eminent domain.

Relating to the determination of the value of property for ad valorem tax purposes.

Relating to authority of a school district to mail a tax bill with an adopted rate that is higher than the district's rollback tax rate before the date of a rollback election.

Relating to the name, powers, and duties of the Northampton Municipal Utility District; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds.

Relating to the creation of the Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 478; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting a limited power of eminent domain.

Relating to the screening of newborns for sickle-cell trait and other disorders by the Department of State Health Services.

Relating to protocol for folding the state flag.

Relating to the liability of a landowner for an act or omission of a firefighter or peace officer on the property of the landowner.

Relating to a waiver of fees imposed for certain expunctions.

Relating to admonishments given to a person charged with a misdemeanor.

Relating to the regulation of heir finders by the Texas Private Security Board; providing penalties.

Relating to the functions of the statewide health coordinating council; providing civil penalties.

Relating to the disposition of surplus data processing equipment of a university system or an institution or agency of higher education.

Relating to notice of acceptance or rejection of an insurance claim.

Relating to the creation of the Van Alstyne Municipal Utility District No. 1 of Grayson County; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting a limited power of eminent domain.

Relating to an alcohol awareness component of the health curriculum used in public schools.

Relating to forfeiture of remedy for nonpayment of ad valorem taxes.

Relating to the deadlines for commencement and completion of the Lake Columbia reservoir project.

Relating to the administration of the compensation to victims of crime fund and the compensation to victims of crime auxiliary fund.

Relating to the use of public facilities as emergency shelters during disasters.

Relating to benefits payable under certain health coverages.

Relating to delivery of certain services through consumer direction to elderly persons and persons with disabilities.

Relating to veteran's employment preferences.

Relating to the eligibility of nonprofit organizations that partner with certain schools to receive grants for agricultural projects.

Relating to the conduct of investigations, prepayment reviews, and payment holds in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse in the provision of health and human services.

Relating to the liability of an electric utility that allows recreational use of land that the utility owns, occupies, or leases.

Relating to the issuance of certain permits for overweight vehicles.

Relating to the trapping and transport of surplus white-tailed deer.

Relating to the titling and registration of certain motor vehicles.

Relating to the acceptance of durable powers of attorney by third parties.

Relating to the reporting of certain confidential statements made to a mental health professional.

Relating to motor vehicle registration fees.

Relating to the powers of a recreation district board in a county with frontage on the Guadalupe and Comal Rivers.

Relating to the transfer of certain state property from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to Mitchell County.

Relating to the creation of a district court records technology fund.

Relating to the authority and policies and procedures of the Dallas County Hospital District with regard to appointing, contracting for, or employing physicians, dentists, and other health care providers.

Relating to rules adopted and reporting required under the school district college credit program.

Relating to the terms of student members of certain Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board advisory committees.

Relating to the employment and commissioning of law enforcement personnel to provide security services to certain educational institutions.

Relating to a study by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of methods for disposing of unused pharmaceuticals so that they do not enter a wastewater system.

Relating to the disposal of certain exhibits used in criminal proceedings in certain counties.

Relating to the use of an offender identification card or similar form of identification as proof of identity for an applicant for a driver's license or commercial driver's license.

Relating to the regulation of driver's licenses and personal identification certificates by the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas, including enforcement measures against fictitious or fraudulently obtained licenses or certificates; providing a criminal penalty.

Relating to the filing by political committees of reports of political contributions and expenditures in connection with a runoff election.

Relating to methods for increasing student success and degree completion at institutions of higher education.

Relating to orientation programs for new students at public institutions of higher education.

Relating to liens for certain veterinary care charges for large animals.

Relating to the method of delivery of notices relating to sworn complaints filed with the Texas Ethics Commission.

Relating to notification sent by the Texas Ethics Commission to certain persons regarding deadlines to file reports.

Relating to notice to a life insurer of an adverse claim to policy proceeds by a person with a bona fide legal claim.

Relating to the exception from required public disclosure of certain appraisal district records.

Relating to the idling of motor vehicles.

Relating to the administration and powers of a coordinated county transportation authority.

Relating to the temporary suspension of certain signage restrictions during a state of disaster.

Relating to creating a recognition day in honor of Vietnam veterans.

Relating to disclosure of certain information by a property owners' association.

Relating to the requirements for recording a property owners' association management certificate.

Relating to business leave time accounts for firefighter employee organizations in certain municipalities.

Relating to eligibility to hold the office of notary public.

Relating to the North Wheeler County Hospital District.

Relating to the persons entitled to redeem property after the foreclosure of a property owners' association's assessment lien.

Relating to the composition and voting procedures of the Comal County Juvenile Board.

Relating to a monument dedicated to members of the armed forces from this state who died in combat.

Relating to publication of notice for certain transactions involving local governmental entities.

Relating to the designation of a judicial district in Harris County as the district court for domestic violence cases in that county.

Relating to public school students placed in substitute care.

Relating to the administration of mathematics, science, and technology teacher preparation academies at institutions of higher education.

Relating to the dedication of certain civil penalties for violations of the Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act to provide civil legal services to the indigent.

Relating to the submission of groundwater management plans to the executive administrator of the Texas Water Development Board.

Relating to the preservation and maintenance of the Governor's Mansion.

Relating to the classification of certain types of marital property in regards to claims for payment of a criminal restitution judgment.

Relating to authorizing individuals to leave certain permitted premises and other areas with alcoholic beverages.

Relating to contracts for the disposal of dredged material from a portion of the Gulf Coast Intracoastal Waterway.

Relating to information regarding the relative or designated caregivers for a child in the managing conservatorship of the state.

Relating to obsolete or redundant reporting requirements applicable to health and human services agencies.

Relating to the creation of the Twin Lakes Municipal Utility District No. 1 of Kaufman County; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting a limited power of eminent domain.

Relating to the authority of Las Lomas Municipal Utility Districts Nos. 3 and 4 of Kaufman County to undertake road projects.

Relating to the authority of the Kaufman County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 to undertake road projects.

Relating to the location at which a certification examination for interpreters for the deaf or hard of hearing may be conducted.

Relating to preferences of certain district courts in Tarrant County.

Relating to the creation of the Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 495; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting a limited power of eminent domain.

Relating to the creation of the Brush Country Groundwater Conservation District; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds.

Relating to the creation of the Brazoria County Municipal Utility District No. 65; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting a limited power of eminent domain.

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

Relating to the Parklands Municipal Utility District No. 1; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting a limited power of eminent domain.

Relating to the authority of the Harris-Montgomery Counties Municipal Utility District No. 386, formerly known as Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 386, to issue bonds supported by ad valorem taxes to finance recreational facilities.

Relating to eligibility requirements to serve as a member of the board of directors of the Bee Groundwater Conservation District.

Relating to the creation of the North Texas Groundwater Conservation District; providing authority to issue bonds.

Relating to the name and confirmation of, and to certain fees imposed by, the McLennan County Groundwater Conservation District.

Relating to the Clear Creek Watershed Authority.

Relating to the possession and consumption of wine on the premises of a mixed beverage or private club permittee; providing for separate statement of the mixed beverage tax.

Relating to designation of Midwestern State University as a public liberal arts university.

Relating to the date for electing directors of the Goliad County Groundwater Conservation District.

Relating to health benefit plan coverage for certain prosthetic devices, orthotic devices, and related services.

Relating to plans by local governments in coastal areas for reducing public expenditures for erosion and storm damage losses to public and private property.

Relating to the designation by the commissioner of the General Land Office of critical coastal erosion areas for purposes of the coastal erosion response plan.

Relating to the powers of certain freight rail districts.

Relating to the supervision by the Texas Department of Transportation of money appropriated by the federal government for the construction and maintenance of rail facilities.

Relating to the authority of the Lower Neches Valley Authority to acquire, own, operate, maintain, and improve the Devers Canal System, its water rights, and associated property.

The following bills were removed from the Local and Uncontested Bills Calendar:

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

Relating to the power of a licensing authority to revoke, suspend, or deny a license on the basis of certain criminal proceedings.

Relating to posttrial psychological counseling for jurors in a criminal trial or juvenile adjudication hearing involving graphic evidence or testimony.

Relating to the composition of the jury in certain adjudication hearings in juvenile court.

Relating to the seizure and destruction of certain plants.

Relating to the issuance and execution of agriculture warrants; creating an offense.

Relating to the use of hazardous and solid waste remediation fee funds for lead-acid battery recycling activities.

Relating to the regulation of nursing.

Relating to the authority of the state to acquire, sell, or exchange certain land.

Relating to regional participation agreements.

Relating to the degrees awarded by the Texas State Technical College System.

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

Relating to eligibility requirements for the tuition equalization grant program.

Relating to memorial monuments on the Capitol grounds, including the Tejano monument.

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

Relating to the management and control of certain utility systems.

Relating to the use by a metropolitan rapid transit authority of the construction manager-at-risk method for the construction, rehabilitation, alteration, or repair of a facility.

Relating to the authority of the General Land Office to undertake coastal erosion studies and projects in conjunction with qualified project partners.

Committee referral on the following:

Relating to the governing body of the Willacy County Navigation District.

International Relations & Trade

Relating to the board of directors of the Kenedy County Groundwater Conservation District.

International Relations & Trade

Committee re-referral on the following:

Relating to the appellate process for the community development block grant program.

Re-referred from Economic Development to Agriculture & Rural Affairs