SENATE FLOOR ACTION

Wednesday

May 13, 2009

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

Relating to the requirement that state agencies purchase low-emissions vehicles as a minimum percentage of their purchased vehicles.

Relating to applications regarding the issuance of private activity bonds by certain governmental entities for projects with multiple sites.

Relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of property owned by certain charitable organizations.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the creation of two additional county courts at law in Hidalgo County.

Relating to the promotion and marketing of alcoholic beverages.

Relating to the creation of an additional county court at law in Kaufman County.

Relating to state fiscal matters.

4 Floor Amendments

Relating to public school accountability, curriculum, and promotion requirements.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the applicability of certain city requirements affecting the restraint of certain dogs on annexed or otherwise acquired property used for agricultural operations.

Relating to classifying elk and elk hybrids as livestock under the Agriculture Code.

Relating to licensing of escrow officers.

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

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

Relating to the amount of the annual water quality fee imposed on holders of wastewater discharge permits and on users of water.

Relating to the theft of a military grave marker.

Relating to money available for consumer incentive or rebate programs for alternatively fueled appliances or equipment.

Relating to judicial instruction for judges who hear complaints against children alleging violations of certain misdemeanor offenses.

Relating to the use of laser sighting devices by hunters who have certain documented disabilities.

Relating to the Irion County Water Conservation District.

Relating to a diabetes self-management training pilot program under the state Medicaid program.

Relating to the reporting of certain inventories for ad valorem tax purposes; providing penalties.

Relating to the establishment of a workgroup to study and make recommendations on the integration of health and behavioral health services.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to appraisal review board members.

Relating to a specialty insurance agent license for certain vendors of portable electronic devices.

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

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

Relating to education and examination requirements for the issuance of a driver's license to certain persons.

Relating to a uniform and statewide 9-1-1 emergency services fee on the retail sale of prepaid wireless telecommunications services to consumers.

The Senate suspended the regular order and postponed to time certain:

Relating to the expansion of faith- and community-based health and human services and social services initiatives.

The Senate reconsidered the vote on final passage and postponed to time certain:

Relating to the imposition of a tax on the gross receipts from admissions fees charged by sexually oriented businesses.

The Senate adopted the following resolutions:

Congratulating the members of The Nightcaps on their 50th year in show business.

The Senate voted to return the nomination of Shanda Gillaspie (Board of Pardons and Paroles) to the Nominations Committee by a vote of 27 yeas, 4 nays.

The Senate confirmed all other nominees as reported by the Committee on Nominations.

Committee referral on the following:

Granting Gulf Energy Exploration Corp. permission to sue the Railroad Commission of Texas.

Jurisprudence

Relating to reauthorization of small business incentive program.

Business & Commerce

Proposing a constitutional amendment to limit the public taking of private property.

State Affairs

Proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit conservation and reclamation districts in Hays and Chambers Counties to issue bonds supported by ad valorem taxes to fund the development and maintenance of parks and recreational facilities.

Finance

Proposing a constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to provide for members of a governing board of an emergency services district to serve terms not to exceed four years.

Intergovernmental Relations

Proposing a constitutional amendment to protect the right of the public to access and use public beaches.

Natural Resources

Proposing a constitutional amendment to allow an officer or enlisted member of the Texas State Guard or other state militia or military force to hold other civil offices.

State Affairs

Proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the financing, including through tax increment financing, of the acquisition by municipalities and counties of buffer areas or open spaces adjacent to a military installation for certain purposes.

S/C on Base Realignment and Closure

Relating to design, construction, and renovation standards for state buildings and facilities.

Government Organization

Relating to expansion of the electronic eligibility information pilot project operated by the Health and Human Services Commission.

Health & Human Services

Relating to the jurisdiction of statutory county courts.

Jurisprudence

Relating to mediation orders in certain arbitration proceedings.

Jurisprudence

Relating to the regulation of freestanding emergency medical care facilities; providing an administrative penalty; creating an offense.

Health & Human Services

Relating to the offense of cruelty to nonlivestock animals.

Criminal Justice

Relating to rulemaking and performance assessments of certain state agencies.

State Affairs

Relating to limited agricultural cooperatives; providing penalties.

Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Relating to tuition and laboratory fee exemptions at public institutions of higher education for certain volunteer firefighters enrolled in fire science courses.

Higher Education

Relating to persons certified as peace officers.

Criminal Justice

Relating to mediation of out-of-network health benefit claim disputes concerning enrollees, facility-based physicians, and certain health benefit plans; imposing an administrative penalty.

State Affairs

Relating to requirements regarding motor vehicle retail installment transactions.

Business & Commerce

Relating to insurance agent qualifications to sell certain products or product lines.

Business & Commerce

Relating to the floodplain management account.

Intergovernmental Relations

Relating to the composition of the board of trustees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.

State Affairs

Relating to contracts by governmental entities for professional services relating to geoscience and landscape architecture.

Administration

Relating to notice requirements for a county selling surplus or salvage property.

Intergovernmental Relations

Relating to the licensing and regulation of commercial dog and cat breeders and the regulation of dog and cat dealers; providing penalties.

Criminal Justice

Relating to venue for certain offenses committed at Texas Youth Commission facilities.

Criminal Justice

Relating to authorizing an emergency services district to impose an ad valorem tax for the acquisition of land, equipment, or apparatus or the construction of capital improvements.

Finance

Relating to an exemption from private security regulation for social workers engaged in the practice of social work.

Criminal Justice

Relating to certain charges included in a motor vehicle installment agreement.

Transportation & Homeland Security

Relating to creditable service in the Employees Retirement System of Texas and the transfer of that credit between classes of membership for certain state employees.

State Affairs

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

Administration

Relating to fees of office for directors of certain water districts.

Natural Resources

Relating to the confidentiality of information related to certified handgun instructors.

Criminal Justice

Relating to revenue sources for certain venue projects.

Economic Development

Committee re-referral on the following:

Relating to the reporting of felons incarcerated in Texas jails to federal authorities.

Re-referred from Criminal Justice to Transportation & Homeland Security