SENATE FLOOR ACTION

Tuesday

May 26, 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; authorizing the legislature to authorize a single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities that elect to provide for consolidated equalizations; and authorizing the legislature to provide for the administration and enforcement of uniform standards and procedures for appraisal of property for ad valorem tax purposes.

Relating to measures to enhance and maintain the quality of state universities, including funding and incentives to support emerging public research universities in developing and maintaining programs of the highest tier, to the abolition of the higher education fund, and to the institutional groupings under the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's accountability system.

4 Floor Amendments

Relating to an offense of using a wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle.

1 Committee Amendment

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to the prosecution of the offense of barratry and solicitation of professional employment.

1 Committee Amendment

Relating to course credit for certain students at a public institution of higher education.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to an exemption from jury service for certain persons with legal custody of a child.

Relating to the seizure of the circuit board of a gambling device or equipment, altered gambling equipment, or gambling paraphernalia.

Relating to use of the money from the Texas Enterprise Fund to benefit small businesses.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the preparation by the Legislative Budget Board of a dynamic fiscal impact statement for certain bills and joint resolutions affecting taxes and fees.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to programs to provide student loan repayment assistance for certain correctional officers and for certain speech-language pathologists and audiologists.

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to payment of attorney's fees in certain actions to recover possession of real property.

Relating to violations of laws administered and enforced by the Texas Ethics Commission and to sworn complaints alleging such violations.

Relating to Gonzales Healthcare Systems.

Relating to polling places for certain elections.

Relating to inclusion of pets and other companion animals in protective orders; providing a penalty.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the authority of certain counties to regulate the installation and use of lighting in certain areas.

Relating to the determination of the market value of a residence homestead for purposes of ad valorem taxation.

Relating to the membership of the board of managers for certain emergency communication districts.

Relating to the date by which the comptroller must certify the apportioned amount of the market value of railroad rolling stock to a county assessor-collector.

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

3 Floor Amendments

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

Relating to the use of certain terms by certificated telecommunications utilities, retail electric providers, and electric utilities in retail bills.

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to the voluntary assessment of property owners by a municipality to finance certain energy conservation improvements.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the creation of the Brazoria County Municipal Utility District No. 64; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting a limited power of eminent domain.

Relating to certain registration requirements imposed on sex offenders.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the physician education loan repayment program.

Relating to creating the offense of continuous violence against the family.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to tuition and laboratory fee exemptions at public institutions of higher education for certain peace officers enrolled in criminal justice or law enforcement management-related course work.

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to trusts.

Relating to the length of time certain property acquired by a charitable organization to provide low-income housing may be exempted from ad valorem taxation.

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to the powers and duties of and benefits available under the Employees Retirement System of Texas.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the production and taxation of renewable diesel fuel.

1 Floor Amendment

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

Relating to the creation of the Smith Road Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 of Jefferson County; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting levee and flood hazard mitigation powers; granting the power of eminent domain.

Relating to independent audits of insurer financial statements and insurer internal controls.

6 Floor Amendments

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

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to authorizing the Department of State Health Services to obtain criminal history record information for certain applicants for employment.

3 Floor Amendments

Relating to the regulation of land use to ensure compatible development with military facilities in certain counties.

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to authorizing an increase in the student union fee at the University of Houston.

Relating to municipal registration of vacant buildings in certain counties; providing a penalty.

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to the disposition of vehicles by a local government participating in a program designed to encourage the use of low-emission vehicles.

Relating to the use of a parking space or area designated specifically for persons with disabilities.

Relating to authorizing the transfer of certain real property held by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Relating to the applicability of certain laws to open-enrollment charter schools.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the offense of prohibited substances and items in correctional facilities.

Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.

3 Floor Amendments

Relating to the jurisdiction of criminal law hearing officers in Cameron County.

Relating to authorizing the Texas Board of Criminal Justice to convey certain real property to the City of Dallas in exchange for comparable property.

Relating to requirements governing registration and authorized activities of certain lobbyists.

Relating to the administration of certain county services and duties, including the administration of county assistance districts.

5 Floor Amendments

Relating to public school finance.

14 Floor Amendments

Relating to certain competitive scholarship recipients at public institutions of higher education.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to safety rules for certain pipeline facilities and public awareness.

Relating to operations fees and child support service fees assessed by domestic relations offices.

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to the Parker County Utility District No. 1.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the preservation of a record in a proceeding in a municipal court of record in Austin.

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

Relating to the powers and financing of the Brazoria County Groundwater Conservation District.

Relating to territory included in, and the validation of acts of, the Harris County Improvement District No. 10 and the Harris County Improvement District No. 10B; changing the name of the Harris County Improvement District No. 10B.

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

Relating to the Dallas County Utility and Reclamation District.

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

Relating to a pilot project to exchange secure electronic health information between the Health and Human Services Commission and local or regional health information exchanges.

12 Floor Amendments

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

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

Relating to the Texas Economic Development Act.

1 Committee Amendment

The Senate reconsidered the vote on final passage, read third time, and again finally passed:

Proposing a constitutional amendment to prohibit the taking of property for transfer to a private entity for certain purposes.

1 Floor Amendment

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

Relating to making supplemental appropriations and reductions in appropriations and giving direction and adjustment authority and prescribing limitations regarding appropriations.

The Senate adopted the following resolutions:

Recognizing SOCIALIFE News Magazine for its many contributions to the Rio Grande Valley community and to the charitable organizations of our state and country.

Congratulating Candelario Barragan for receiving the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award.

Memorializing Congress to cease and desist attempting to enact federal legislation impinging on the individual right of every American to keep and bear arms and urging Congress to oppose passage of the Blair Holt's Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009.

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

Memorializing the U.S. Congress to maintain the Federal Family Education Loan Program.

Relating to the review of information technology systems used by a state agency for compatibility with open standards.

Relating to the regulation of certain insurers.

Relating to the waiver of sovereign immunity from certain suits by certain municipalities.

Relating to persons eligible to be appointed as a receiver for certain mineral interests.

Relating to requirements for expedited credentialing of certain physicians by managed care plans.

Relating to the use of auction proceeds from the sale of certain abandoned motor vehicles to compensate certain property owners.

Relating to the removal of an appointed emergency services district board member by a county commissioners court.

Relating to civil liability for the trafficking of persons.

Relating to the impoundment of certain motor vehicles involved in the commission of the offense of racing on a highway.

1 Committee Amendment

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

Relating to the establishment of the Legislative Committee on Aging and other initiatives relating to the aging population of this state.

Relating to the participation of this state in the Southern High-Speed Rail Compact.

Relating to certain services provided by the office of injured employee counsel under the workers' compensation program of this state.

1 Committee Amendment

Relating to the provision of services to certain individuals with developmental disabilities by a state school or state center.

Relating to eligibility for assignment as a visiting judge.

Relating to the disposition of property alleged to have been illegally acquired and to the use of the photographic evidence of that property in a criminal action.

Relating to the abolition of the Texas Incentive and Productivity Commission and the state employee incentive program.

Relating to the Sweeny Hospital District.

Relating to providing municipalities and counties access to criminal history record information for sexually oriented business license applicants.

Relating to the appeal of ad valorem tax determinations.

Relating to notice provided to certain victims or witnesses regarding certain inmates or defendants who are electronically monitored.

Relating to the course levels offered by the University of Houston-Victoria.

Relating to information required on pharmacy benefit cards.

1 Committee Amendment

Relating to the appointment of election judges.

Relating to the eligibility of certain peace officers and firefighters for legislative leave.

Relating to the court-ordered administration of psychoactive medication to certain criminal defendants.

Relating to requiring the posting of notice of voter complaint information at a polling place.

Relating to the information about certain candidates required to be filed with the secretary of state.

Relating to the requirements for voter registration.

Relating to procedures concerning verification of certain information submitted in a voter registration application.

Relating to the contents of an application for probate of a written will.

Relating to the operation and regulation of charitable bingo and the use of bingo proceeds.

Relating to the addition of territory to and the amount of production fees imposed by the Trinity Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District.

Relating to the appointment of additional official court reporters for the district courts in Nueces County.

Relating to the rules governing a motion for new trial in juvenile cases.

Relating to a recognition week to celebrate Texas native plants.

Relating to review of certain license examinations for insurance agents.

Relating to the Internet broadcasting of Public Utility Commission of Texas and ERCOT public hearings and meetings.

Relating to the designation or appointment of registered agents for service of process, notice, or demand on certain entities or associations.

Relating to the disposition of cash in possession of a deceased pauper.

Relating to changing the name of the South Texas Health Care System to the Rio Grande State Center.

Relating to authorizing the conveyance of certain state real property from the Department of State Health Services to Hidalgo County for the provision of outpatient health care services or another public purpose.

Relating to the compensation of certain court administrators.

Relating to the payment for an appearance as a witness for certain peace officers and firefighters.

Relating to the liability of volunteer audiologists and speech-language pathologists who provide certain speech, language, and hearing evaluations.

Relating to the definition of sight order for purposes of prosecuting certain criminal offenses.

Relating to electric service reliability measures.

Relating to the powers of a sheriff's department civil service commission in certain counties regarding an appeal of a disciplinary action.

Relating to the timing of a referendum election to continue a fire control, prevention, and emergency medical services district.

Relating to possession by certain alcoholic beverage permit holders of certain alcoholic beverages for cooking purposes.

Relating to the abolition of the Texas cultural endowment fund.

Relating to the use of state hotel occupancy tax revenue to clean and maintain beaches in certain municipalities.

Relating to regulating employment at or by certain facilities serving the elderly or persons with disabilities and to certain acts committed against those individuals.

Relating to the punishment for the offense of prohibited sexual conduct.

Relating to requirements for county mutual insurance companies.

Relating to the administration of programs by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs in response to or in preparation for a natural disaster.

Relating to taking a deposition of an elderly or disabled victim of or witness to an offense.

Relating to the adoption of a nonsubstantive revision of provisions of the Texas Probate Code relating to decedents' estates and the redesignation of certain other provisions of the Texas Probate Code, including conforming amendments and repeals.

Relating to certain requirements applicable to certain public contracts.

Relating to the use of a description of employment in determining the safety and appropriateness of a return to employment by an injured employee.

Relating to digital or electronic signatures and witness signatures on advance directives.

Relating to the nonsubstantive revision of certain local laws concerning special districts, including conforming amendments.

1 Committee Amendment

Relating to a program to designate historic roads and highways in this state.

Relating to the quasi-judicial enforcement of certain health and safety ordinances.

Relating to the transfer of certain state property from the Department of Aging and Disability Services to the Veterans' Land Board.

Relating to the licensing and regulation of certain persons involved in residential mortgage lending; providing a penalty.

Relating to the regulation of certain mortgage banker employees who are residential mortgage loan originators; providing penalties.

Relating to the salary of a Duval County Juvenile Board member.

Relating to the salary of a Starr County Juvenile Board member.

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

Relating to the expansion of the boundaries of the Cibolo Creek Municipal Authority.

Relating to the powers and duties of the Reagan Hospital District.

Relating to the mandatory testing of persons suspected of exposing employees of a juvenile probation department to certain diseases.

Relating to a comprehensive schedule of public school reporting requirements.

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

Relating to the transfer of municipal property to economic development corporations by certain municipalities.

Relating to the use by certain municipalities of hotel occupancy tax revenue for the construction of a recreational venue near hotels.

Relating to the eligibility of certain nonprofit wildlife conservation associations to conduct charitable raffles.

Relating to authorizing the transfer of certain abandoned or forfeited property to groundwater conservation districts.

Relating to taking or attempting to take a weapon from a commissioned security officer.

Relating to telephone or electronic mail notification to a respondent of a complaint filed with the Texas Ethics Commission.

Relating to plan qualification provisions for and certain health insurance deductions under the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.

Relating to the collection, dissemination, and correction of certain judicial determinations for a federal firearm background check.

Relating to a temporary faculty license for chiropractic faculty.

Relating to the selection, duties, and compensation of a presiding criminal judge in Travis County.

Relating to the establishment of the Texas Nursery and Floral Advisory Council and the promotion of Texas nursery and floral industries.

Relating to acknowledgements required of a purchaser of residential real property in connection with the receipt of a seller's disclosure notice regarding the property.

Relating to designating October as Hydrocephalus Awareness Month.

Relating to the authority of a county clerk to electronically send certain financial statement forms.

Relating to covenants not to compete by physicians.

Relating to deadlines regarding certain preauthorization requests affecting workers' compensation health care networks.

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

Relating to a policy regarding the receipt of books by mail by an inmate in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Relating to the documents that are required for the transfer of a defendant from a county to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Relating to exemptions from the requirement to hold a license to practice physical therapy.

Relating to the conditions of bond for a defendant charged with committing certain offenses against a child and to the denial of bail pending trial with respect to certain defendants who violate those conditions.

Relating to regulation of prepaid funeral benefits.

Relating to the per diem for members of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

Relating to the authority of the governor or a political subdivision to suspend statutory or local deadlines during a disaster.

Relating to testing liquefied petroleum gas systems in certain school facilities.

Relating to a title insurance company affidavit as a release of lien.

Relating to the funding of the statewide wildfire protection plan at the Texas Forest Service.

Relating to the period during which a judicial candidate or officeholder may accept political contributions.

1 Committee Amendment

Relating to sealing court records containing medical information for children who are victims of certain offenses.

Relating to certification of an educator in Texas who is certified in another state or country.

Relating to retrospective utilization review and utilization review to determine the experimental or investigational nature of a health care service.

Relating to access to certain criminal history record information maintained by the Department of Public Safety.

Relating to the licensing of certain nurses who will practice in border counties.

Relating to the registration with the Texas Department of Insurance of certain contract examiners.

Relating to revenue sources for certain venue projects.

Relating to the authority of the Baytown Municipal Development District to use sales tax revenue to promote new or expanded business development.

Relating to a study regarding insurance coverage of prescription drugs provided under a health benefit plan.

Relating to continuity of care services or mental health commitment proceedings for youth with mental illness or mental retardation who are transferred, discharged, or paroled from the Texas Youth Commission.

Relating to crime victim information in a criminal judgment.

Relating to "Welcome to Texas" signs on highways entering Texas and to the placement of Texas flags at international ports-of-entry.

Relating to annuities registered under the Securities Act of 1933.

Relating to contracts awarded through competitive bidding by certain port and harbor facilities.

Relating to regulation of certain areas bordering on Falcon Lake and the Rio Grande River.

Relating to the Jim Solis Outpatient Clinic.

Relating to the operation of the Bexar County Juvenile Board.

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

Relating to the powers and duties of the Sienna Plantation Management District; providing authority to impose a fee or issue bonds.

Relating to the authority of the Williamson County Municipal Utility District No. 21 to extend the time limit for holding a confirmation and initial directors' election and to divide into two districts.

Relating to the creation of the Kaufman County Parks Improvement District; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; providing penalties.

Designating Paluxysaurus jonesi as the official Lone Star State Dinosaur, replacing Brachiosaur Sauropod, Pleurocoelus.

Designating the American quarter horse as the official State Horse of Texas.

Designating the Burton Cotton Gin & Museum as the official Cotton Gin Museum of Texas.

Memorializing Congress to refine Department of Homeland Security policy to consider risk levels as well as population size in assessing the financial needs of first responders in border communities along the international boundary created by the Rio Grande.

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

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

Relating to the use of a tanning facility device by a minor.

Relating to indigent health care services that may be provided by a county.

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 sale or purchase of certain parts of game animals or birds.

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

Relating to the public awareness campaign promoting higher education and to additional financial aid for higher education.

Relating to the minimum salary that must be paid to county court at law judges in Hidalgo County.