SENATE FLOOR ACTION

Saturday

May 30, 2009

The Senate adopted the following resolutions:

Designating the section of the Brazos River Basin and its contributing watershed in Somervell County as the Scenic Riverway of Somervell County.

Requesting the governor to appoint a Governor's Task Force on Horse and Greyhound Racing.

Urging the University of Houston and other institutions of higher education to cease displaying the flag of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and to replace it with the Freedom and Heritage Flag.

The Senate concurred in House amendments to the following:

Relating to the participation of students in funding awarded under the advanced research program.

Relating to limitations on the automatic admission of undergraduate students to general academic teaching institutions.

Relating to a prohibition against certain activities by a person employed in the financial aid office of a public institution of higher education or of a career school or college.

Relating to the requirement that licensed physicians provide emergency contact information to the Texas Medical Board and to the creation of the Texas Physician Health Program.

Relating to eliminating or modifying certain mandates on school districts.

Relating to the requirement that certain water service providers ensure emergency operations during an extended power outage.

Relating to the employment, powers, and duties of and procedures for matters referred to a statutory probate court judge or associate judge.

Relating to disclosure of the prices charged to state agencies in connection with pharmacy benefit manager services.

Relating to the determination of the value of property for ad valorem tax purposes, including appeals through binding arbitration of appraisal review board orders determining protests of property value determinations.

Relating to the duties of the interagency obesity council and the Department of Agriculture relating to health, wellness, and prevention of obesity.

Relating to a memorandum of understanding between the Texas Education Agency and the Department of Family and Protective Services addressing exchange of information regarding students in foster care.

Relating to an exemption from the sales and use tax for machinery and equipment used in an agricultural aircraft operation.

Relating to the creation and financing of public improvement districts.

Relating to the continuation and functions of the Office of State-Federal Relations and the administrative attachment of that agency to the office of the governor.

Relating to requirements regarding employer liability for certain group health benefit plan premiums.

Relating to protocol for folding the state flag.

Relating to refunds of and credits for certain sales and use taxes paid by certain exempt organizations.

Relating to the imposition and use of the municipal hotel occupancy tax by certain eligible central municipalities.

Relating to notice to students of a public institution of higher education of the required use of a portion of a student's tuition payments to provide student financial aid.

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

Relating to the formula funding for public institutions of higher education for certain credit hours that do not count toward a degree.

Relating to the appointment of attorneys ad litem.

Relating to orders and judgments rendered by associate judges in child support and child protection cases.

Relating to the authority of the governing body of a municipality or the commissioners court of a county to enter into an ad valorem tax abatement agreement.

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 and to the provision of power during a natural disaster or declared emergency.

Relating to the fees for certain license plates.

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.

Relating to the regulation of poultry facilities and poultry litter.

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

Relating to the dissemination of information regarding the cost of attending public and private institutions of higher education and regarding the availability of financial aid to assist in paying that cost.

Relating to revenue received from the provision of pay telephone service to inmates confined in facilities operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Relating to the grievance procedure for firefighters and police officers in certain municipalities.

Relating to adoption of a school district grading policy.

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

Relating to the issuance of state and local government securities, including the powers and duties of the Bond Review Board and the issuance of private activity bonds.

Relating to the authority of certain municipalities and counties to regulate platting requirements near an international border.

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

Relating to the East Montgomery County Improvement District.

Relating to the enforcement of rules by the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District and the Fort Bend Subsidence District; providing penalties.

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

Relating to the term of a reinvestment zone and to the assessment and payment of tax increments under the Tax Increment Financing Act.

Relating to an annual report by the Texas Fusion Center regarding criminal street gangs and gang-related crime.

Relating to the authority of a county or other local governmental entity to receive local sales tax information.

Relating to certain mass transit entities.

Relating to the appointment of a receiver to remedy hazardous properties.

Relating to a study of the feasibility of establishing separate reimbursement under the Medicaid vendor drug program for certain pharmacy care management services.

Relating to county participation in the enterprise zone program.

Relating to certain election practices and procedures; providing penalties.

Relating to the establishment of a strategy for reducing child abuse and neglect and improving child welfare.

Relating to the creation of and the powers of a comprehensive multimodal urban transportation authority, including the power to impose taxes, issue bonds, and exercise limited eminent domain authority.

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

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

The Senate granted the request for the appointment of a Conference Committee on the following:

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

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.

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.

Relating to the operation of certain health benefit plans through student health centers of certain institutions of higher education.

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

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

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

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

Relating to the acquisition by state agencies of low-emissions vehicles and vehicles using alternative fuels.

Relating to health benefit plan coverage for autism spectrum disorder.

Relating to county abatement and regulation of nuisances.

Relating to the establishment of incentives by this state for the implementation of certain projects to capture and sequester in geological formations carbon dioxide that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere.

Relating to the creation of a commission to investigate and prevent wrongful convictions.

Relating to the transportation of children in motor vehicles; creating an offense.

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

Relating to the authority of the Texas Education Agency to seek, accept, determine eligibility for, and distribute grants available for the benefit of public education.

Relating to certain costs used to fund drug court programs.

Relating to motor vehicle inspection stations that perform emissions inspections using only the onboard diagnostic system of inspected vehicles.

Relating to the making or acceptance of political contributions in certain office buildings owned by or leased to the state.

Relating to eligibility for assignment as a visiting judge.

Relating to the ad valorem taxation of a residence homestead that is rendered uninhabitable or unusable by a casualty or by wind or water damage.

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

Relating to a residential tenant's rights and remedies after certain determinations or unlawful conduct.

Relating to a criminal history evaluation letter determining occupational license eligibility.

Relating to the scheduling of hearings before appraisal review boards on property tax protests.

Relating to school district policies addressing sexual abuse of children.

Relating to local regulation of distance requirements for the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages near certain establishments.

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.

Relating to creating an offense for engaging in certain conduct relating to cockfighting and to the criminal and civil consequences of committing that offense.

Relating to the establishment of an online resource for teachers of students with special health needs.

Relating to blind and disabled pedestrians and failure of the operator of a motor vehicle to yield the right-of-way.

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

Relating to the imposition of conditions on certain defendants charged with an offense involving family violence.

Relating to newborn screening and the creation of the Newborn Screening Advisory Committee.

Relating to the offshore geologic storage of carbon dioxide.

Relating to exemptions from the sales tax for a limited period for certain backpacks and school supplies specified by the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement.

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

Relating to abolishing the Private Sector Prison Industries Oversight Authority and to the certification and operation of private sector prison industries programs.

Relating to the performance of pharmacy services in certain rural areas.

Relating to the establishment of the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Grant Program to support adult and postsecondary education and workforce development.

Relating to the governmental entities subject to the sunset review process.

Relating to health benefit plan coverage for certain amino acid-based elemental formulas.

Relating to the creation of the offense of online harassment.

Relating to the criminal consequences of operating without a valid driver's license a motor vehicle for which financial responsibility is not established.

Relating to the prosecution and punishment of the offense of engaging in organized criminal activity.

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

Relating to the establishment, operation, and funding of victim-offender mediation programs.

Relating to certain registration requirements imposed on sex offenders.

Relating to a study regarding the provision of certain medications through the Medicaid vendor drug program to children younger than 16 years of age.

Relating to the establishment of additional job incentive programs by the Texas Workforce Commission using the skills development fund.

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

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.

Relating to a preference in state purchasing for certain media-related services offered by businesses based in Texas.

Relating to a reporting requirement regarding the Texas emerging technology fund.

Relating to the registration and operation of certain motor vehicles.

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.

Relating to the licensing and regulation of towing companies and vehicle storage facilities; providing penalties.

Relating to the production and taxation of renewable diesel fuel.

Relating to the designation of the Bankhead Highway as a historic highway.

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

Relating to the regulation and practice of engineering and lighting design.

Relating to the authority of municipalities to alter speed limits.

Relating to the continuation and functions of the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas and the Texas Private Security Board; providing penalties.

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

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

Relating to certain building code standards applicable to the unincorporated areas of certain counties; providing a penalty.

Relating to license plates created by the Texas Department of Transportation for professional firefighters.

Relating to the regulation of property tax lenders and the confidentiality of certain information obtained or compiled by the consumer credit commissioner on examination of property tax lenders and certain other license holders or registrants.

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

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

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

Relating to a parenting and paternity awareness program used in the health curriculum for public schools.

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

Relating to certain required notifications regarding insurance claims and premiums.

Relating to the prosecution and punishment of the offense of arson.

Relating to the amendment of restrictions affecting real property in certain subdivisions.

Relating to consolidation of certain proceedings on an application for a certificate of convenience and necessity.

Relating to the creation and powers of certain groundwater and surface water districts.

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

Relating to the establishment of the Texas Armed Services Scholarship.

Relating to the determination of the value of property for ad valorem tax purposes, including appeals of appraisal review board orders determining protests of property value determinations, and the use of certain values by school districts in adopting tax rates.

Relating to the powers and duties of the School Land Board and the commissioner of the General Land Office.

Relating to filing of instruments conveying real property in certain counties.

Relating to the powers and duties of the Texas Water Development Board and related entities, including the funding of projects by the board and the composition, duties, recommendations, and expenses of entities created to study and provide advice regarding environmental flows.

Relating to the creation of a pilot program that allows taxpayer appeals from certain appraisal review board determinations in certain counties to be heard by the State Office of Administrative Hearings.

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

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

Relating to public school finance.

Relating to the use of restraints to control the movement of pregnant women and female children confined in certain correctional facilities in this state.

Relating to the Texas Economic Development Act.

Relating to the functions and continuation of the Texas Youth Commission and the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission and to the functions of the Office of Independent Ombudsman for the Texas Youth Commission.

Relating to criminal history checks for employees of, and applicants for employment at, special care facilities.

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 title insurance coverage of property transferred into an inter vivos trust.

Relating to the delivery of regulated substances into underground storage tanks; providing a penalty.

Relating to the acceptance of certain donated building projects by the Parks and Wildlife Department.

Relating to the qualifications to be a veterans county service officer.

Relating to certain enforcement actions alleging the failure to pay child support.

Relating to the court-ordered administration of psychoactive medication to certain criminal defendants and to the release of those defendants from certain facilities.

Relating to the establishment of a victim assistance program to provide services to domestic victims of trafficking.

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

Relating to the application process and scoring for the low income housing tax credit program.

Relating to emergency preparation and management.

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

Relating to the creation and re-creation of funds and accounts in the state treasury, the dedication and rededication of revenue, and the exemption of unappropriated money from use for general governmental purposes.

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

Relating to the creation of district courts and statutory county courts and to the composition of juvenile boards in certain counties.

The Senate adopted conference committee reports on the following bills:

Relating to the administration of the Juvenile Justice Case Management System.

Relating to the Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission.

Relating to the inclusion on the exterior of an ad valorem tax bill of a statement directing the United States Postal Service to return the bill if it is not deliverable as addressed.

Relating to the creation of DNA records for the DNA database system.

Relating to the making or acceptance of political contributions in a courthouse; providing penalties.

Relating to the release from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice of certain inmates who complete a rehabilitation program.

Relating to compensation of certain state employees.

Relating to rates and methods of depreciation applied to a retired class of property for regulated water utilities.

Relating to the transfer or sale of patient information or prescription drug history by discount health care programs; providing penalties.

Relating to the Medicaid Drug Utilization Review Program and prescription drug use under the Medicaid program.

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

Relating to the forensic medical examination of a sexual assault victim who has not reported the assault to a law enforcement agency.