By: Hancock  S.C.R. No. 9
         (In the Senate - Filed February 10, 2015; February 18, 2015,
  read first time and referred to Committee on Administration; April
  8, 2015, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 0;
  April 8, 2015, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 
  WHEREAS, The Texas Legislature for each of the last 16
  regular sessions has adopted a concurrent resolution authorizing
  the creation and appointment of joint interim legislative study
  committees by the lieutenant governor and speaker of the house of
  representatives; and
         WHEREAS, Renewal of the prior authorizations to the presiding
  officers enables the legislature to address and study issues that
  remain unresolved on sine die adjournment or that emerge subsequent
  to that time; and
         WHEREAS, It is also desirable to adopt by resolution various
  rules and policies regarding the operation of joint committees to
  supplement, and reconcile differences between, the senate and house
  rules of procedure; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas
  hereby authorize the lieutenant governor and speaker of the house
  of representatives to create by mutual agreement such joint
  committees as they consider necessary during the term of this
  legislature; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That each joint committee created pursuant to this
  resolution be composed of such combination of legislators, state
  officials, or citizen members as shall be determined mutually by
  the presiding officers of each house; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That on the request of the presiding officers, the
  governor may appoint members to a joint committee created pursuant
  to this resolution; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That the presiding officers issue for each
  committee so created a joint proclamation identifying the issue or
  issues to be studied and listing the committee membership or
  describing the committee composition and that the proclamation be
  filed with the secretary of the senate and the chief clerk of the
  house of representatives; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That the presiding officers designate jointly a
  chair, or designate alternatively two co-chairs, from among the
  committee membership; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That the chair or co-chairs, acting jointly and
  within four weeks of the proclamation, prepare and present to the
  presiding officers a proposal for budget and staffing; and, be it
  further
         RESOLVED, That the chair or co-chairs be directed to use to
  the greatest extent possible the existing staff and administrative
  resources of committee members, standing committees, officers of
  the senate and house, and legislative service agencies; and, be it
  further
         RESOLVED, That the presiding officers jointly review each
  budget and staffing proposal, adopt budgetary and staffing
  allocations, and determine the manner in which each joint committee
  is to be funded; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That the joint committee chair, or the co-chairs
  acting by mutual agreement, have authority to create and appoint
  subcommittees or affiliated advisory panels and to designate
  respective chairs for each, contingent on the advance approval of
  the presiding officers for the creation and appointment of
  subcommittees or advisory panels containing membership external to
  the committee; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That each joint committee, and its subcommittees
  and advisory panels, convene at the call of its chair or co-chairs;
  provided that no joint committee, nor its subcommittees or advisory
  panels, shall convene in a public hearing or other meeting for the
  transaction of business unless public notice has been posted by its
  chair or co-chairs at the locations specified by the senate and
  house rules of procedure for posting of notice of standing
  committee meetings at least five calendar days in advance of the
  hearing or meeting; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That the preceding clause be construed, for
  purposes of Section 551.046, Government Code, as a joint rule of the
  senate and house of representatives controlling the posting of
  notice for joint committees, and their subcommittees and advisory
  panels, in lieu of required posting with the secretary of state;
  and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That each joint committee have authority to issue
  process as provided in Sections 301.024-301.027, Government Code,
  provided that any motion for the issuance of process must receive
  the record vote of at least two-thirds of those present and voting,
  a quorum being present; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That each joint committee be entitled to accept
  grants and donations as provided by Sections 301.032(b) and (c),
  Government Code, and that, on expiration of a joint committee, any
  unexpended funds remaining from a grant or donation be transferred
  in equal proportions to the accounts of the senate and house of
  representatives unless otherwise provided by the grantor or donor;
  and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That each joint committee, except as modified by or
  pursuant to this resolution, have all other powers and duties
  provided to special committees by Subchapter B, Chapter 301,
  Government Code, and the senate and house rules of procedure; and,
  be it further
         RESOLVED, That the operating accounts for each joint
  committee created pursuant to this resolution and any grants and
  donations that such committee may receive be administered by the
  accounting and purchasing sections of the Texas Legislative
  Council; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That the Texas Legislative Council accounting and
  purchasing sections prepare, under the guidance of the presiding
  officers, a manual of procedures for joint committees and other
  entities created by the legislature for which funds are to be
  administered by the Texas Legislative Council establishing
  requirements as to printing needs, accounting procedures, ultimate
  disposition of records, and other administrative and financial
  matters; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That citizen members appointed by the lieutenant
  governor or speaker of the house of representatives to joint
  committees created pursuant to this resolution be reimbursed from
  funds appropriated to the Texas Legislative Council for expenses of
  transportation, meals, lodging, and incidentals for travel on
  official committee business, at rates established by the joint
  chairs of the Texas Legislative Council consistent with provisions
  of the General Appropriations Act; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That citizen members appointed by the governor to
  joint committees created pursuant to this resolution be reimbursed
  from funds appropriated to the office of the governor for expenses
  of travel on official committee business, at rates established by
  the joint chairs of the Texas Legislative Council consistent with
  provisions of the General Appropriations Act; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That citizen members appointed by the lieutenant
  governor to senate select committees and citizen members appointed
  by the speaker of the house of representatives to house committees
  expanded or created under House Rule 4, Sections 24, 57, and 58,
  when engaged in travel on official committee business, be
  reimbursed for (1) transportation expenses at the same rates as
  authorized for state employees by the General Appropriations Act,
  and (2) actual expenses for meals, lodging, and incidentals,
  subject to any maximum reimbursement limitations for meals and
  lodging set by the Senate Administration Committee for senate
  select committees and by the Committee on House Administration for
  house select committees; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That the Texas Legislative Council be authorized to
  reimburse the senate and house of representatives for expenses
  incurred by members of the senate and house for transportation,
  meals, lodging, and incidentals for travel on official business of
  joint committees created pursuant to this resolution; and, be it
  further
         RESOLVED, That the final report of each joint committee be
  approved by a majority of the voting membership of the committee;
  dissenting voting members may attach statements to the final report
  subject to any limitations specified in the rules adopted by the
  committee; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That each joint committee created pursuant to this
  resolution expire on January 10, 2017, or an earlier date specified
  in the proclamation creating the committee.
 
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