| |
| |
|
|
SENATE RESOLUTION
|
|
|
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. CAUCUS REPORT. At a caucus held on |
|
|
May 29, 2023, and attended by 31 members of the senate, the |
|
|
caucus made the recommendations for the operation of the senate |
|
|
contained in this resolution. |
|
|
SECTION 2. EMPLOYEES. (a) The lieutenant governor may |
|
|
employ the employees necessary for the operation of the office of |
|
|
the lieutenant governor from the closing of this session and |
|
|
until the convening of the next session. The lieutenant governor |
|
|
and the secretary of the senate shall be furnished postage, |
|
|
telegraph, telephone, express, and all other expenses incident |
|
|
to their respective offices. |
|
|
(b) The secretary of the senate is the chief executive |
|
|
administrator and shall be retained during the interval between |
|
|
adjournment of this session and the convening of the next session |
|
|
of the legislature. The secretary of the senate may employ the |
|
|
employees necessary for the operation of the senate and to |
|
|
perform duties as may be required in connection with the business |
|
|
of the state from the closing of this session and until the |
|
|
convening of the next session. |
|
|
(c) Each senator may employ secretarial and other office |
|
|
staff for the senator's office. |
|
|
(d) The chairman of the administration committee is |
|
|
authorized to retain a sufficient number of staff employees to |
|
|
conclude the work of the enrolling clerk, calendar clerk, journal |
|
|
clerk, and sergeant-at-arms. The administration committee shall |
|
|
establish the salaries for the senate staff. |
|
|
SECTION 3. SENATE OFFICERS. (a) The following elected |
|
|
officers of the 88th Legislature shall serve for the interval |
|
|
between adjournment of this session and the convening of the next |
|
|
session of the legislature: |
|
|
(1) Secretary of the Senate--Patsy Spaw; |
|
|
(2) Calendar Clerk--Tracy Ortiz; |
|
|
(3) Doorkeeper--Matthew Peabody; |
|
|
(4) Enrolling Clerk--Patience Worrel; |
|
|
(5) Journal Clerk--Lourdes Litchfield; and |
|
|
(6) Sergeant-at-Arms--Austin Osborn. |
|
|
(b) All employees and elected officers of the senate |
|
|
shall operate under the direct supervision of the secretary of |
|
|
the senate during the interim. |
|
|
(c) Officers named in this section serve at the will of |
|
|
the senate. |
|
|
SECTION 4. PARLIAMENTARIAN AND ASSISTANT PARLIAMENTARIAN. |
|
|
The parliamentarian, Karina Davis, and the assistant |
|
|
parliamentarian, Colby Beuck, are named by the lieutenant governor |
|
|
and are officers of the senate. They shall serve for the interval |
|
|
between adjournment of this session and the convening of the next |
|
|
session of the legislature. |
|
|
SECTION 5. DUTIES OF CHAIRMAN OF ADMINISTRATION |
|
|
COMMITTEE. (a) The chairman of the administration committee |
|
|
shall place the senate chamber in order and purchase supplies and |
|
|
make all necessary repairs and improvements between the |
|
|
adjournment of this session and the convening of the next session |
|
|
of the legislature. |
|
|
(b) The chairman shall make an inventory of all furniture |
|
|
and fixtures in the senate chamber and in the private offices of |
|
|
the members, as well as of the supplies and equipment on hand in |
|
|
the purchasing and supply department, and shall close the books |
|
|
for the Regular Session of the 88th Legislature. |
|
|
(c) The chairman shall not acquire any equipment on a |
|
|
rental/purchase plan unless the equipment is placed on the senate |
|
|
inventory at the termination of the plan. |
|
|
(d) The chairman shall examine records and accounts |
|
|
payable out of the contingent expense fund as necessary to |
|
|
approve all claims and accounts against the senate, and no claim |
|
|
or account shall be paid without the consent and approval of the |
|
|
chairman. |
|
|
(e) The chairman and any member of the administration |
|
|
committee shall be entitled to receive actual and necessary |
|
|
expenses incurred during the interim. |
|
|
(f) In addition to the duties of the administration |
|
|
committee expressly imposed by this resolution, the committee |
|
|
shall take actions necessary to ensure that the administrative |
|
|
operations of the senate comply with applicable law and are |
|
|
conducted effectively and efficiently. |
|
|
SECTION 6. JOURNAL. (a) The secretary of the senate |
|
|
shall have 225 volumes of the Senate Journal of the Regular |
|
|
Session of the 88th Legislature printed. Two hundred and |
|
|
twenty-five copies shall be bound in buckram and delivered to the |
|
|
secretary of the senate who shall forward one volume to each |
|
|
member of the senate, the lieutenant governor, and each member of |
|
|
the house of representatives on request. |
|
|
(b) The printing of the journals shall be done in |
|
|
accordance with the provisions of this resolution under the |
|
|
supervision of the chairman of the administration committee. The |
|
|
chairman shall refuse to receive or receipt for the journals |
|
|
until corrected and published in accordance with the preexisting |
|
|
law as finally approved by the chairman of the administration |
|
|
committee. When the accounts have been certified by the chairman |
|
|
of the administration committee, the accounts shall be paid out |
|
|
of the contingent expense fund of the 88th Legislature. |
|
|
SECTION 7. PAYMENT OF SALARIES AND EXPENSES. |
|
|
(a) Salaries and expenses authorized by this resolution shall |
|
|
be paid out of the per diem and contingent expense fund of the |
|
|
88th Legislature as provided by this section. |
|
|
(b) The senate shall request the comptroller of public |
|
|
accounts to issue general revenue warrants for: |
|
|
(1) payment of the employees of the lieutenant |
|
|
governor's office, the lieutenant governor, members of the |
|
|
senate, employees of the senate committees, and employees of the |
|
|
senate, except as provided by Subchapter H, Chapter 660, |
|
|
Government Code, upon presentation of the payroll account signed |
|
|
by the chairman of the administration committee and the secretary |
|
|
of the senate; and |
|
|
(2) the payment of materials, supplies, and |
|
|
expenses of the senate, including travel expenses for members and |
|
|
employees, upon vouchers signed by the chairman of the |
|
|
administration committee and the secretary of the senate. |
|
|
SECTION 8. EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT AND PER DIEM. (a) In |
|
|
furtherance of the legislative duties and responsibilities of |
|
|
the senate, the administration committee shall charge to the |
|
|
individual member's office budget: |
|
|
(1) the reimbursement of all actual expenses |
|
|
incurred by the member when traveling in performance of |
|
|
legislative duties and responsibilities or incident to those |
|
|
duties; and |
|
|
(2) the payment of all other reasonable and |
|
|
necessary expenses for the operation of the office of the |
|
|
individual senator during any period the legislature is not in |
|
|
session. Expenditures for these services by the administration |
|
|
committee are authorized as an expense of the senate and shall |
|
|
not be restricted to Austin but may be incurred in individual |
|
|
senatorial districts. Such expenses shall be paid from funds |
|
|
appropriated for the use of the senate on vouchers approved by |
|
|
the chairman of the administration committee and the secretary of |
|
|
the senate in accordance with regulations governing such |
|
|
expenditures. |
|
|
(b) Each senator shall be permitted a payroll of $63,000 |
|
|
per month to employ secretarial and other office staff and for |
|
|
intrastate travel expenses for staff employees. The amount shall |
|
|
increase to $66,150 starting on September 1, 2024. This payroll |
|
|
amount accrues on the first day of the month and may not be |
|
|
expended prior to the month in which it accrues, but any |
|
|
unexpended portion for a month may be carried forward from month |
|
|
to month until the end of the fiscal year. An unexpended amount |
|
|
remaining at the end of each fiscal year, not to exceed $20,000, |
|
|
may be carried forward to the next fiscal year. Other expenses, |
|
|
including travel expenses or other reasonable and necessary |
|
|
expenses incurred in the furtherance and performance of |
|
|
legislative duties or in operation of the member's office or |
|
|
incident thereto, shall be provided in addition to the maximum |
|
|
salary authorized. |
|
|
(c) The secretary of the senate may order reimbursement |
|
|
for legislative expenses consistent with this resolution and the |
|
|
establishment by the Texas Ethics Commission of per diem rates. |
|
|
(d) Any member of the senate and the lieutenant governor |
|
|
are eligible to receive such reimbursement on application of the |
|
|
member or the lieutenant governor to the secretary of the senate. |
|
|
(e) On the application of a member of the senate or the |
|
|
lieutenant governor, the applicant shall be entitled to |
|
|
reimbursement for legislative expenses for each legislative day. |
|
|
(f) For purposes of this section, a legislative day |
|
|
includes each day of a regular or special session of the |
|
|
legislature, including any day the legislature is not in session |
|
|
for a period of four consecutive days or less, and all days the |
|
|
legislature is not in session if the senator or lieutenant |
|
|
governor attends a meeting of a joint, special, or legislative |
|
|
committee as evidenced by the official record of the body, and |
|
|
each day, limited to 12 days per month for non-chairs or 16 days |
|
|
per month for chairs and the lieutenant governor, the senator or |
|
|
the lieutenant governor, including those living within a 50-mile |
|
|
radius, is otherwise engaged in legislative business as |
|
|
evidenced by claims submitted to the chairman of the |
|
|
administration committee. |
|
|
SECTION 9. MEMBER'S EMPLOYEE LEAVE POLICY. (a) An |
|
|
employee of a senator accrues vacation leave, compensatory |
|
|
leave, or sick leave in accordance with policies adopted by the |
|
|
senator consistent with the requirements of this section. |
|
|
(b) An employee may accrue vacation leave, compensatory |
|
|
leave, or sick leave only if the employee files a monthly time |
|
|
record with the senate human resources office. Time records are |
|
|
due not later than the 10th day of the following month. |
|
|
(c) Compensatory time must be used not later than the |
|
|
last day of the 24th month following the month in which the time |
|
|
was accrued. |
|
|
(d) An employee is not entitled to compensation for |
|
|
accrued but unused compensatory time. |
|
|
SECTION 10. DESIGNATION FOR ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS AND |
|
|
FUNCTIONS. (a) The lieutenant governor may appoint any member |
|
|
of the senate, the secretary of the senate, or any other senate |
|
|
employee to attend meetings of the National Conference of State |
|
|
Legislatures and other similar meetings. Necessary and actual |
|
|
expenses are authorized upon the approval of the chairman of the |
|
|
administration committee and the secretary of the senate. |
|
|
(b) The lieutenant governor may designate a member of the |
|
|
senate to represent the senate at ceremonies and ceremonial |
|
|
functions. The necessary expenses of the senator and necessary |
|
|
staff for this purpose shall be paid pursuant to a budget |
|
|
approved by the administration committee. |
|
|
SECTION 11. MEETINGS DURING INTERIM. (a) Each of the |
|
|
standing committees and subcommittees of the senate of the |
|
|
88th Legislature may continue to meet at such times and places |
|
|
during the interim as determined by such committees and |
|
|
subcommittees and to hold hearings, recommend legislation, and |
|
|
perform research on matters directed either by resolution, the |
|
|
lieutenant governor, or as determined by majority vote of each |
|
|
committee. |
|
|
(b) Each continuing committee and subcommittee shall |
|
|
continue to function under the rules adopted during the |
|
|
legislative session where applicable. |
|
|
(c) Expenses for the operation of these committees and |
|
|
subcommittees shall be paid pursuant to a budget prepared by each |
|
|
committee and approved by the administration committee. |
|
|
(d) The operating expenses of these committees shall be |
|
|
paid from the contingent expense fund of the senate, and |
|
|
committee members shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses |
|
|
incurred in carrying out the duties of the committees. |
|
|
SECTION 12. SENATE OFFICES. Members not returning for |
|
|
the 89th Legislature shall vacate their senate offices by |
|
|
December 1, 2024. |
|
|
SECTION 13. FURNISHING OF INFORMATION BY SENATE |
|
|
EMPLOYEE. An employee of the senate may not furnish any |
|
|
information to any person, firm, or corporation other than |
|
|
general information pertaining to the senate and routinely |
|
|
furnished to the public. |
|
|
SECTION 14. OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT. An employee of the |
|
|
senate may not be employed by and receive compensation from any |
|
|
other person, firm, or corporation during the employee's senate |
|
|
employment without the permission of the employee's senate |
|
|
employer. |
|
|
SECTION 15. REMOVAL OF SENATE PROPERTY. The secretary of |
|
|
the senate is specifically directed not to permit the removal of |
|
|
any of the property of the senate from the senate chamber or the |
|
|
rooms of the senate except as authorized by the chairman of the |
|
|
administration committee. |