SENATE FLOOR ACTION

Wednesday

May 8, 2013

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

Relating to accounting and payoff statements for certain seller-financed residential loans.

Relating to a study and report by the Sunset Advisory Commission of the self-directed semi-independent status of state agencies.

Relating to contributions to, benefits from, and the administration of systems and programs administered by the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to the Math and Science Scholars Loan Repayment Program for teachers who agree to teach mathematics or science in certain school districts in this state.

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to the creation of Fort Bend County Municipal Management District No. 1; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, or taxes.

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

Relating to the preference given by state agencies to goods offered by bidders in this state or manufactured, produced, or grown in this state or in the United States.

The Senate adopted the following resolutions:

Recognizing our nation's World War II veterans.

Commending Dr. Ruben Amarasingham for receiving a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Young Leader Award.

Recognizing the Texas A&M University Agricultural and Natural Resources Policy Internship Program and Public Policy Internship Program and the interns for the 83rd legislative session.

The Senate concurred in House amendments to the following:

Relating to the use by certain health care providers of electronically readable information from a driver's license or personal identification certificate.

Relating to bond requirements for county officers and employees, district attorneys, and criminal district attorneys.

Relating to expedited credentialing for certain podiatrists and therapeutic optometrists providing services under a managed care plan.

Relating to the disposition of abandoned or unclaimed property seized at the time of certain arrests.

Relating to the irrigation powers and functions of certain water districts; providing authority for a district by rule to change fees; clarifying a district's authority to impose certain assessments.

Relating to the refund of unearned premium for a personal automobile or residential property insurance policy.

Relating to the management, breeding, and destruction of deer and to procedures regarding certain deer permits.

Relating to authorizing local governments to participate in statewide technology centers.

Relating to the correction of employment termination reports for law enforcement officers.

Relating to the powers and jurisdiction of a regional mobility authority.

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

Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and the Windham School District and to the functions of the Board of Pardons and Paroles and the Correctional Managed Health Care Committee.

Relating to safety standards and practices applicable to the transportation by pipeline of certain substances.

Relating to comprehensive development agreements of the Texas Department of Transportation or a regional mobility authority.

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

Relating to the administration and functions of the Texas Water Development Board; authorizing the issuance of revenue bonds.

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

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

Relating to automated dial announcing devices.

Relating to the eligibility of certain criminal defendants for an order of nondisclosure; authorizing a fee.

Relating to testing of a juvenile for a sexually transmitted disease or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on the filing of a petition alleging delinquent conduct that includes certain sexual offenses.

Relating to adjudication and disposition of juvenile conduct.

Relating to the provision of affordable housing and other services in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

Relating to use of district funds by the Nueces County Hospital District.

Relating to the creation of the Cascades Municipal Utility District No. 1; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, or taxes.

Relating to the powers of the TexAmericas Center.

Relating to the imposition of an additional fee for filing civil cases in certain Travis County courts.

Relating to certain specialty license plates.

Relating to the liability of a municipality for certain space flight activities.

Relating to designating the first Friday in November as Texas Arbor Day.

Relating to liability of certain persons assisting in man-made or natural disasters.

Relating to the posting of a notice of foreclosure sale on a county's Internet website.

Relating to the applicability of state law regulating the decommissioning costs of certain newly constructed commercial nuclear-powered electric generating facilities.

Relating to the power of stewards or judges to impose penalties under the Texas Racing Act; providing penalties.

Relating to the criminal penalty for acting as an agent after suspension or revocation of the agent's license.

Relating to the dismissal of certain actions arising from exposure to asbestos and silica.

Relating to unemployment compensation chargebacks regarding certain persons who are involuntarily separated from employment.

Relating to the replatting of a subdivision without vacating the preceding plat in certain municipalities.

Relating to the Port of Houston Authority.

Relating to the transfer of certain state property from the Texas Juvenile Justice Department to Jefferson County.

Relating to the regulation of barbering and cosmetology; authorizing fees.

Relating to the enforcement of a provision regarding the imposition of a surcharge for the use of a credit card.

Designating Gregg County the Balloon Race Capital of Texas and commemorating the 36th anniversary of the Great Texas Balloon Race.

Designating February 16 as Texas Homemade Pie Day for a 10-year period beginning in 2013.

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

Relating to determination of the amount of certain child support obligations.

Relating to the use by a medical examiner of certain medical waste and autopsy records.

Committee referral on the following:

Proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation real property leased to certain schools organized and operated primarily for the purpose of engaging in educational functions.

Finance

Proposing a constitutional amendment repealing the constitutional provision authorizing the creation of a hospital district in Hidalgo County.

Intergovernmental Relations

Relating to the eligibility of certain inmates convicted of injury to a child for release to mandatory supervision and to reconsideration of parole eligibility for those inmates.

Criminal Justice

Relating to charitable contributions by state employees to assist domestic victims of human trafficking.

Government Organization

Relating to exempting defense base development authorities from certain contracting requirements.

Economic Development

Relating to verification of the unavailability of community day care before the Department of Family and Protective Services provides day-care assistance or services.

Health & Human Services

Relating to oversize or overweight vehicles transporting timber or timber products; authorizing fees and civil penalties.

Transportation

Relating to the discharge of a firearm across the property line of a school.

Agriculture, Rural Affairs & Homeland Security

Relating to certain procedures regarding an application for a writ of habeas corpus filed in a noncapital felony case.

Jurisprudence

Relating to an exception to the domicile requirement for issuance of a commercial driver's license for certain military personnel.

Veteran Affairs & Military Installations

Relating to the allocation of money in the judicial and court personnel training fund.

Jurisprudence

Relating to procedures for certain audits of pharmacists and pharmacies.

State Affairs

Relating to the statute of limitations on municipal and county hotel occupancy taxes and interest on delinquent payments of municipal hotel occupancy taxes.

Economic Development

Relating to the operation of master mixed-use property owners' associations.

Intergovernmental Relations

Relating to contractual subrogation and other recovery rights of certain insurers and benefit plan issuers.

State Affairs

Relating to the qualification of certain nonprofit schools and educational institutions for exemption from state laws regulating career schools and colleges and to complaints made against those entities.

Economic Development

Relating to the adoption of wellness policies and programs by state agencies.

State Affairs

Relating to the concurrent jurisdiction of the municipal courts of certain neighboring municipalities to hear criminal cases.

Jurisprudence

Relating to the regulation of roadside vendors and solicitors in certain counties.

Intergovernmental Relations

Relating to fees charged to certain recreational vehicle parks.

Natural Resources

Relating to the use for administrative costs of a portion of money received by certain entities to implement a supplemental environmental project.

Natural Resources

Relating to the application of certain contracting laws to a defense base development authority.

Veteran Affairs & Military Installations

Relating to a study to determine the reasons major manufacturers have chosen to invest in other states after considering development in this state.

Economic Development

Relating to Air Medal and Air Medal with Valor specialty license plates.

Transportation

Relating to an identifying number assigned to a notary public by the secretary of state.

Jurisprudence

Relating to the issuance of interest-bearing time warrants and certain notes by school districts.

Education

Relating to an interim study regarding the method by which district judges and appellate justices and judges are selected.

State Affairs

Relating to the development of a model contract management process for use with low-risk state procurements.

Government Organization

Relating to the applicability of the Texas Theft Liability Act to certain claims by inmates for lost, damaged, or confiscated property.

Criminal Justice

Relating to the establishment of a regional center for public safety excellence in the Rio Grande Valley.

Higher Education

Relating to the use of the skills development fund and other funds available to the Texas Workforce Commission to support certain joint credit courses offered by school districts under agreements with public junior colleges.

Economic Development

Relating to the powers and duties of the Department of Information Resources and the Legislative Budget Board regarding information resources technologies of state agencies.

Government Organization

Relating to the Texas Statewide Mutual Aid System.

Agriculture, Rural Affairs & Homeland Security

Relating to the rates of municipal and county hotel occupancy taxes in certain municipalities and counties and the use of certain revenue from those taxes; changing the rates of taxes.

Economic Development

Relating to cable operators' attachments on distribution poles owned or controlled by electric cooperatives.

Business & Commerce

Relating to comprehensive reviews of certain special districts.

Finance

Relating to the assessment of juveniles who are victims of sex trafficking.

Criminal Justice

Relating to the qualifications for certain positions with the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas.

Criminal Justice

Relating to formal action of responsible governmental entities on certain proposals or bids for certain projects.

Economic Development

Relating to the adjudication of claims arising under certain written contracts with local governmental entities.

Natural Resources

Relating to punishment for the offense of driving a commercial motor vehicle without a commercial driver's license.

Transportation

Relating to the allocation of Texas Economic Development Bank resources.

Economic Development

Relating to the creation of an extension center of the Texas State Technical College System.

Higher Education

Relating to the Texas Workforce Innovation Needs Program; authorizing a fee.

Education

Relating to a feasibility report on the creation of a border agricultural inspection training program.

Agriculture, Rural Affairs & Homeland Security

Relating to legal services provided by a district or county attorney to county and precinct officials.

Intergovernmental Relations

Relating to audit requirements of certain emergency services districts.

Intergovernmental Relations

Relating to the creation of a county assistance district.

Intergovernmental Relations

Relating to expenditures made by emergency services districts.

Intergovernmental Relations

Designating the first Saturday in May as Texas Academic College Scholarship Day for a 10-year period beginning in 2014.

Administration

Committee re-referral on the following:

Relating to municipal fire suppression standards in certain municipalities.

Re-referred from Intergovernmental Relations to Natural Resources