Senate Floor Action for 2/18/2015

SENATE FLOOR ACTION



Wednesday

February 18, 2015




The Senate adopted the following resolutions:


SR 173 Seliger

Recognizing February 18, 2015, as Andrews County Day.


SR 183 Kolkhorst

Recognizing February 18, 2015, as Sheriffs' Association of Texas Day.


SR 189 Garcia

Celebrating February 18, 2015, as Indo-Americans of Greater Houston Day.


SR 192 Birdwell

Commending the residents of West, Texas.


SR 196 Perry

Recognizing February 18, 2015, as United Way Day.


SCR 14 Whitmire

Granting the legislature permission to adjourn for more than three days during the period beginning on Wednesday, February 18, 2015, and ending on Monday, February 23, 2015.


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


Committee referral on the following:


SJR 30 Taylor, Larry

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


SJR 31 Ellis

Proposing a constitutional amendment creating the Texas Gaming Commission, authorizing and regulating the operation of casino games and slot machines by a limited number of licensed operators and certain Indian tribes, authorizing a limited state video lottery system to be operated at horse and greyhound racetracks and on Indian tribal lands, and reducing the number of illegal gambling machines.

State Affairs


SCR 9 Hancock

Authorizing the lieutenant governor and speaker to appoint interim joint committees.

Administration


SCR 12 Burton

Urging Congress to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to provide for a balanced federal budget except during a time of national emergency.

State Affairs


SB 18 Nelson/ Hinojosa/ Seliger

Relating to measures to support or enhance graduate medical education in this state, including the transfer of assets following the dissolution of the Texas Medical Liability Insurance Underwriting Association.

Finance


SB 517 Uresti

Relating to notice of an application for a permit to drill an injection well in the territory of a groundwater conservation district.

Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs


SB 518 Uresti

Relating to inclusion of mental health concerns in existing school health efforts.

Education


SB 519 Schwertner

Relating to the registration of dental support organizations; imposing a fee; providing a civil penalty.

Health & Human Services


SB 520 West

Relating to state interventions and sanctions against public school campuses with unacceptable performance and the establishment of the Texas Opportunity School District for educating students at certain low-performing campuses.

Education


SB 521 Fraser/ Watson/ Zaffirini

Relating to the period for which the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality may grant or renew an emergency authorization relating to the use of state water.

Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs


SB 522 Hinojosa

Relating to the procedure for adoption by a state agency of rules that may have an adverse economic effect on small businesses and micro-businesses.

Business & Commerce


SB 523 Birdwell/ Estes/ Fraser/ Kolkhorst/ Perry

Relating to the sunset review of river authorities.

Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs


SB 524 Birdwell/ Hinojosa

Relating to a review of state laws requiring an action or proceeding to be brought in Travis County or a Travis County court.

Business & Commerce


SB 525 Birdwell

Relating to ad valorem tax lien transfers.

Business & Commerce


SB 526 Birdwell

Relating to restrictions on holders of package store permits.

Business & Commerce


SB 527 Birdwell

Relating to the designation of a segment of U.S. Highway 287 in Midlothian as the Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield Highway.

Transportation


SB 528 Birdwell

Relating to the storage of certain hazardous chemicals; transferring enforcement of certain reporting requirements, including the imposition of criminal, civil, and administrative penalties, from the Department of State Health Services to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Natural Resources & Economic Development


SB 529 Hancock

Relating to the eligibility of a landman for unemployment compensation.

Natural Resources & Economic Development


SB 530 Hancock

Relating to the licensing of vehicles for hire by certain airport governing boards; authorizing the imposition of fees.

Transportation


SB 531 Campbell

Relating to the application of foreign laws and foreign forum selection in a proceeding involving marriage, a suit for dissolution of a marriage, or a suit affecting the parent-child relationship in this state.

State Affairs


SB 532 Fraser

Relating to the creation of regional emergency communications districts; authorizing the issuance of bonds; authorizing a fee.

Intergovernmental Relations


SB 533 Watson

Relating to the parking and movement of vehicles in the Capitol Complex.

Business & Commerce


SB 534 Watson/ Creighton/ Ellis/ Hinojosa/ Huffman/ et al.

Relating to the oath of a person admitted to practice law in the State of Texas.

State Affairs


SB 535 Watson

Relating to the use of certain mobile devices at a polling place.

State Affairs


SB 536 Whitmire

Relating to the designation of certain prostitution prevention programs as commercially sexually exploited persons programs.

Criminal Justice


SB 537 Lucio

Relating to a fee imposed as a condition of community supervision for certain sexual offenses involving a child victim.

Criminal Justice


SB 538 Schwertner/ Campbell/ Kolkhorst/ Nelson/ Perry/ et al.

Relating to the control of infectious diseases.

Health & Human Services


SB 539 Perry

Relating to reinsurance financial statement credit and accounting.

Business & Commerce


SB 540 Eltife

Relating to the hours during which a holder of a retail dealer's on-premise late hours license may sell beer.

Business & Commerce


SB 541 Taylor, Van

Relating to the eligibility of presidential general election debates for distributions from a Major Events trust fund.

Natural Resources & Economic Development


SB 542 Kolkhorst

Relating to the prescription and pharmaceutical substitution of biological products.

Health & Human Services


SB 543 Zaffirini

Relating to certain requirements applicable to contracts entered into by, and the contract management process of, state agencies.

Business & Commerce


SB 544 West

Relating to reimbursement for the costs of legal services provided to an indigent defendant in a criminal case.

Criminal Justice


SB 545 Taylor, Larry

Relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of real property leased to and used by certain schools.

Finance


SB 546 Eltife

Relating to the authority of a psychologist to delegate certain care to an intern.

Health & Human Services


SB 547 Ellis

Relating to epidemiological reports and immunization exemption data and reports.

Health & Human Services


SB 548 Campbell

Relating to the membership of the Electrical Safety and Licensing Advisory Board.

Business & Commerce


SB 549 Fraser

Relating to the creation of an additional judicial district composed of Coryell County.

State Affairs


SB 550 Uresti

Relating to requiring dental support for a child subject to a child support order.

State Affairs


SB 551 Seliger

Relating to the duty of the Water Conservation Advisory Council to submit a report and recommendations regarding water conservation in this state.

Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs


SB 552 Uresti

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

Intergovernmental Relations


SB 553 Schwertner

Relating to the informal dispute resolution process for certain disputes between the Department of Aging and Disability Services and certain long-term care facilities.

Health & Human Services


SB 554 Hancock

Relating to zero-based budgeting for state agencies as part of the sunset review process.

Finance


SB 555 Taylor, Van

Relating to the eligibility of a person to be a candidate for or holder of a public elective office.

State Affairs


SB 556 Garcia

Relating to a comprehensive review by the Texas Education Agency of weights, allotments, and adjustments under the public school finance system.

Education


SB 557 Birdwell

Relating to the composition, governance, and authority of a regional tollway authority that has or proposes to have projects located in counties that are not part of the authority.

Transportation


SB 558 Burton

Relating to public availability of certain information related to economic development negotiations.

Business & Commerce


SB 559 Burton

Relating to public availability of the name of an applicant for the position of executive director, chief investment officer, or chief audit executive of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.

Business & Commerce


SB 560 Lucio

Relating to procedures involving truancy and other fine-only misdemeanors committed by children.

Criminal Justice


SB 561 Nichols

Relating to the designation of Farm-to-Market Road 1293 in Hardin County as the Game Warden Wesley W. Wagstaff Memorial Highway.

Transportation


SB 562 Nichols

Relating to annual permits to move certain equipment; authorizing a fee.

Transportation


SB 563 Hinojosa

Relating to orders of nondisclosure issued for records of certain fine-only misdemeanors; authorizing a fee.

Criminal Justice


SB 564 West

Relating to the driver responsibility program and the collection of delinquent driver responsibility program surcharges.

Transportation


SB 565 West

Relating to designating the first week of May as Jury Appreciation Week.

Administration


SB 566 Taylor, Van

Relating to the use of proceeds received from criminal asset forfeiture.

Criminal Justice


SB 567 Bettencourt

Relating to the production of the index of the parties to all suits by the clerk of a district court; authorizing a fee.

State Affairs


SB 568 Bettencourt/ Kolkhorst

Relating to a classroom visual aid stipend for public school classroom teachers.

Education


SB 569 Creighton

Relating to the presumption of abandonment of certain tangible personal property held by a county.

Intergovernmental Relations


SB 570 Estes

Relating to the use of fireworks at certain Texas Department of Transportation rest areas; providing a penalty.

Transportation


Committee re-referral on the following:


SB 339 Eltife

Relating to the medical use of low-THC cannabis and the regulation of related organizations and individuals; requiring a dispensing organization to obtain a license to dispense low-THC cannabis and any employee of a dispensing organization to obtain a registration; authorizing fees.

Re-referred from State Affairs to Health & Human Services


SB 353 Nelson/ et al.

Relating to state agency contracting.

Re-referred from Business & Commerce to Finance