SENATE FLOOR ACTION

Tuesday

May 26, 2015

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

Relating to making supplemental appropriations and giving direction and adjustment authority regarding appropriations.

3 Floor Amendments

Relating to the powers and duties of the Texas Department of Public Safety, military and law enforcement training, and the investigation, prosecution, punishment, and prevention of certain offenses; creating an offense and increasing a criminal penalty; authorizing fees.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the border prosecution unit.

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to the development of seawater and brackish groundwater.

Relating to the creation of a commission to review convictions after exoneration and to prevent wrongful convictions.

Relating to privileged parking for Distinguished Flying Cross medal recipients.

Relating to the retirement benefits for certain elected state officials.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the establishment and administration of a state bullion depository; authorizing fees.

Relating to the use of proceeds from criminal asset forfeiture to provide college scholarships to children of peace officers killed in the line of duty and to an annual report regarding the total value of forfeited property in this state.

Relating to the investment training requirement for certain local government financial officers.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to premium payment assistance for insurance coverage for hemophilia medical treatment.

Relating to financial assistance paid to the survivors of certain law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other public employees killed in the line of duty.

Relating to probate matters, including guardianships and other matters related to incapacitated persons.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to reimbursement of certain medical costs for victims of certain sex offenses.

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to procedures required before certain condominium associations file a suit or initiate an arbitration proceeding for a defect or design claim.

Relating to rates of and certificates of convenience and necessity for certain non-ERCOT electric utilities; authorizing a surcharge.

Relating to public school Internet website information concerning local programs and services available to assist homeless students.

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to the use of hotel occupancy tax revenue in certain municipalities.

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to the authority of a county clerk to require an individual to present photo identification to file certain documents.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to public school accountability, including the expansion of or renewal of the charter of an open-enrollment charter school and the intervention in and sanction of a public school that has received an academically unsuccessful performance rating for at least two consecutive school years.

11 Floor Amendments

Relating to the repeal of certain alcoholic beverage taxes and the tax on controlled substances.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the continuity of care for offenders with mental impairments.

Relating to the designation of centers of excellence to achieve healthy fetal outcomes in this state.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the State Board for Educator Certification, educator preparation programs, and educator certification.

3 Floor Amendments

Relating to transfer of the oversight of the Texas State Cemetery to the State Preservation Board.

1 Committee Amendment

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the eligibility of certain victims of trafficking of persons for an order of nondisclosure; authorizing a fee.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to increasing the punishment for certain persons convicted of the offense of possession or promotion of child pornography.

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to the automatic admission of undergraduate students to The University of Texas at Austin.

Relating to providing a remedy for fraud committed in certain real estate transactions.

Relating to certain programs provided to families of children at risk for abuse and neglect.

Relating to the construction manager-at-risk used by a governmental entity.

Relating to the disclosure of information regarding communicable diseases to first responders and certain entities.

Relating to a limitation on the authority to curtail groundwater production from wells used for power generation or mining.

Relating to requiring the Department of Family and Protective Services to study the effectiveness of the relative and other designated caregiver placement program.

Relating to a petition filed in connection with an application for a place on the ballot.

Relating to the eligibility of certain property located in multiple school districts for a limitation on appraised value for school district maintenance and operations ad valorem tax purposes under the Texas Economic Development Act.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to apportionment of certain receipts of a broadcaster under the franchise tax.

Relating to administrative support positions with the Texas Military Department.

Relating to the fee imposed on certain property owners by a county for the establishment of street lights along a county road.

Relating to the creation and operations of health care provider participation programs in certain counties.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the scoring criteria for an application for a low income housing tax credit and the allocation of those credits to developments reserved for elderly persons.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the liability of reimbursing employers under the Texas Unemployment Compensation Act.

Relating to improving the delivery and quality of Medicaid acute care services and long-term care services and supports.

Relating to restrictions on the use, transfer, and sale of housing developments that have received certain financial assistance administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to conflicts of interest by members of state agency governing boards and governing officers; creating a criminal offense.

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to funding to counties for transportation infrastructure projects located in areas of the state affected by increased oil and gas production, including money from county energy transportation reinvestment zones.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to compensation and reimbursement of expenses for the board of directors of the Refugio County Drainage District No. 1.

Relating to the creation of the East Waller County Management District; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, or taxes.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the creation of a defined area in the Fort Bend County Water Control and Improvement District No. 2; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

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

Relating to health insurance identification cards issued by qualified health plan issuers.

Relating to notice of and consent to an abortion for a minor and associated requirements; amending provisions subject to a criminal penalty.

The Senate reconsidered third reading and final passage, amended and again finally passed:

Relating to the amounts, availability, and use of certain statutorily dedicated revenue and accounts; providing for the dedication and use of certain state revenue; reducing or affecting the amounts or rates of certain statutorily dedicated fees and assessments.

3 Floor Amendments

The Senate suspended the regular order:

Relating to the creation of a model training curriculum and to the required training for certain school district peace officers and school resource officers.

1 Floor Amendment

The Senate adopted the following resolutions:

Recognizing May 26, 2015, as John Wayne Day.

The Senate concurred in House amendments to the following:

Relating to measures to support or enhance graduate medical education in this state, including the transfer of certain assets from the Texas Medical Liability Insurance Underwriting Association to the permanent fund supporting graduate medical education and the authority of the association to issue new policies.

Relating to training for members of the governing board of a public institution of higher education.

Relating to the confidentiality of certain property tax appraisal photographs.

Relating to the abolishment of the Texas Council on Purchasing from People with Disabilities and the transfer of its functions to the Texas Workforce Commission.

Relating to the amount the Texas Military Preparedness Commission may grant to local governmental entities for certain purposes.

Relating to authorizing a revocable deed that transfers real property at the transferor's death.

Relating to training courses for certain food handlers.

Relating to the authority of certain municipalities to provide sewer service to areas within the municipal boundaries without obtaining a certificate of public convenience and necessity.

Relating to certain committees and programs to develop the wine industry in this state through the Department of Agriculture.

Relating to the functions of the Public Utility Commission of Texas in relation to the economic regulation of water and sewer service.

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

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

Relating to the transfer of certain occupational regulatory programs and the deregulation of certain activities and occupations.

Relating to the continuation of the functions of the Department of Aging and Disability Services; increasing penalties.

Relating to the authority and duties of the office of inspector general of the Health and Human Services Commission.

Relating to regulation of rates and policy forms for certain commercial lines of insurance.

Relating to the repeal of the inheritance tax.

Relating to the regulation of amusement redemption machine game rooms in certain counties.

Relating to certain obligations of and limitations on landlords.

Relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of higher education for certain military personnel and their dependents.

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

Relating to property that is or may be presumed abandoned.

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

Relating to state economic development measures, including abolishment of the Texas emerging technology fund, creation of the governor's university research initiative, and the administration of programs to support certain events.

Relating to the issuance of certain capital appreciation bonds by political subdivisions.

Relating to creating the offense of voyeurism; providing a penalty.

Relating to resuming a criminal case after a defendant is determined to be competent to stand trial.

Relating to the disposition of certain surplus motor vehicles and other law enforcement equipment by the Texas Facilities Commission.

Relating to a judge's or justice's significant interest in a business entity that owns, manages, or operates a private correctional or rehabilitation facility.

Relating to liability of an owner, lessee, or occupant of land that allows land to be used as a community garden.

Relating to the sealing of certain juvenile records.

Relating to a limitation on the expansion of certain landfills.

Relating to a study on the feasibility and potential costs and benefits of implementing a pay-for-performance contract program for certain criminal justice programs and services.

Relating to information provided by electronic means in support of the issuance of a search warrant.

Relating to retaining a reserve investigator by a prosecuting attorney.

Relating to designating the second full week in September as Direct Support Professionals Week.

Relating to certain waivers by a defendant regarding a community supervision revocation hearing.

Relating to the rights of a guardian of a person in the criminal justice system.

Relating to the contents of a search warrant and to the offense of tampering with a governmental record consisting of a search warrant.

Relating to procedures for certain persons charged with a violation of a condition of release from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on parole or to mandatory supervision.

Relating to funding for the Texas Academy of Leadership in the Humanities.

Relating to caregiver screening and training by substitute care providers for children in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.

Relating to a study on the implementation and effectiveness of sound mitigation measures on certain highways.

Relating to procedures for identifying any Native American heritage of children in certain hearings in suits affecting the parent-child relationship.

Relating to the abolishment of the Orange County child support office and to the divorce and contempt fees paid in Orange County.

Relating to certain county bail bond boards.

Relating to the regulation of knives by a municipality or county.

Relating to the qualifications for appointment as a veterans county service officer.

Relating to notice provided to a court regarding certain defendants placed on state jail felony community supervision.

Relating to eligibility for appointment as a tabulation supervisor in an election.

Relating to the creation of the Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 145; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

Relating to a mental health assessment of certain inmates of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Relating to workers' compensation death benefit eligibility for certain spouses of first responders killed in the line of duty.

Relating to the issuance of specialty license plates for recipients of the Combat Action Badge, Medal, or Ribbon.

Relating to authorizing certain utility cost savings and alternative fuel programs as eligible for local government energy savings performance contracts.

Relating to the designation of a portion of U.S. Highway 290 in Hays and Travis Counties as the Lieutenant Clay Crabb Memorial Highway.

Relating to requirements for annexation of certain commercial or industrial areas by a general-law municipality.

Relating to the prosecution and punishment of the offense of injury to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual.

Relating to a requirement that each state university's Internet website include a link to certain employment data.

Relating to the payment of costs incurred by the involuntary commitment of persons with mental illness.

Relating to requiring institutions and assisted living facilities to maintain guardianship orders of residents.

Relating to the exemption of certain vehicles from registration fees.

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.

Relating to the development of a career-oriented foreign language program that public schools may offer.

Relating to child custody evaluations and adoption evaluations conducted and testimony provided in certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship; providing penalties; creating an offense; authorizing fees.

Relating to nonsubstantive corrections in statutes to references to the Texas Youth Commission and Texas Juvenile Probation Commission.

Relating to money distributed by the School Land Board to the available school fund or to the State Board of Education for investment in the permanent school fund.

Relating to testing certain defendants or confined persons for communicable diseases.

Relating to authorizing certain real property transactions involving the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas.

Relating to authorizing a credit union or other financial institution to conduct savings promotion raffles.

Relating to the compatibility of certain defense community regulations and structures with military operations.

Relating to Medicaid billing for the services of substitute dentists.

Relating to the possession and removal of a placenta from a hospital or birthing center.

Relating to the elimination of the fee for the Gold Star mother, father, spouse, or family member specialty license plate.

Relating to automobile liability insurance for transportation network company drivers.

Relating to the release of certain restrictions on the use of certain highway rights-of-way transferred to a municipality from the Texas Department of Transportation.

Relating to access by a sibling of a child separated from the sibling due to an action by the Department of Family and Protective Services.

Relating to reports of certain missing children and to the administration of missing or exploited children prevention grants.

Relating to requiring the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to maintain an inventory of postsecondary educational programs and services for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Relating to the requirements for and confidentiality of state agency continuity of operations plans.

Relating to public comments on federal grants and contracts related to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Relating to training, continuing education, and weapons proficiency standards for correctional officers employed by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Relating to exemptions from continuing education requirements for certain county commissioners.

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

Relating to the frequency with which the Board of Pardons and Paroles considers the eligibility of certain inmates for release on parole.

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

Relating to the procedures for applying for a ballot to be voted by mail; creating a criminal offense.

Relating to the authority of certain counties to impose a hotel occupancy tax.

Relating to the diversion, treatment, and use of marine seawater and the discharge of treated marine seawater and waste resulting from the desalination of marine seawater; adding provisions subject to a criminal penalty.

Relating to the establishment of a sentinel surveillance program for emerging and neglected tropical diseases.

Relating to the recording and effective date of certain documents relating to nonjudicial foreclosure sales.

Relating to the rescission or waiver of an acceleration of the maturity date of certain debt secured by a lien on real property.

Relating to certain requirements for certain facilities licensed by the Department of Family and Protective Services and the department's enforcement authority.

Relating to a medal for certain members of the military forces who served during the Cold War.

Relating to the repeal of obsolete laws governing county road systems in certain counties.

Relating to allowing a governmental body to request clarification of a request for public information by electronic mail.

Relating to the creation of regional military sustainability commissions for certain military installations.

Relating to an established schedule of payments from the foundation school fund of the yearly entitlement of certain open-enrollment charter schools.

Relating to the creation and operations of health care provider participation programs in certain counties.

Relating to designating January as Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

Relating to the nonsubstantive revision of certain laws concerning community supervision granted in criminal cases, including conforming amendments.

Relating to eliminating telegraph transmission as a method to communicate certain information in a criminal case.

Relating to an exemption from the sales and use tax for items sold by certain nonprofit organizations through a vending machine; adding a provision subject to a criminal offense.

Relating to training requirements for juvenile correctional officers employed by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.

Relating to civil liability arising from an employee wellness program.

Relating to certain security devices for residential tenancies.

Relating to the creation of the Comal Trinity Groundwater Conservation District; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, or surcharges.

Relating to inspections and other activities conducted by engineers in connection with the issuance of certain windstorm and hail insurance; authorizing a fee.

Relating to the establishment of the center for alternative finance and procurement within the Texas Facilities Commission and to public and private partnerships; authorizing a fee.

Relating to regulation by a property owners' association of residential leases or rental agreements.

Relating to the electronic filing of bail bonds.

Relating to the authority of a water district to accept donations to fund certain economic development programs.

Relating to the transfer of certain state property from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to Fort Bend County.

Relating to the authority and operation of regional tollway authorities.

Relating to the length of a billing month for a propane gas customer.

Relating to a deceptive trade practice related to the use of certain words to imply that a person who is not an attorney is authorized to practice law and the prosecution of a cause of action arising from that practice.

Relating to increasing awareness of the danger of heatstroke for a child left unattended in a motor vehicle.

Relating to disclosures by nursing facilities and assisted living facilities regarding certification or classification to provide specialized care, treatment, or personal care services to residents with Alzheimer's disease or related disorders and the authority of the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission to adopt rules defining those conditions; adding requirements for an occupational license.

Relating to the prosecution of and punishment for assaulting a disabled individual; increasing a criminal penalty.

Relating to the consideration of steel slag as solid waste by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Relating to unauthorized persons at public or private institutions of higher education in this state and to trespass, damage, or defacement occurring on the grounds of those institutions; amending provisions subject to a criminal penalty and creating offenses.

Relating to the prosecution of certain offenses involving family violence and to the violation of certain court orders or conditions of bond in a family violence, sexual assault or abuse, or stalking case.

Relating to Foundation School Program funding for students enrolled in an optional flexible school day program.

Relating to allocation of money from the law enforcement officer standards and education fund.

Relating to a study on reducing workplace violence against nurses.

Relating to the value of personal property exempt from seizure by creditors.

Relating to a study of the current and potential economic impacts of recycling.

Relating to the definition of homeland security activity.

Relating to the authority of a municipality or county to obtain criminal history record information for certain persons, including employees, independent contractors, and volunteers.

Relating to the limitation on the liability of the nonprofit corporation established by the Texas Public Finance Authority to issue revenue bonds for open-enrollment charter schools to provide educational facilities.

Relating to the use of the juvenile case manager fund.

Relating to certain laws governing the intersections of railroad tracks and public roadways.

Relating to the provision of artificially administered nutrition and hydration and life-sustaining treatment.

Relating to the establishment of a pilot program to provide protective services to certain persons determined to be at risk of future harm from abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

Relating to the enforcement of permit requirements for the operation of a domestic wastewater treatment facility.

Relating to contributions and registrations for an anatomical gift registry; authorizing a fee.

Relating to the time for recording a durable power of attorney for certain real property transactions.

Relating to permitted methods for certain political subdivisions to post notice of a meeting.

Relating to information regarding Down syndrome.

Relating to sex offender treatment as a condition of parole or mandatory supervision for certain releasees.

Relating to a study on providing care to veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Relating to the transfer of surplus or salvage state agency property.

Relating to the donation of property from a state agency to an assistance organization or a local governmental entity.

Relating to requirements governing registration and authorized activities of certain lobbyists; expanding the applicability of an occupational registration.

Relating to a voluntary veteran's employment preference for private employers.

Relating to the use of municipal hotel occupancy tax revenue in certain municipalities.

Relating to the use of hotel occupancy tax revenues in certain municipalities and the authority of certain counties to impose a county hotel occupancy tax; authorizing the imposition of a tax.

Relating to use and allocation of municipal hotel occupancy tax revenues for certain municipalities.

Relating to the withdrawal of the territory of certain emergency services districts from the territory of a metropolitan rapid transit authority.

Relating to the employment status of certain individuals engaged in rehabilitative work-training programs.

Relating to cloud computing services.

Relating to a voluntary contribution to the fund for veterans' assistance when applying for a concealed handgun license.

Relating to the coordination of educational support services for and information regarding students who are currently or were formerly placed in foster care.

Relating to the use of municipal hotel occupancy tax revenue to construct, enhance, upgrade, and maintain arenas, sports facilities, and fields in certain municipalities.

Relating to the establishment and governance of certain regional transportation authorities.

Relating to the creation of the Texas Health Improvement Network.

Relating to solicitation of a person to buy drinks for consumption by an alcoholic beverage retailer or the retailer's employee; authorizing a civil penalty; amending a provision that is subject to a criminal penalty.

Relating to applications for and certain information regarding an applicant for registration or endorsement under the Private Security Act.

Relating to the authority of certain counties to impose a hotel occupancy tax and the use of revenue from the hotel occupancy tax by certain counties; authorizing an increase in the rate of a tax; authorizing the imposition of a tax.

Relating to the confidentiality of student records.

Relating to the creation of the Waller County Municipal Utility District No. 23; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

Relating to the creation of the Waller County Municipal Utility District No. 20; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

Relating to the creation of the Hays County Municipal Utility District No. 7; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

Relating to the Harrison County Court at Law.

Relating to the creation of the Aransas County Groundwater Conservation District; providing authority to issue bonds and impose a tax; providing general law authority to impose fees and surcharges.

Designating the cowboy hat as the official State Hat of Texas.

Urging Congress to require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide VA services to incarcerated veterans detained in state hospitals and to consider expanding such services to all incarcerated veterans.

Designating Nocona as the official Classic Car Capital of Texas for a 10-year period beginning in 2015.

Designating Poteet as the official Strawberry Capital of Texas for a 10-year period beginning in 2015.

Redesignating Jim Hogg County as the official Vaquero Capital of Texas.

Expressing support for the placement of a monument to Lorenzo de Zavala on the grounds of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission building.

Directing the governor of the State of Texas to posthumously award the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor to Chief Petty Officer Christopher Scott Kyle.

Designating Abilene as the official Storybook Capital of Texas.

Urging the U.S. Congress to designate the Chisholm Trail and the Great Western Trail as National Historic Trails.

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

Relating to a study of the feasibility of establishing a visitors center at Hueco Tanks State Park in El Paso County.

Relating to the applicability to open-enrollment charter schools of certain laws regarding local governments and political subdivisions.