SENATE FLOOR ACTION Thursday May 15, 2003 THE SENATE SUSPENDED ALL NECESSARY RULES TO CONSIDER AND FINALLY PASS: SB 738 (CS) Duncan Relating to the notice and hearing process for groundwater conservation districts. 4 FLOOR AMENDMENTS SB 823 (CS)(LC) Fraser/et al. Relating to administration of the sales and use tax and compliance with the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement. SB 1061 (CS)(LC) Ellis, Rodney/et al. Relating to discrimination related to the business of insurance and to the use of insurance policy proceeds for certain victims of past discrimination; creating an offense. 1 FLOOR AMENDMENT SB 1117 (CS)(LC) Williams Relating to optional benefits under the Texas school employees uniform group coverage program. SB 1575 (CS) Carona Relating to immunity from civil liability arising from activities of the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission medical quality review panel. SB 1582 (CS)(LC) Wentworth Relating to authorizing political subdivisions and property owners' associations to trap and transport white-tailed deer. SB 1662 (CS) Duncan/et al. Relating to the care of elementary and secondary school students with diabetes. SB 1678 (CS) Whitmire Relating to the organization and duties of the Board of Pardons and Paroles. 2 FLOOR AMENDMENTS SB 1763 (CS) Ogden Relating to vehicle weights. 1 FLOOR AMENDMENT SB 1861 (CS)(LC) Bivins Relating to directing payment, after approval, of certain miscellaneous claims and judgments against the state out of funds designated by this Act; making appropriations. 1 FLOOR AMENDMENT THE SENATE SUSPENDED THE REGULAR ORDER, READ THIRD TIME, AND PASSED: SB 1067 Carona Relating to administrative interpretation of home equity lending law. 2 FLOOR AMENDMENTS SB 1369 (CS) Duncan Relating to certain group benefits for retired school employees. SB 1370 (CS) Duncan Relating to certain group benefit plans provided to certain governmental officers, employees, and retirees and their dependents. SB 1942 Wentworth Relating to the name of Southwest Texas State University. THE SENATE CONCURRED IN HOUSE AMENDMENTS TO THE FOLLOWING: SJR 55 Shapleigh SP: Corte Proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds to provide loans to defense-related communities for economic development projects, including projects that enhance military value of military installations. SB 652 Shapleigh/et al. SP: Corte/et al. Relating to economic development, strategic planning, and other issues regarding military facilities, and the merger of certain state agencies with military responsibilities; granting authority to issue bonds. SB 1063 Shapiro SP: Krusee Relating to insurance coverage of commercial motor carriers. THE SENATE REFUSED TO CONCUR IN HOUSE AMENDMENTS AND REQUESTED THE APPOINTMENT OF A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON THE FOLLOWING: SB 287 Ellis, Rodney SP: Chisum Relating to changing the composition of certain state agency governing bodies with an even number of members to comply with the changes made to Section 30a, Article XVI, Texas Constitution. SB 418 Nelson/et al. SP: Smithee/et al. Relating to the regulation and prompt payment of health care providers; providing penalties. SB 504 Ogden/et al. SP: Kolkhorst/et al. Relating to a lien on a cause of action or claim of an individual who receives emergency medical services. SB 1224 Ellis, Rodney/et al. SP: Keel Relating to the appointment of counsel for an indigent applicant for a writ of habeas corpus in a capital case. THE SENATE GRANTED THE REQUEST FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON THE FOLLOWING: HB 1567 West, George "Buddy"/ Chisum/ Smith, Wayne SP: Bivins Relating to the disposal of low-level radioactive waste; authorizing the exercise of the power of eminent domain. THE FOLLOWING BILLS WERE PASSED ON THE LOCAL AND UNCONTESTED BILLS CALENDAR: SR 373 (LC) Wentworth Memorializing Congress to prohibit federal courts from ordering or instructing any state or political subdivision thereof to levy or increase taxes. SCR 24 (LC) Jackson Directing the Texas Building and Procurement Commission to name the new public health laboratory building for Dr. Jesse Vernal Irons. SCR 41 (LC) Armbrister Directing the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and Texas Water Development Board to exclude consideration of recreational fishing restrictions in any study of Texas bays and estuaries. SCR 45 (LC) Fraser Directing the Texas Building and Procurement Commission to rename the Brownwood State School - Units I and II for Mr. Ron Jackson as a tribute to his commitment to public service and his many contributions to the betterment of the State of Texas. SCR 49 (LC) Lucio Requesting the lieutenant governor and the speaker to create a joint interim committee to study issues related to nutrition among Texas public school children. SB 20 (LC) Armbrister Relating to the issuance of certain permits for overweight vehicles; providing a penalty. SB 24 (CS)(LC) Armbrister Relating to the creation, administration, powers, duties, operation, and financing of the Ranch at Clear Fork Creek Municipal Utility District No. 1; granting the authority to impose taxes and issue bonds; granting the power of eminent domain. SB 137 (CS)(LC) Ellis, Rodney Relating to insurance policies insuring the life of an employee or former employee. SB 292 (CS)(LC) Brimer Relating to the regulation of athlete agents. SB 411 (CS)(LC) Zaffirini Relating to the salaries and longevity pay of sheriff department personnel in certain counties. SB 478 (CS)(LC) Duncan Relating to disqualification for eligibility for workers' compensation benefits of certain persons who perform services that benefit a political subdivision. SB 588 (LC) Duncan Relating to liability insurance coverage for certain nursing institutions. SB 795 (LC) Gallegos Relating to the punishment for a corporation or association convicted of an offense involving the criminally negligent inspection, maintenance, or operation of a commercial motor vehicle. SB 815 (CS)(LC) Van de Putte Relating to the development of essential knowledge and skills for subjects in the enrichment curriculum. SB 879 (CS)(LC) Whitmire Relating to appeals of adverse determinations made by health maintenance organizations. SB 921 (LC) Whitmire Relating to the authority of a judge to reduce or terminate the community supervision of a defendant convicted of an offense punishable as a state jail felony. SB 1019 (LC) Duncan Relating to the powers, duties, taxing authority, and dissolution procedure of the Ballinger Memorial Hospital District. SB 1092 (CS)(LC) Shapiro Relating to evidence offered in the prosecution of the offense of child pornography. SB 1093 (LC) Shapiro Relating to the civil commitment of sexually violent predators. SB 1205 (CS)(LC) Lindsay/et al. Relating to liability of the state and certain political subdivisions for certain recreational activities. SB 1215 (CS)(LC) Van de Putte Relating to changing the deadlines and authority for ordering the election and filing for candidacy in political subdivision elections. SB 1245 (LC) Armbrister/et al. Relating to the governance of the Crime Victims' Institute. SB 1252 (CS)(LC) Armbrister Relating to the regulation of certain activities associated with providing private security. SB 1254 (CS)(LC) Armbrister Relating to the leasing and contracting powers of a port authority or navigation district. SB 1388 (CS)(LC) Armbrister Relating to access to certain personal information under the public information law. SB 1411 (CS)(LC) Deuell Relating to electronic surveillance. SB 1450 (CS)(LC) Harris Relating to the authority of a guardian of the person of a ward to transport the ward to an inpatient mental health facility and file for emergency detention under certain circumstances and to consent to the administration of certain medication. SB 1551 (CS)(LC) Duncan Relating to the creation and composition of judicial districts and the election and powers and duties of certain district attorneys. SB 1731 (LC) Gallegos/et al. Relating to fees imposed by certain counties for the preservation, restoration, and management of certain county records. SB 1751 (CS)(LC) Lucio/et al. Relating to the right of a foreign national to contact a foreign consular official. SB 1777 (LC) Gallegos Relating to fire control, prevention, and emergency medical services districts of certain municipalities. SB 1907 (CS)(LC) Armbrister Relating to the regulation of alarm systems and alarm systems companies. SB 1909 (LC) Lucio Relating to the regulation of the subdividing or development of land in areas bordering the Rio Grande and the Laguna Madre or the Gulf of Mexico. SB 1915 (LC) Armbrister Relating to the terms of court of the 9th Judicial District. SB 1918 (LC) Armbrister Relating to the creation of the Katy Towne Centre Development District; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds. SB 1923 (A)(LC) Ogden Relating to the application of the professional prosecutors law to the district attorney for the 258th Judicial District. SB 1932 (CS)(LC) Ogden Relating to the performance of the duties of a district attorney by the prison prosecution unit in Trinity County. SB 1933 (CS)(LC) Staples Relating to the exclusion of property from Waterwood Municipal Utility District No. 1. SB 1940 (LC) Armbrister Relating to the County Court at Law of Aransas County. SB 1941 (LC) Averitt Relating to the creation, administration, powers, duties, operation, and financing of the Lake Alan Henry Water District; granting the power of eminent domain; authorizing the issuance of bonds and the imposition of taxes. SB 1947 (CS)(LC) Lucio Relating to the creation, administration, powers, duties, operation, and financing of the Heritage Groundwater Conservation District; granting the authority to impose taxes. THE FOLLOWING BILLS WERE REMOVED FROM THE LOCAL AND UNCONTESTED BILLS CALENDAR: SB 1176 (CS)(LC) Harris/et al. Relating to the regulation of roofing contractors; providing penalties. THE FOLLOWING BILLS WERE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE INDICATED: SB 1950 Zaffirini Relating to requiring a nonbinding referendum on the question of whether the cigarette tax should be increased by $1 per pack and whether that increase should be used for certain health and human services programs. FINANCE SB 1951 Ratliff Relating to the sale of certain land dedicated to the permanent school fund. STATE AFFAIRS SB 1952 Ellis, Rodney Relating to the reorganization of, efficiency in, and other reform measures applying to state government. GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION SCR 54 Brimer Granting Town Talk Foods, Inc., and Thomas E. Potthoff permission to sue the State of Texas and the Texas Department of Health. JURISPRUDENCE SCR 55 Barrientos/et al. Designating the Mexic-Arte Museum in Austin as the Official Mexican and Mexican American Art Museum of Texas. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND TRADE SJR 4 Ratliff Proposing a constitutional amendment to permit the legislature to require the sale of certain land dedicated to the permanent school fund. STATE AFFAIRS THE FOLLOWING BILL WAS REREFERRED: HB 3015 Morrison/ Brown, Fred Relating to the tuition charged and financial assistance funded by tuition charged to students of institutions of higher education and to a study of the accessibility and availability of graduate and professional programs. REREFERRED FROM SUBCOMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION TO EDUCATION