Authorizing the lieutenant governor and speaker to appoint joint committees.

89(R) HCR 122 - Introduced version - Bill Text

89R20257 KSM-D

By: Geren

H.C.R. No. 122

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Texas Legislature for each of the last 21

regular sessions has adopted a concurrent resolution authorizing

the creation and appointment of joint legislative study committees

by the lieutenant governor and speaker of the House of

Representatives; and

WHEREAS, Renewal of the prior authorizations to the presiding

officers enables the Legislature to address and study issues that

remain unresolved on sine die adjournment or that emerge subsequent

to that time; and

WHEREAS, It is also desirable to adopt by resolution various

rules and policies regarding the operation of joint committees to

supplement, and reconcile differences between, the Senate and House

rules of procedure; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas

hereby authorize the lieutenant governor and speaker of the House

of Representatives to create by mutual agreement such joint

committees as they consider necessary during the term of this

legislature; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That each joint committee created pursuant to this

resolution be composed of such combination of legislators, state

officials, or citizen members as shall be determined mutually by

the presiding officers of each house; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That on the request of the presiding officers, the

governor may appoint members to a joint committee created pursuant

to this resolution; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the presiding officers issue for each

committee so created a joint proclamation identifying the issue or

issues to be studied and listing the committee membership or

describing the committee composition and that the proclamation be

filed with the secretary of the Senate and the chief clerk of the

House of Representatives; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the presiding officers designate jointly a

chair, or designate alternatively two co-chairs, from among the

committee membership; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the chair or co-chairs, acting jointly and

within four weeks of the proclamation, prepare and present to the

presiding officers a proposal for budget and staffing; and, be it

further

RESOLVED, That the chair or co-chairs be directed to use to

the greatest extent possible the existing staff and administrative

resources of committee members, standing committees, officers of

the Senate and House, and legislative service agencies; and, be it

further

RESOLVED, That the presiding officers jointly review each

budget and staffing proposal, adopt budgetary and staffing

allocations, and determine the manner in which each joint committee

is to be funded; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the joint committee chair, or the co-chairs

acting by mutual agreement, have authority to create and appoint

subcommittees or affiliated advisory panels and to designate

respective chairs for each, contingent on the advance approval of

the presiding officers for the creation and appointment of

subcommittees or advisory panels containing membership external to

the committee; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That each joint committee, and its subcommittees

and advisory panels, convene at the call of its chair or co-chairs;

provided that no joint committee, nor its subcommittees or advisory

panels, shall convene in a public hearing or other meeting for the

transaction of business unless public notice has been posted by its

chair or co-chairs at the locations specified by the Senate and

House rules of procedure for posting of notice of standing

committee meetings at least five calendar days in advance of the

hearing or meeting; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the preceding clause be construed, for

purposes of Section 551.046, Government Code, as a joint rule of the

Senate and House of Representatives controlling the posting of

notice for joint committees, and their subcommittees and advisory

panels, in lieu of required posting with the secretary of state;

and, be it further

RESOLVED, That each joint committee have authority to issue

process as provided in Sections 301.024-301.027, Government Code,

provided that any motion for the issuance of process must receive

the record vote of at least two-thirds of those present and voting,

a quorum being present; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That each joint committee be entitled to accept

grants and donations as provided by Sections 301.032(b) and (c),

Government Code, and that, on expiration of a joint committee, any

unexpended funds remaining from a grant or donation be transferred

in equal proportions to the accounts of the Senate and House of

Representatives unless otherwise provided by the grantor or donor;

and, be it further

RESOLVED, That each joint committee, except as modified by or

pursuant to this resolution, have all other powers and duties

provided to special committees by Subchapter B, Chapter 301,

Government Code, and the Senate and House rules of procedure; and,

be it further

RESOLVED, That the operating accounts for each joint

committee created pursuant to this resolution and any grants and

donations that such committee may receive be administered by the

accounting and purchasing sections of the Texas Legislative

Council; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the Texas Legislative Council, under the

guidance of the presiding officers, be responsible for preparing

and maintaining a manual of procedures for joint committees and

other entities created by the legislature for which funds are to be

administered by the Texas Legislative Council; the manual must

establish requirements relating to printing needs, accounting

procedures, ultimate disposition of records, and other

administrative and financial matters; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That citizen members appointed by the lieutenant

governor or speaker of the House of Representatives to joint

committees created pursuant to this resolution be reimbursed from

funds appropriated to the Texas Legislative Council for expenses of

transportation, meals, lodging, and incidentals for travel on

official committee business, at rates established by the joint

chairs of the Texas Legislative Council consistent with provisions

of the General Appropriations Act; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That citizen members appointed by the governor to

joint committees created pursuant to this resolution be reimbursed

from funds appropriated to the office of the governor for expenses

of travel on official committee business, at rates established by

the joint chairs of the Texas Legislative Council consistent with

provisions of the General Appropriations Act; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That citizen members appointed by the lieutenant

governor to Senate select committees and citizen members appointed

by the speaker of the House of Representatives to House committees

expanded or created under House Rule 4, Sections 24, 57, and 58,

when engaged in travel on official committee business, be

reimbursed for (1) transportation expenses at the same rates as

authorized for state employees by the General Appropriations Act,

and (2) actual expenses for meals, lodging, and incidentals,

subject to any maximum reimbursement limitations for meals and

lodging set by the Senate Committee on Administration for Senate

select committees and by the House Administration Committee for

House select committees; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the Texas Legislative Council be authorized to

reimburse the Senate and House of Representatives for expenses

incurred by members of the Senate and House for transportation,

meals, lodging, and incidentals for travel on official business of

joint committees created pursuant to this resolution; and, be it

further

RESOLVED, That the final report of each joint committee be

approved by a majority of the voting membership of the committee;

dissenting voting members may attach statements to the final report

subject to any limitations specified in the rules adopted by the

committee; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That each joint committee created pursuant to this

resolution expire on January 12, 2027, or an earlier date specified

in the proclamation creating the committee.