SR721 - Senate Caucus Report.

          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 721          BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  CAUCUS REPORT. At a caucus held on   June 2, 2025, and attended by 31 members of the senate, the   caucus made the recommendations for the operation of the senate   contained in this resolution.          SECTION 2.  EMPLOYEES. (a)  The lieutenant governor may   employ the employees necessary for the operation of the office of   the lieutenant governor from the closing of this session and   until the convening of the next session. The lieutenant governor   and the secretary of the senate shall be furnished postage,   telegraph, telephone, express, and all other expenses incident   to their respective offices.          (b)  The secretary of the senate is the chief executive   administrator and shall be retained during the interval between   adjournment of this session and the convening of the next session   of the legislature. The secretary of the senate may employ the   employees necessary for the operation of the senate and to   perform duties as may be required in connection with the business   of the state from the closing of this session and until the   convening of the next session.          (c)  Each senator may employ secretarial and other office   staff for the senator's office.          (d)  The chairman of the administration committee is   authorized to retain a sufficient number of staff employees to   conclude the work of the enrolling clerk, calendar clerk, journal   clerk, and sergeant-at-arms. The administration committee shall   establish the salaries for the senate staff.          SECTION 3.  SENATE OFFICERS. (a)  The following elected   officers of the 89th Legislature shall serve for the interval   between adjournment of this session and the convening of the next   session of the legislature:                (1)  Secretary of the Senate--Patsy Spaw;                (2)  Calendar Clerk--Nicole Albers;                (3)  Doorkeeper--Matthew Peabody;                (4)  Enrolling Clerk--Patience Worrel;                (5)  Journal Clerk--Lourdes Litchfield; and                (6)  Sergeant-at-Arms--Austin Osborn.          (b)  All employees and elected officers of the senate   shall operate under the direct supervision of the secretary of   the senate during the interim.          (c)  Officers named in this section serve at the will of   the senate.          SECTION 4.  PARLIAMENTARIAN AND ASSISTANT PARLIAMENTARIAN.   The parliamentarian, Karina Davis, and the assistant   parliamentarian, Colby Beuck, are named by the lieutenant governor   and are officers of the senate. They shall serve for the interval   between adjournment of this session and the convening of the next   session of the legislature.          SECTION 5.  DUTIES OF CHAIRMAN OF ADMINISTRATION   COMMITTEE. (a)  The chairman of the administration committee   shall place the senate chamber in order and purchase supplies and   make all necessary repairs and improvements between the   adjournment of this session and the convening of the next session   of the legislature.          (b)  The chairman shall make an inventory of all furniture   and fixtures in the senate chamber and in the private offices of   the members, as well as of the supplies and equipment on hand in   the purchasing and supply department, and shall close the books   for the Regular Session of the 89th Legislature.          (c)  The chairman shall not acquire any equipment on a   rental/purchase plan unless the equipment is placed on the senate   inventory at the termination of the plan.          (d)  The chairman shall examine records and accounts   payable out of the contingent expense fund as necessary to   approve all claims and accounts against the senate, and no claim   or account shall be paid without the consent and approval of the   chairman.          (e)  The chairman and any member of the administration   committee shall be entitled to receive actual and necessary   expenses incurred during the interim.          (f)  In addition to the duties of the administration   committee expressly imposed by this resolution, the committee   shall take actions necessary to ensure that the administrative   operations of the senate comply with applicable law and are   conducted effectively and efficiently.          SECTION 6.  JOURNAL. (a)  The secretary of the senate   shall have 225 volumes of the Senate Journal of the Regular   Session of the 89th Legislature printed. Two hundred and   twenty-five copies shall be bound in buckram and delivered to the   secretary of the senate who shall forward one volume to each   member of the senate, the lieutenant governor, and each member of   the house of representatives on request.          (b)  The printing of the journals shall be done in   accordance with the provisions of this resolution under the   supervision of the chairman of the administration committee. The   chairman shall refuse to receive or receipt for the journals   until corrected and published in accordance with the preexisting   law as finally approved by the chairman of the administration   committee. When the accounts have been certified by the chairman   of the administration committee, the accounts shall be paid out   of the contingent expense fund of the 89th Legislature.          SECTION 7.  PAYMENT OF SALARIES AND EXPENSES.   (a)  Salaries and expenses authorized by this resolution shall   be paid out of the per diem and contingent expense fund of the   89th Legislature as provided by this section.          (b)  The senate shall request the comptroller of public   accounts to issue general revenue warrants for:                (1)  payment of the employees of the lieutenant   governor's office, the lieutenant governor, members of the   senate, employees of the senate committees, and employees of the   senate, except as provided by Subchapter H, Chapter 660,   Government Code, upon presentation of the payroll account signed   by the chairman of the administration committee and the secretary   of the senate; and                (2)  the payment of materials, supplies, and   expenses of the senate, including travel expenses for members and   employees, upon vouchers signed by the chairman of the   administration committee and the secretary of the senate.          SECTION 8.  EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT AND PER DIEM. (a)  In   furtherance of the legislative duties and responsibilities of   the senate, the administration committee shall charge to the   individual member's office budget:                (1)  the reimbursement of all actual expenses   incurred by the member when traveling in performance of   legislative duties and responsibilities or incident to those   duties; and                (2)  the payment of all other reasonable and   necessary expenses for the operation of the office of the   individual senator during any period the legislature is not in   session. Expenditures for these services by the administration   committee are authorized as an expense of the senate and shall   not be restricted to Austin but may be incurred in individual   senatorial districts. Such expenses shall be paid from funds   appropriated for the use of the senate on vouchers approved by   the chairman of the administration committee and the secretary of   the senate in accordance with regulations governing such   expenditures.          (b)  Each senator shall be permitted a payroll of $73,150   per month to employ secretarial and other office staff and for   intrastate travel expenses for staff employees. This payroll   amount accrues on the first day of the month and may not be   expended prior to the month in which it accrues, but any   unexpended portion for a month may be carried forward from month   to month until the end of the fiscal year. An unexpended amount   remaining at the end of each fiscal year, not to exceed $20,000,   may be carried forward to the next fiscal year. Other expenses,   including travel expenses or other reasonable and necessary   expenses incurred in the furtherance and performance of   legislative duties or in operation of the member's office or   incident thereto, shall be provided in addition to the maximum   salary authorized.          (c)  The secretary of the senate may order reimbursement   for legislative expenses consistent with this resolution and the   establishment by the Texas Ethics Commission of per diem rates.          (d)  Any member of the senate and the lieutenant governor   are eligible to receive such reimbursement on application of the   member or the lieutenant governor to the secretary of the senate.          (e)  On the application of a member of the senate or the   lieutenant governor, the applicant shall be entitled to   reimbursement for legislative expenses for each legislative day.          (f)  For purposes of this section, a legislative day   includes each day of a regular or special session of the   legislature, including any day the legislature is not in session   for a period of four consecutive days or less, and all days the   legislature is not in session if the senator or lieutenant   governor attends a meeting of a joint, special, or legislative   committee as evidenced by the official record of the body, and   each day, limited to 12 days per month for non-chairs or 16 days   per month for chairs and the lieutenant governor, the senator or   the lieutenant governor, including those living within a 50-mile   radius, is otherwise engaged in legislative business as   evidenced by claims submitted to the chairman of the   administration committee.          SECTION 9.  MEMBER'S EMPLOYEE LEAVE POLICY. (a)  An   employee of a senator accrues vacation leave, compensatory   leave, or sick leave in accordance with policies adopted by the   senator consistent with the requirements of this section.          (b)  An employee may accrue vacation leave, compensatory   leave, or sick leave only if the employee files a monthly time   record with the senate human resources office. Time records are   due not later than the 10th day of the following month.          (c)  Compensatory time must be used not later than the   last day of the 24th month following the month in which the time   was accrued.          (d)  An employee is not entitled to compensation for   accrued but unused compensatory time.          SECTION 10.  DESIGNATION FOR ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS AND   FUNCTIONS. (a)  The lieutenant governor may appoint any member   of the senate, the secretary of the senate, or any other senate   employee to attend meetings of the National Conference of State   Legislatures and other similar meetings. Necessary and actual   expenses are authorized upon the approval of the chairman of the   administration committee and the secretary of the senate.          (b)  The lieutenant governor may designate a member of the   senate to represent the senate at ceremonies and ceremonial   functions. The necessary expenses of the senator and necessary   staff for this purpose shall be paid pursuant to a budget   approved by the administration committee.          SECTION 11.  MEETINGS DURING INTERIM. (a)  Each of the   standing committees and subcommittees of the senate of the   89th Legislature may continue to meet at such times and places   during the interim as determined by such committees and   subcommittees and to hold hearings, recommend legislation, and   perform research on matters directed either by resolution, the   lieutenant governor, or as determined by majority vote of each   committee.   [Text truncated for display. Full text available on LegiScan.]