By: Metcalf (Senate Sponsor - Schwertner) H.C.R. No. 89          (In the Senate - Received from the House May 19, 2021;   May 19, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on   Administration; May 21, 2021, reported favorably by the following   vote:  Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 21, 2021, sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION     WHEREAS, The Texas Legislature for each of the last 19   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 87th 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 10, 2023, or an earlier date specified   in the proclamation creating the committee.     * * * * *