Bill Text: TX HR4 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Enrolled


Bill Title: Adopting the rules of the House for the 83rd Legislature.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2013-01-14 - Reported enrolled [HR4 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-HR4-Enrolled.html
 
 
  H.R. No. 4
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the State of
  Texas, That the following are adopted as the permanent rules of the
  House of Representatives of the 83rd [82nd] Legislature:
  RULES OF
  THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
  OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE
  TABLE OF CONTENTS
         RULE
               1.  DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE SPEAKER  2
               2.  EMPLOYEES  10
               3.  STANDING COMMITTEES  22
               4.  ORGANIZATION, POWERS, AND DUTIES OF 
                 COMMITTEES  51
               5.  FLOOR PROCEDURE  86
               6.  ORDER OF BUSINESS AND CALENDARS 108
               7.  MOTIONS 127
               8.  BILLS 143
               9.  JOINT RESOLUTIONS 158
               10.  HOUSE RESOLUTIONS AND CONCURRENT
                       RESOLUTIONS 160
               11.  AMENDMENTS 163
               12.  PRINTING 171
               13.  INTERACTIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR
                       AND SENATE 175
               14.  GENERAL PROVISIONS 188
 
  STATEMENT OF AUTHORIZATION AND PRECEDENCE
         Pursuant to and under the authority of Section 11, Article
  III, Texas Constitution, and notwithstanding any provision of
  statute, the House of Representatives adopts the following rules to
  govern its operations and procedures. The provisions of these
  rules shall be deemed the only requirements binding on the House of
  Representatives under Section 11, Article III, Texas Constitution,
  notwithstanding any other requirements expressed in statute.
  RULE 1. DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE SPEAKER
  CHAPTER A. DUTIES AS PRESIDING OFFICER
         Sec. 1.  ENFORCEMENT OF THE RULES.  The speaker shall
  enforce, apply, and interpret the rules of the house in all
  deliberations of the house and shall enforce the legislative rules
  prescribed by the statutes and the Constitution of Texas.
         Sec. 2.  CALL TO ORDER.  The speaker shall take the chair on
  each calendar day precisely at the hour to which the house adjourned
  or recessed at its last sitting and shall immediately call the
  members to order.
         Sec. 3.  LAYING BUSINESS BEFORE THE HOUSE.  The speaker
  shall lay before the house its business in the order indicated by
  the rules and shall receive propositions made by members and put
  them to the house.
         Sec. 4.  REFERRAL OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO COMMITTEE.  All
  proposed legislation shall be referred by the speaker to an
  appropriate standing or select committee with jurisdiction,
  subject to correction by a majority vote of the house. A bill or
  resolution may not be referred simultaneously to more than one
  committee.
         Sec. 5.  PRESERVATION OF ORDER AND DECORUM.  The speaker
  shall preserve order and decorum. In case of disturbance or
  disorderly conduct in the galleries or in the lobby, the speaker may
  order that these areas be cleared. No signs, placards, or other
  objects of similar nature shall be permitted in the rooms, lobby,
  gallery, and hall of the house. The speaker shall see that the
  members of the house conduct themselves in a civil manner in
  accordance with accepted standards of parliamentary conduct and
  may, when necessary, order the sergeant-at-arms to clear the aisles
  and seat the members of the house so that business may be conducted
  in an orderly manner.
         Sec. 6.  RECOGNITION OF GALLERY VISITORS.  On written
  request of a member, the speaker may recognize persons in the
  gallery. The speaker shall afford that recognition at a convenient
  place in the order of business, considering the need for order and
  decorum and the need for continuity of debate. The request must be
  made on a form prescribed by the Committee on House Administration.
  The speaker may recognize, at a time he or she considers appropriate
  during floor proceedings, the person serving as physician of the
  day.
         Sec. 7.  STATING AND VOTING ON QUESTIONS.  The speaker shall
  rise to put a question but may state it sitting. The question shall
  be put substantially  in this form:  "The question occurs on
  ______"  (here state the question or proposition under
  consideration).  "All in favor say 'Aye,'" and after the affirmative
  vote is expressed, "All  opposed say 'No.'" If the speaker is in
  doubt as to the result, or if a division is called for, the house
  shall divide:  those voting in the affirmative on the question
  shall register "Aye" on the voting machine, and those voting in the
  negative on the question shall register "No." The decision of the
  house on the question shall be printed in the journal and shall
  include the yeas and nays if a record of the yeas and nays is ordered
  in accordance with the rules.
         Sec. 8.  VOTING RIGHTS OF THE PRESIDING OFFICER.  The
  speaker shall have the same right as other members to vote. If the
  speaker, or a member temporarily presiding, has not voted, he or she
  may cast the deciding vote at the time such opportunity becomes
  official, whether to make or break a tie. If a verification of the
  vote is called for and granted, the decision of the speaker, or a
  member temporarily presiding, to cast the deciding vote need not be
  made until the verification has been completed. In case of error in
  a vote, if the correction leaves decisive effect to the vote of the
  speaker, or a member temporarily presiding, the deciding vote may
  be cast even though the result has been announced.
         Sec. 9.  QUESTIONS OF ORDER.  (a)  The speaker shall decide
  on all questions of order; however, such decisions are subject to an
  appeal to the house made by any 10 members. Pending an appeal, the
  speaker shall call a member to the chair, who shall not have the
  authority to entertain or decide any other matter or proposition
  until the appeal has first been determined by the house. The
  question on appeal is, "Shall the chair be sustained?"
         (b)  No member shall speak more than once on an appeal unless
  given leave by a majority of the house.  No motion shall be in order,
  pending an appeal, except a motion to adjourn, a motion to lay on
  the table, a motion for the previous question, or a motion for a
  call of the house.  Responses to parliamentary inquiries and
  decisions of recognition made by the chair may not be appealed,
  except as provided by Rule 5, Section 24.
         (c)  Further consideration of the matter or proposition that
  is the subject of a question of order is prohibited until the
  speaker decides the question of order and any appeal of that
  decision has been determined by the house.  Consideration of any
  other matter or proposition is also prohibited while a question of
  order is pending, unless the question of order is temporarily
  withdrawn and the matter or proposition that is the subject of the
  question of order is postponed.  Withdrawal of the question of order
  does not prevent any member from raising that question of order when
  the matter or proposition is again before the house.
         (d)  A point of order raised as to a violation of a section of
  the rules governing committee reports, committee minutes, or
  accompanying documentation may be overruled if the purpose of that
  section of the rules has been substantially fulfilled and the
  violation does not deceive or mislead.
         Sec. 10.  APPOINTMENT OF SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE AND TEMPORARY
  CHAIR.  The speaker shall have the right to name any member to
  perform the duties of the chair and may name a member to serve as
  speaker pro tempore by delivering a written order to the chief clerk
  and a copy to the journal clerk. A permanent speaker pro tempore
  shall, in the absence or inability of the speaker, call the house to
  order and perform all other duties of the chair in presiding over
  the deliberations of the house and perform other duties and
  exercise other responsibilities as may be assigned by the speaker.
  If the house is not in session, and a permanent speaker pro tempore
  has not been named, or if the speaker pro tempore is not available
  or for any reason is not able to function, the speaker may deliver a
  written order to the chief clerk, with a copy to the journal clerk,
  naming the member who shall call the house to order and preside
  during the speaker's absence. The speaker pro tempore shall serve
  at the pleasure of the speaker.
         Sec. 11.  EMERGENCY ADJOURNMENT.  In the event of an
  emergency of such compelling nature that the speaker must adjourn
  the house without fixing a date and hour of reconvening, the speaker
  shall have authority to determine the date and hour of reconvening
  and to notify the members of the house by any means the speaker
  considers adequate. Should the speaker be disabled or otherwise
  unable to exercise these emergency powers, the permanent speaker
  pro tempore, if one has been named, shall have authority to act. If
  there is no permanent speaker pro tempore, or if that officer is
  unable to act, authority shall be exercised by the chair of the
  Committee on State Affairs, who shall preside until the house can
  proceed to the selection of a temporary presiding officer to
  function until the speaker or the speaker pro tempore is again able
  to exercise the duties and responsibilities of the office.
         Sec. 12.  POSTPONEMENT OF RECONVENING.  When the house is
  not in session, if the speaker determines that it would be a hazard
  to the safety of the members, officers, employees, and others
  attending the legislature to reconvene at the time determined by
  the house at its last sitting, the speaker may clear the area of the
  capitol under the control of the house and postpone the reconvening
  of the house for a period of not more than 12 hours. On making that
  determination, the speaker shall order the sergeant-at-arms to post
  an assistant at each first floor entrance to the capitol and other
  places and advise all persons entering of the determination and the
  time set for the house to reconvene. The speaker shall also notify
  the journal clerk and the news media of the action, and the action
  shall be entered in the house journal.
         Sec. 13.  SIGNING BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS.  All bills, joint
  resolutions, and concurrent resolutions shall be signed by the
  speaker in the presence of the house, as required by the
  constitution; and all writs, warrants, and subpoenas issued by
  order of the house shall be signed by the speaker and attested by
  the chief clerk, or the person acting as chief clerk.
  CHAPTER B. ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES
         Sec. 14.  CONTROL OVER HALL OF THE HOUSE.  The speaker shall
  have general control, except as otherwise provided by law, of the
  hall of the house, its lobbies, galleries, corridors, and passages,
  and other rooms in those parts of the capitol assigned to the use of
  the house; except that the hall of the house shall not be used for
  any meeting other than legislative meetings during any regular or
  special session of the legislature unless specifically authorized
  by resolution.
         Sec. 15.  STANDING COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS.  (a)  The
  speaker shall designate the chair and vice-chair of each standing
  substantive committee and shall also appoint membership of the
  committee, subject to the provisions of Rule 4, Section 2.
         (b)  If members of equal seniority request the same
  committee, the speaker shall decide which among them shall be
  assigned to that committee.
         (c)  In announcing the membership of the standing
  substantive committees, the speaker shall designate which are
  appointees and which acquire membership by seniority.
         (d)  The speaker shall appoint the chair and vice-chair of
  each standing procedural committee and the remaining membership of
  the committee.
         Sec. 16.  APPOINTMENT OF SELECT AND CONFERENCE
  COMMITTEES.  (a)  The speaker shall appoint all conference
  committees. The speaker shall name the chair of each conference
  committee, and may also name the vice-chair thereof.
         (b)  The speaker may at any time by proclamation create a
  select committee. The speaker shall name the chair and vice-chair
  thereof. A select committee has the jurisdiction, authority, and
  duties and exists for the period of time specified in the
  proclamation. A select committee has the powers granted by these
  rules to a standing committee except as limited by the
  proclamation. A copy of each proclamation creating a select
  committee shall be filed with the chief clerk.
         (c)  If a new speaker is elected to fill a vacancy in the
  office after the appointment of standing committees, the new
  speaker may not alter the composition of any standing committee
  before the end of the session, except that the new speaker may:
               (1)  vacate the new speaker's membership on any
  committee;
               (2)  make committee appointments for the member who was
  removed as speaker;
               (3)  designate a different member of a standing
  committee as committee chair; and
               (4)  fill vacancies that occur on a committee.
         Sec. 17.  INTERIM STUDIES.  When the legislature is not in
  session, the speaker shall have the authority to direct committees
  to make interim studies for such purposes as the speaker may
  designate, and the committees shall meet as often as necessary to
  transact effectively the business assigned to them. The speaker
  shall provide to the chief clerk a copy of interim charges made to a
  standing or select committee.
  CHAPTER C. CAMPAIGNS FOR SPEAKER
         Sec. 18.  PLEDGES FOR SPEAKER PROHIBITED DURING REGULAR
  SESSION.  During a regular session of the legislature a member may
  not solicit written pledges from other members for their support of
  or promise to vote for any person for the office of speaker.
  RULE 2. EMPLOYEES
  CHAPTER A. DUTIES OF EMPLOYEES OF THE HOUSE
         Sec. 1.  CHIEF CLERK.  (a)  The chief clerk shall:
               (1)  be the custodian of all bills, resolutions, and
  amendments;
               (2)  number in the order of their filing, with a
  separate sequence for each category, all bills, joint resolutions,
  concurrent resolutions, and house resolutions;
               (3)  provide for the keeping of a complete record of
  introduction and action on all bills and resolutions, including the
  number, author, brief description of the subject matter, committee
  reference, and the time sequence of action taken on all bills and
  resolutions to reflect at all times their status in the legislative
  process;
               (4)  on the day of numbering a bill relating to a
  conservation and reclamation district created under Article XVI,
  Section 59, of the Texas Constitution, send two copies of the bill,
  with two copies of the notice of intention to introduce the bill, to
  the governor and notify the journal clerk of the action;
               (5)  receive the recommendations of the Texas
  Commission on Environmental Quality on a bill forwarded to the
  commission under Article XVI, Section 59, of the Texas
  Constitution, attach them to the bill to which they apply, and
  notify the journal clerk that the recommendations have been filed;
               (6)  forward to the committee chair a certified copy of
  each legislative document referred to a committee along with
  certified copies of all official attachments to the document;
               (7)  have printed and distributed correct copies of all
  legislative documents, as provided in the subchapter on printing,
  and keep an exact record of the date and hour of transmittal to the
  printer, return from the printer, and distribution of the document
  to members of the house with that information time-stamped on the
  originals of the document;
               (8)  certify the passage of bills and resolutions,
  noting on them the date of passage and the vote by which passed,
  including the yeas and nays if a record of the yeas and nays is
  ordered;
               (9)  be responsible for engrossing all house bills and
  resolutions that have passed second reading and those that have
  passed third reading, and for enrolling all house bills and
  resolutions that have passed both houses.
               All engrossed and enrolled documents shall be prepared
  without erasures, interlineations, or additions in the margin.
               House concurrent resolutions passed without amendment
  shall not be engrossed but shall be certified and forwarded
  directly to the senate.
               Engrossed riders may be used in lieu of full engrossment
  on second reading passage;
               (10)  be authorized to amend the caption to conform to
  the body of each house bill and joint resolution ordered engrossed
  or enrolled;
               (11)  be responsible for noting on each house bill or
  joint resolution, for certification by the speaker of the house,
  the lieutenant governor, the chief clerk of the house, and the
  secretary of the senate, the following information:
                     (A)  date of final passage, and the vote on final
  passage, including the yeas and nays if a record of the yeas and
  nays is ordered.  If the bill was amended in the senate, this fact
  shall also be noted;
                     (B)  date of concurrence by the house in senate
  amendments, and the vote on concurrence, including the yeas and
  nays if a record of the yeas and nays is ordered;
                     (C)  date of adoption by each house of a
  conference committee report and the vote on adoption, including the
  yeas and nays if a record of the yeas and nays is ordered;
                     (D)  that a bill containing an appropriation was
  passed subject to the provisions of Article III, Section 49a, of the
  Texas Constitution; and
                     (E)  that a concurrent resolution was adopted by
  both houses directing the correction of an enrolled bill, if
  applicable;
               (12)  transmit over signature all messages from the
  house to the senate, including typewritten copies of amendments to
  senate bills;
               (13)  prepare copies of senate amendments to house
  bills for the journal before the amendments and the bill or
  resolution to which they relate are sent to the printer or to the
  speaker;
               (14)  notify the speaker in writing that the senate did
  not concur in house amendments to a bill or resolution and requests
  a conference committee, and include in this notice the names of the
  senate conferees;
               (15)  provide a certified copy of a house bill or
  resolution which may be lost showing each parliamentary step taken
  on the bill; and
               (16)  request fiscal notes on house bills and joint
  resolutions with senate amendments and distribute fiscal notes on
  house bills and joint resolutions with senate amendments and
  conference committee reports as required by Rule 13, Sections 5 and
  10.
         (b)  The chief clerk shall also:
               (1)  attest all writs, warrants and subpoenas issued by
  order of the house;
               (2)  receive reports of select committees and forward
  copies to the speaker and journal clerk;
               (3)  not later than 30 days after the close of each
  session, acquire from each of the various clerks of the house,
  except the journal clerk, all reports, records, bills, papers, and
  other documents remaining in their possession and file them with
  the Legislative Reference Library, unless otherwise provided by
  law;
               (4)  receive and file all other documents required by
  law or by the rules of the house;
               (5)  prepare a roster of members in order of seniority
  showing the number of years of service of each member, as provided
  in Rule 4, Section 2; and
               (6)  have posted the list of Items Eligible for
  Consideration as required by the rules.
         (c)  The chief clerk shall also provide for the following to
  be made available on the electronic legislative information system:
               (1)  all house calendars and lists of items eligible
  for consideration and the time-stamp information for those
  calendars and lists; and
               (2)  the time-stamp information for all official
  printings of bills and resolutions.
         (d)  The chief clerk shall provide notice to a Capitol e-mail
  address designated by each member when a new house calendar or list
  of items eligible for consideration is posted on the electronic
  legislative information system.  If a member informs the chief
  clerk that the member also desires to receive a paper copy of house
  calendars or lists of items eligible for consideration, the chief
  clerk shall place paper copies of those documents designated by the
  member in the newspaper box of the member as soon as practicable
  after the electronic copies are posted.
         Sec. 2.  JOURNAL CLERK.  (a)  The journal clerk shall:
               (1)  keep a journal of the proceedings of the house,
  except when the house is acting as a committee of the whole, and
  enter the following:
                     (A)  the number, author, and caption of every bill
  introduced;
                     (B)  descriptions of all congratulatory and
  memorial resolutions on committee report, motions, amendments,
  questions of order and decisions on them, messages from the
  governor, and messages from the senate;
                     (C)  the summaries of congratulatory and memorial
  resolutions, as printed on the congratulatory and memorial
  calendar;
                     (D)  the number of each bill, joint resolution,
  and concurrent resolution signed in the presence of the house;
                     (E)  a listing of reports made by standing
  committees;
                     (F)  reports of select committees, when ordered by
  the house;
                     (G)  every vote where a record of the yeas and nays
  is ordered or registration of the house with a concise statement of
  the action and the result;
                     (H)  the names of all absentees, both excused and
  not excused;
                     (I)  senate amendments to house bills or
  resolutions, when concurred in by the house;
                     (J)  the date each bill is transmitted to the
  governor;
                     (K)  the date recommendations of the Texas
  Commission on Environmental Quality on each bill subject to Article
  XVI, Section 59, of the Texas Constitution, are filed with the chief
  clerk;
                     (L)  all pairs as a part of a vote where a record
  of the yeas and nays is ordered;
                     (M)  reasons for a vote;
                     (N)  the vote of a member on any question where a
  record of the yeas and nays has not been ordered;
                     (O)  the statement of a member who was absent when
  a vote was taken indicating how the member would have voted; and
                     (P)  official state documents, reports, and other
  matters, when ordered by the house;
               (2)  prepare a daily journal for each calendar day that
  the house is in session and distribute on the succeeding calendar
  day or the earliest possible date copies to the members of the house
  who have submitted requests to the journal clerk to receive a copy;
  and
               (3)  prepare and have printed a permanent house journal
  of regular and special sessions in accordance with the law and the
  following provisions:
                     (A)  When completed, no more than 300 copies shall
  be bound and distributed as follows:
                           (i)  one copy to each member of the house of
  representatives who submitted a request to the journal clerk to
  receive a copy;
                           (ii)  one copy to each member of the senate
  who submitted a request to the journal clerk to receive a copy; and
                           (iii)  the remainder of the copies to be
  distributed by the Committee on House Administration.
                     (B)  The journal clerk shall not receive or
  receipt for the permanent house journal until it has been correctly
  published.
         (b)  The journal clerk shall lock the voting machine of each
  member who is excused or who is otherwise known to be absent when
  the house is in session until the member personally requests that
  the machine be unlocked.
         Sec. 3.  READING CLERKS.  The reading clerks, under the
  supervision of the speaker, shall:
               (1)  call the roll of the house in alphabetical order
  when ordered to do so by the speaker; and
               (2)  read all bills, resolutions, motions, and other
  matters required by the rules or directed by the speaker.
         Sec. 4.  SERGEANT-AT-ARMS.  The sergeant-at-arms shall:
               (1)  under the direction of the speaker, have charge of
  and maintain order in the hall of the house, its lobbies and
  galleries, and all other rooms in the capitol assigned for the use
  of the house of representatives;
               (2)  attend the house and the committee of the whole
  during all meetings and maintain order under the direction of the
  speaker or other presiding officer;
               (3)  execute the commands of the house and serve the
  writs and processes issued by the authority of the house and
  directed by the speaker;
               (4)  supervise assistants to the sergeant-at-arms who
  shall aid in the performance of prescribed duties and have the same
  authority, subject to the control of the speaker;
               (5)  clear the floor of the house of all persons not
  entitled to the privileges of the floor at least 30 minutes prior to
  the convening of each session of the house;
               (6)  bring in absent members when so directed under a
  call of the house;
               (7)  not allow the distribution of any printed matter
  in the hall of the house, other than newspapers that have been
  published at least once a week for a period of one year, unless it
  first has been authorized in writing by at least one member of the
  house and the name of the member appears on the printed matter.  The
  sergeant-at-arms shall refuse to accept for distribution any
  printed matter which does not bear the name of the member or members
  authorizing the distribution;
               (8)  keep a copy of written authorization and a record
  of the matter distributed in the permanent files of the house;
               (9)  enforce parking regulations applicable to areas of
  the capitol complex under the control of the house and supervise
  parking attendants;
               (10)  provide for issuance of an identification card to
  each member and employee of the house; and
               (11)  supervise the doorkeeper.
         Sec. 5.  DOORKEEPER.  The doorkeeper, under the supervision
  of the sergeant-at-arms, shall:
               (1)  enforce strictly the rules of the house relating
  to privileges of the floor and perform other duties as directed by
  the speaker;
               (2)  close the main entrance and permit no member to
  leave the house without written permission from the speaker when a
  call of the house or a call of the committee of the whole is ordered,
  take up permission cards as members leave the hall, and take up
  permission cards of those who are admitted to the floor of the house
  under the rules and practice of the house;
               (3)  obtain recognition from the speaker and announce a
  messenger from the governor or the senate on arrival at the bar of
  the house; and
               (4)  obtain recognition from the speaker and announce
  the arrival of the governor or the senate on arrival at the bar of
  the house for official proceedings in the house.
         Sec. 6.  CHAPLAIN.  The chaplain shall open the first
  session on each calendar day with a prayer and shall perform such
  other duties as directed by the Committee on House Administration.
         Sec. 7.  VOTING CLERK.  The voting clerk, under the
  supervision of the speaker, shall:
               (1)  open and close the voting machine on registrations
  and record votes as ordered by the speaker;
               (2)  record votes from the floor as directed by the
  speaker;
               (3)  prepare official copies of all record votes for
  the journal; and
               (4)  make no additions, subtractions, or other changes
  in any registration or record vote unless specifically granted
  permission by the house or directed by the speaker prior to the
  announcement of the final result.
         Sec. 8.  COMMITTEE COORDINATOR. The committee coordinator
  shall:
               (1)  under the direction of the Committee on House
  Administration, prepare a schedule for regular meetings of all
  standing committees as provided by Rule 4, Section 8(a);
               (2)  post committee meeting notices, as directed by the
  chair of a committee, in accordance with Rule 4, Section 11(a);
               (3)  maintain duplicate originals of committee minutes
  as required by Rule 4, Sections 18(c) and (d);
               (4)  direct the maintenance of [maintain] sworn
  statements either in electronic or paper format and, under the
  direction of the Committee on House Administration, prescribe the
  form of those statements, as required by Rule 4, Sections 20(a) and
  (c);
               (5)  receive and forward impact statements as required
  by Rule 4, Section 34(e);
               (6)  receive committee reports as required by Rule 4,
  Section 37, and refer them for printing as provided by Rule 6,
  Section 19; and
               (7)  receive and distribute the recommendations and
  final reports of interim study committees as provided by Rule 4,
  Section 61.
         Sec. 9.  PARLIAMENTARIAN.  (a)  The parliamentarian is an
  officer of the house who serves at the pleasure of the speaker. The
  parliamentarian shall advise and assist the presiding officer and
  the members of the house on matters of procedure. The
  parliamentarian has a duty of confidentiality to the speaker and to
  each member of the house and shall keep confidential all requests
  made by members of the house for advice or guidance regarding
  procedure unless the parties otherwise agree.
         (b)  After the initial appointment of a parliamentarian by
  the speaker, the appointment of a new parliamentarian to fill a
  vacancy must be approved by a majority of the membership of the
  house if the appointment is made during a regular or special
  session. If the appointment to fill the vacancy is made when the
  house is not in session, the appointment must be approved by a
  majority of the membership not later than the third day of the first
  special session that occurs after the date the appointment is made.  
  If no special session occurs after the appointment, approval by the
  membership is not required.
         (c)  In the event of a conflict between this section and the
  housekeeping resolution, this section controls.
  CHAPTER B.  OTHER EMPLOYEES
         Sec. 10.  LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL EMPLOYEES: CONFIDENTIALITY.  
  (a)  Communications between an attorney employed by the Texas
  Legislative Council and the speaker, another member of the house,
  or an employee of a member or committee of the house are
  confidential in accordance with the rules and laws concerning
  attorney-client privilege.
         (b)  Communications between any employee of the Texas
  Legislative Council and the speaker, another member of the house,
  or an employee of a member or committee of the house are
  confidential.  The General Investigating and Ethics Committee of
  the House may investigate an alleged violation of this subsection.
         (c)  This section does not prohibit the speaker, member, or
  committee from waiving a privilege as otherwise permitted by law or
  from waiving confidentiality under this section.
  RULE 3.  STANDING COMMITTEES
         Sec. 1.  AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK. The committee shall
  have seven [nine] members, with jurisdiction over all matters
  pertaining to:
               (1)  agriculture, horticulture, and farm husbandry;
               (2)  livestock and stock raising, and the livestock
  industry;
               (3)  the development and preservation of forests, and
  the regulation, control, and promotion of the lumber industry;
               (4)  problems and issues particularly affecting rural
  areas of the state, including issues related to rural economic
  development and the provision of and access to infrastructure,
  education, and health services; and
               (5)  the following state agencies: the Department of
  Agriculture, the Texas Animal Health Commission, the State Soil and
  Water Conservation Board, the Texas Forest Service, the Office of
  South Central Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact, the Office
  of Chief Apiary Inspector, Texas AgriLife Research, the Texas
  AgriLife Extension Service, the Food and Fibers Research Council,
  the State Seed and Plant Board, the State Board of Veterinary
  Medical Examiners, the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic
  Laboratory, the Produce Recovery Fund Board, the board of directors
  of the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation, Inc., [the Texas
  Department   of Rural Affairs,] and the Texas Wildlife Damage
  Management Service.
         Sec. 2.  APPROPRIATIONS. (a) The committee shall have 27
  members, with jurisdiction over:
               (1)  all bills and resolutions appropriating money from
  the state treasury;
               (2)  all bills and resolutions containing provisions
  resulting in automatic allocation of funds from the state treasury;
               (3)  [all matters related to federal economic stimulus
  legislation;
               [(4)]  all bills and resolutions diverting funds from
  the state treasury or preventing funds from going in that otherwise
  would be placed in the state treasury; and
               (4) [(5)]  all matters pertaining to claims and
  accounts filed with the legislature against the state unless
  jurisdiction over those bills and resolutions is specifically
  granted by these rules to some other standing committee.
         (b)  The appropriations committee may comment upon any bill
  or resolution containing a provision resulting in an automatic
  allocation of funds.
         Sec. 3 [4].  BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY. The committee shall
  have seven [nine] members, with jurisdiction over all matters
  pertaining to:
               (1)  industry and manufacturing;
               (2)  industrial safety and adequate and safe working
  conditions, and the regulation and control of those conditions;
               (3)  hours, wages, collective bargaining, and the
  relationship between employers and employees;
               (4)  the regulation of business transactions and
  transactions involving property interests;
               (5)  the organization, incorporation, management, and
  regulation of private corporations and professional associations
  and the Uniform Commercial Code and the Texas Revised Limited
  Partnership Act;
               (6)  the protection of consumers, governmental
  regulations incident thereto, the agencies of government
  authorized to regulate such activities, and the role of the
  government in consumer protection;
               (7)  privacy and identity theft;
               (8)  homeowners' associations;
               (9)  oversight and regulation of the construction
  industry; and
               (10)  the following state agencies: the State Office of
  Risk Management, the Risk Management Board, the Division of
  Workers' Compensation of the Texas Department of Insurance, the
  workers' compensation research and evaluation group in the Texas
  Department of Insurance, the Office of Injured Employee Counsel,
  including the ombudsman program of that office, and the Texas
  Mutual Insurance Company Board of Directors.
         Sec. 4 [5].  CALENDARS (PROCEDURAL). The committee shall
  have 15 members, with jurisdiction over:
               (1)  the placement of bills and resolutions on
  appropriate calendars, except those within the jurisdiction of the
  Committee on Rules and Resolutions;
               (2)  the determination of priorities and proposal of
  rules for floor consideration of such bills and resolutions; and
               (3)  all other matters concerning the calendar system
  and the expediting of the business of the house as may be assigned
  by the speaker.
         Sec. 5 [6].  CORRECTIONS. The committee shall have seven 
  [nine] members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
               (1)  the incarceration and rehabilitation of convicted
  felons;
               (2)  the establishment and maintenance of programs that
  provide alternatives to incarceration;
               (3)  the commitment and rehabilitation of youths;
               (4)  the construction, operation, and management of
  correctional facilities of the state and facilities used for the
  commitment and rehabilitation of youths;
               (5)  juvenile delinquency and gang violence;
               (6)  criminal law, prohibitions, standards, and
  penalties as applied to juveniles;
               (7)  criminal procedure in the courts of Texas as it
  relates to juveniles; and
               (8)  the following state agencies:  the Texas
  Department of Criminal Justice, the Special Prosecution Unit, the
  Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Texas Juvenile Justice Board, the
  Texas Juvenile Justice Department [Youth Commission], the Office of
  Independent Ombudsman for [of] the Texas Juvenile Justice
  Department [Youth Commission], the Council on Sex Offender
  Treatment, the Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical
  or Mental Impairments, [the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission,]
  and the Advisory Council on Juvenile Services.
         Sec. 6 [7].  COUNTY AFFAIRS. The committee shall have nine
  members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
               (1)  counties, including their organization, creation,
  boundaries, government, and finance and the compensation and duties
  of their officers and employees;
               (2)  establishing districts for the election of
  governing bodies of counties;
               (3)  regional councils of governments;
               (4)  multicounty boards or commissions;
               (5)  relationships or contracts between counties;
               (6)  other units of local government; and
               (7)  the following state agency:  the Commission on
  Jail Standards.
         Sec. 7 [8].  CRIMINAL JURISPRUDENCE. The committee shall
  have nine members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining
  to:
               (1)  criminal law, prohibitions, standards, and
  penalties;
               (2)  probation and parole;
               (3)  criminal procedure in the courts of Texas;
               (4)  revision or amendment of the Penal Code; and
               (5)  the following state agencies:  the Office of State
  Prosecuting Attorney and the Texas State Council for Interstate
  Adult Offender Supervision.
         Sec. 8 [9].  CULTURE, RECREATION, AND TOURISM. The
  committee shall have seven [nine] members, with jurisdiction over:
               (1)  the creation, operation, and control of state
  parks, including the development, maintenance, and operation of
  state parks in connection with the sales and use tax imposed on
  sporting goods, but not including any matter within the
  jurisdiction of the Committee on Appropriations;
               (2)  the regulation and control of the propagation and
  preservation of wildlife and fish in the state;
               (3)  the development and regulation of the fish and
  oyster industries of the state;
               (4)  hunting and fishing in the state, and the
  regulation and control thereof, including the imposition of fees,
  fines, and penalties relating to that regulation;
               (5)  the regulation of other recreational activities;
               (6)  cultural resources and their promotion,
  development, and regulation;
               (7)  historical resources and their promotion,
  development, and regulation;
               (8)  promotion and development of Texas' image and
  heritage;
               (9)  preservation and protection of Texas' shrines,
  monuments, and memorials;
               (10)  international and interstate tourist promotion
  and development;
               (11)  the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office
  as it relates to the subject-matter jurisdiction of this committee;
               (12)  the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Compact; and
               (13)  the following state agencies: the Parks and
  Wildlife Department, the Texas Commission on the Arts, the State
  Cemetery Committee, the Texas State Library and Archives
  Commission, the Texas Historical Commission, the State
  Preservation Board, the San Jacinto Historical Advisory Board, and
  an office of state government to the extent the office promotes the
  Texas music industry.
         Sec. 9 [10].  DEFENSE AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS.  The committee
  shall have nine members, with jurisdiction over all matters
  pertaining to:
               (1)  the relations between the State of Texas and the
  federal government involving defense, emergency preparedness, and
  veterans issues;
               (2)  the various branches of the military service of
  the United States;
               (3)  the realignment or closure of military bases;
               (4)  the defense of the state and nation, including
  terrorism response;
               (5)  emergency preparedness;
               (6)  veterans of military and related services; and
               (7)  the following state agencies: the Adjutant
  General's Department, the Texas Veterans Commission, the Veterans'
  Land Board, the Texas Military Preparedness Commission, the Texas 
  Division of Emergency Management, and the Emergency Management
  Council.
         Sec. 10 [11].  ECONOMIC AND SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. (a)  
  The committee shall have nine [seven] members, with jurisdiction
  over all matters pertaining to:
               (1)  workforce training;
               (2)  commerce, trade, and manufacturing;
               (3)  economic and industrial development;
               (4)  development and support of small businesses;
               (5)  job creation and job-training programs;
               (6)  hours, wages, collective bargaining, and the
  relationship between employers and employees;
               (7)  unemployment compensation, including coverage,
  benefits, taxes, and eligibility;
               (8)  labor unions and their organization, control,
  management, and administration;
               (9)  weights and measures; and
               (10)  the following state agencies: the Texas Economic
  Development and Tourism Office, the Texas Workforce Commission, and
  the Texas Workforce Investment Council.
         (b)  The chair of the committee shall appoint a permanent
  subcommittee on manufacturing consisting of not fewer than five
  members to consider all matters pertaining to:
                     (1)  manufacturing in the state, including the
  state's manufacturing capability;
                     (2)  advances in manufacturing science and
  technology;
                     (3)  the promotion of manufacturing research,
  development, and technology transfers in the state; and
                     (4)  matters related to cooperation of state and
  local governments with the scientific, educational, and
  manufacturing communities, including industry, institutions of
  higher education, and federal or state experiment stations and
  laboratories.
         Sec. 11 [12].  ELECTIONS. The committee shall have seven 
  [nine] members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
               (1)  the right of suffrage in Texas;
               (2)  primary, special, and general elections;
               (3)  revision, modification, amendment, or change of
  the Election Code;
               (4)  the secretary of state in relation to elections;
               (5)  campaign finance;
               (6)  the duties and conduct of candidates for public
  office and of persons with an interest in influencing public
  policy; and
               (7)  the following state agencies: the Office of the
  Secretary of State and the Texas Ethics Commission.
         Sec. 12 [13].  ENERGY RESOURCES. The committee shall have
  11 [nine] members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining
  to:
               (1)  the conservation of the energy resources of Texas;
               (2)  the production, regulation, transportation, and
  development of oil, gas, and other energy resources;
               (3)  mining and the development of mineral deposits
  within the state;
               (4)  the leasing and regulation of mineral rights under
  public lands;
               (5)  pipelines, pipeline companies, and all others
  operating as common carriers in the state;
               (6)  electric utility regulation as it relates to
  energy production and consumption;
               (7)  identifying, developing, and using alternative
  energy sources;
               (8)  increasing energy efficiency throughout the
  state; and
               (9)  the following state agencies:  the Railroad
  Commission of Texas, the Office of Interstate Oil Compact
  Commissioner for Texas, the Office of Interstate Mining Compact
  Commissioner for Texas, [the Texas Energy Coordination Council,]
  the State Energy Conservation Office, and the Office of Southern
  States Energy Board Member for Texas.
         Sec. 13 [14].  ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION. The committee
  shall have nine  members, with jurisdiction over all matters
  pertaining to:
               (1)  air, land, and water pollution, including the
  environmental regulation of industrial development;
               (2)  the regulation of waste disposal;
               (3)  environmental matters that are regulated by the
  Department of State Health Services or the Texas Commission on
  Environmental Quality;
               (4)  oversight of the Texas Commission on Environmental
  Quality as it relates to environmental regulation; and
               (5)  the following state agency: the Texas Low-Level
  Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission.
         Sec. 14 [15].  GENERAL INVESTIGATING AND ETHICS
  (PROCEDURAL). (a) The General Investigating and Ethics Committee
  shall have five members of the house appointed by the speaker. The
  speaker shall appoint the chair and the vice-chair of the
  committee.
         (b)  The committee has all the powers and duties of a general
  investigating committee and shall operate as the general
  investigating committee of the house according to the procedures
  prescribed by Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government Code, and the
  rules of the house, as applicable.
         (c)  The committee has jurisdiction over all matters
  pertaining to the conduct of and ethical standards applicable to
  state and local government officers and employees.
         Sec. 15 [16].  GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY AND REFORM. The
  committee shall have seven members, with jurisdiction over all
  matters pertaining to:
               (1)  the organization, operation, powers, regulations,
  and management of state departments, agencies, institutions, and
  advisory committees;
               (2)  elimination of inefficiencies in the provision of
  state services; [and]
               (3)  open government matters, including open records
  and open meetings; and
               (4)  the Sunset Advisory Commission.
         Sec. 16 [17].  HIGHER EDUCATION. The committee shall have
  nine members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
               (1)  education beyond high school;
               (2)  the colleges and universities of the State of
  Texas; and
               (3)  the following state agencies: the Texas
  Engineering Experiment Station, the Texas Engineering Extension
  Service, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Texas
  Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation, the State Medical Education
  Board, the Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board, and the Texas
  Transportation Institute.
         Sec. 17 [18].  HOMELAND SECURITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY. The
  committee shall have nine members, with jurisdiction over all
  matters pertaining to:
               (1)  law enforcement;
               (2)  the prevention of crime and the apprehension of
  criminals;
               (3)  the provision of security services by private
  entities;
               (4)  homeland security, including:
                     (A)  the defense of the state and nation,
  including terrorism response; and
                     (B)  disaster mitigation, preparedness, response,
  and recovery; and
               (5)  the following state agencies: the Commission on
  Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education, the Department of
  Public Safety, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, the
  Emergency Management Council, the Texas Forensic Science
  Commission, the Texas Military Preparedness Commission, the Texas
  Private Security Board, the Commission on State Emergency
  Communications, and the Texas Crime Stoppers Council.
         Sec. 18 [19].  HOUSE ADMINISTRATION (PROCEDURAL). (a)  The
  committee shall have 11 members, with jurisdiction over:
               (1)  administrative operation of the house and its
  employees;
               (2)  the general house fund, with full control over all
  expenditures from the fund;
               (3)  all property, equipment, and supplies obtained by
  the house for its use and the use of its members;
               (4)  all office space available for the use of the house
  and its members;
               (5)  the assignment of vacant office space, vacant
  parking spaces, and vacant desks on the house floor to members with
  seniority based on cumulative years of service in the house, except
  that the committee may make these assignments based on physical
  disability of a member where it deems proper;
               (6)  all admissions to the floor during sessions of the
  house;
               (7)  all proposals to invite nonmembers to appear
  before or address the house or a joint session;
               (8)  all radio broadcasting and televising, live or
  recorded, of sessions of the house;
               (9)  the electronic recording of the proceedings of the
  house of representatives and the custody of the recordings of
  testimony before house committees, with authority to promulgate
  reasonable rules, regulations, and conditions concerning the
  safekeeping, reproducing, and transcribing of the recordings, and
  the defraying of costs for transcribing the recordings, subject to
  other provisions of these rules;
               (10)  all witnesses appearing before the house or any
  committee thereof in support of or in opposition to any pending
  legislative proposal; and
               (11)  the following state agency: the State
  Preservation Board.
         (b)  The committee must vote to adopt the annual budget for
  each house department.
         Sec. 19 [20].  HUMAN SERVICES. The committee shall have
  nine members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
               (1)  welfare and rehabilitation programs and their
  development, administration, and control;
               (2)  oversight of the Health and Human Services
  Commission as it relates to the subject matter jurisdiction of this
  committee;
               (3)  intellectual disabilities and the development of
  programs incident thereto;
               (4)  the prevention and treatment of intellectual
  disabilities; and
               (5)  the following state agencies:  the Department of
  Aging and Disability Services, the Department of Assistive and
  Rehabilitative Services, the Department of Family and Protective
  Services, the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners, the
  Texas Council on Purchasing from People with Disabilities, and the
  Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors.
         Sec. 20 [21].  INSURANCE. The committee shall have nine
  members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
               (1)  insurance and the insurance industry;
               (2)  all insurance companies and other organizations of
  any type writing or issuing policies of insurance in the State of
  Texas, including their organization, incorporation, management,
  powers, and limitations; and
               (3)  the following state agencies: the Texas
  Department of Insurance, the Texas Health Benefits Purchasing
  Cooperative, and the Office of Public Insurance Counsel.
         Sec. 21 [3].  INTERNATIONAL TRADE [BORDER] AND
  INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS. The committee shall have seven [nine]
  members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
               (1)  the relations between the State of Texas and other
  nations, including matters related to trade relations and
  international trade zones;
               (2)  the relations between the State of Texas and the
  federal government other than matters involving defense, emergency
  preparedness, and veterans issues;
               (3)  the relations between the State of Texas and other
  states of the United States;
               (4)  international commerce and trade, including the
  regulation of persons participating in international commerce and
  trade;
               (5)  international and border regions (as described in
  Sections 2056.002(e)(2) and (3), Government Code) economic
  development, public health and safety issues affecting the border,
  tourist development, and goodwill, and economic development,
  tourist development, and goodwill in other areas of the state that
  have experienced a significant increase in the percentage of the
  population that consists of immigrants from other nations,
  according to the last two federal decennial censuses or another
  reliable measure;
               (6)  the provision of public services to persons
  residing in proximity to Texas' international border or in other
  areas of the state that have experienced a significant increase in
  the percentage of the population that consists of immigrants from
  other nations, according to the last two federal decennial censuses
  or another reliable measure; and
               (7)  the following state agency: the Office of
  State-Federal Relations.
         Sec. 22 [27].  [PENSIONS,] INVESTMENTS[,] AND FINANCIAL
  SERVICES. The committee shall have seven [nine] members, with
  jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
               (1)  banking and the state banking system;
               (2)  savings and loan associations;
               (3)  credit unions;
               (4)  the regulation of state and local bonded
  indebtedness;
               (5)  the lending of money;
               (6)  [benefits or participation in benefits of a public
  retirement system and the financial obligations of a public
  retirement system;
               [(7)]  the regulation of securities and investments;
               (7) [(8)]  privacy and identity theft; and
               (8) [(9)]  the following state agencies: the Finance
  Commission of Texas, the Credit Union Commission, the Office of
  Consumer Credit Commissioner, the Office of Banking Commissioner,
  the Texas Department of Banking, the Department of Savings and
  Mortgage Lending, the Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust Company, the
  Texas Public Finance Authority, the Bond Review Board, [the Office
  of Fire Fighters' Pension Commissioner, the Board of Trustees of
  the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, the Board of Trustees of the
  Employees Retirement System of Texas, the Board of Trustees of the
  Texas County and District Retirement System, the Board of Trustees
  of the Texas Municipal Retirement System, the State Pension Review
  Board,] and the State Securities Board.
         Sec. 23 [22].  JUDICIARY AND CIVIL JURISPRUDENCE. The
  committee shall have nine [11] members, with jurisdiction over all
  matters pertaining to:
               (1)  fines and penalties arising under civil laws;
               (2)  civil law, including rights, duties, remedies, and
  procedures thereunder, and including probate and guardianship
  matters;
               (3)  civil procedure in the courts of Texas;
               (4)  administrative law and the adjudication of rights
  by administrative agencies;
               (5)  permission to sue the state;
               (6)  civil law as it relates to familial relationships,
  including rights, duties, remedies, and procedures thereunder;
               (7)  uniform state laws;
               (8)  creating, changing, or otherwise affecting courts
  of judicial districts of the state;
               (9)  establishing districts for the election of
  judicial officers;
               (10)  the State Commission on Judicial Conduct;
               (11)  the Office of the Attorney General, including its
  organization, powers, functions, and responsibilities;
               (12)  courts and court procedures except where
  jurisdiction is specifically granted to some other standing
  committee; and
               (13)  the following state agencies: the Supreme Court,
  the Courts of Appeals, the Court of Criminal Appeals, the State
  Commission on Judicial Conduct, the Office of Court Administration
  of the Texas Judicial System, the State Law Library, the Texas
  Judicial Council, the Guardianship Certification Board, the Office
  of the Attorney General, the Court Reporters Certification Board,
  the Board of Law Examiners, the State Bar of Texas, and the State
  Office of Administrative Hearings.
         Sec. 24 [23].  LAND AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. The committee
  shall have nine members, with jurisdiction over all matters
  pertaining to:
               (1)  the management of public lands;
               (2)  the power of eminent domain;
               (3)  annexation, zoning, and other governmental
  regulation of land use; and
               (4)  the following state agencies:  the School Land
  Board, the Board for Lease of University Lands, [the Coastal
  Coordination Council,] and the General Land Office.
         Sec. 25 [24].  LICENSING AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES. The
  committee shall have nine members, with jurisdiction over all
  matters pertaining to:
               (1)  the oversight of businesses, industries, general
  trades, and occupations regulated by this state;
               (2)  the regulation of greyhound and horse racing and
  other gaming industries;
               (3)  regulation of the sale of intoxicating beverages
  and local option control;
               (4)  the Alcoholic Beverage Code; and
               (5)  the following state agencies: the Texas
  Department of Licensing and Regulation, the State Office of
  Administrative Hearings, the Texas Board of Architectural
  Examiners, the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy, the Texas
  Real Estate Commission, the Texas State Board of Plumbing
  Examiners, the Texas Board of Professional Engineers, the Real
  Estate Research Center, the Texas Board of Professional Land
  Surveying, the Texas Racing Commission, the Texas Appraiser
  Licensing and Certification Board, the Texas Lottery Commission,
  and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
         Sec. 26 [25].  LOCAL AND CONSENT CALENDARS (PROCEDURAL).
  The committee shall have 13 [11] members, with jurisdiction over:
               (1)  the placement on appropriate calendars of bills
  and resolutions that, in the opinion of the committee, are in fact
  local or will be uncontested, and have been recommended as such by
  the standing committee of original jurisdiction; and
               (2)  the determination of priorities for floor
  consideration of bills and resolutions except those within the
  jurisdiction of the Committee on Calendars.
         Sec. 27 [26].  NATURAL RESOURCES. The committee shall have
  11 members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
               (1)  the conservation of the natural resources of
  Texas;
               (2)  the control and development of land and water and
  land and water resources, including the taking, storing, control,
  and use of all water in the state, and its appropriation and
  allocation;
               (3)  irrigation, irrigation companies, and irrigation
  districts, and their incorporation, management, and powers;
               (4)  the creation, modification, and regulation of
  groundwater conservation districts and the modification and
  regulation of water supply districts, water control and improvement
  districts, conservation and reclamation districts, and all similar
  organs of local government dealing with water and water supply;
               (5)  oversight of the Texas Commission on Environmental
  Quality as it relates to the regulation of water resources; and
               (6)  the following state agencies: the Office of
  Canadian River Compact Commissioner for Texas, the Office of Pecos
  River Compact Commissioner for Texas, the Office of Red River
  Compact Commissioner for Texas, the Office of Rio Grande Compact
  Commissioner for Texas, the Office of Sabine River Compact
  Administrator for Texas, the Multi-State Water Resources Planning
  Commission, and the Texas Water Development Board.
         Sec. 28 [27].  PENSIONS[, INVESTMENTS, AND   FINANCIAL
  SERVICES]. The committee shall have seven [nine] members, with
  jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
               (1)  [banking and the state banking system;
               [(2)  savings and loan associations;
               [(3)  credit unions;
               [(4)     the regulation of state and local bonded
  indebtedness;
               [(5)  the lending of money;
               [(6)]  benefits or participation in benefits of a
  public retirement system and the financial obligations of a public
  retirement system; and
               (2) [(7)     the regulation of securities and
  investments;
               [(8)  privacy and identity theft; and
               [(9)]  the following state agencies: [the Finance
  Commission of Texas, the Credit Union Commission, the Office of
  Consumer Credit Commissioner, the Office of Banking Commissioner,
  the Texas Department of Banking, the Department of Savings and
  Mortgage Lending, the Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust Company, the
  Texas Public Finance Authority, the Bond Review Board,] the Office
  of Fire Fighters' Pension Commissioner, the Board of Trustees of
  the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, the Board of Trustees of the
  Employees Retirement System of Texas, the Board of Trustees of the
  Texas County and District Retirement System, the Board of Trustees
  of the Texas Municipal Retirement System, and the State Pension
  Review Board[, and the State Securities Board].
         Sec. 29 [28].  PUBLIC EDUCATION. The committee shall have
  11  members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
               (1)  the public schools and the public school system of
  Texas and the financing thereof;
               (2)  the state programming of elementary and secondary
  education for the public school system of Texas;
               (3)  proposals to create, change, or otherwise alter
  school districts of the state; and
               (4)  the following state agencies: the State Board of
  Education, the Texas Education Agency, the Office of Compact for
  Education Commissioner for Texas, the Office of Southern Regional
  Education Compact Commissioner for Texas, the Texas School for the
  Blind and Visually Impaired, the State Board for Educator
  Certification, and the Texas School for the Deaf.
         Sec. 30 [29].  PUBLIC HEALTH. The committee shall have 11
  members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
               (1)  the protection of public health, including
  supervision and control of the practice of medicine and dentistry
  and other allied health services;
               (2)  mental health and the development of programs
  incident thereto;
               (3)  the prevention and treatment of mental illness;
               (4)  oversight of the Health and Human Services
  Commission as it relates to the subject matter jurisdiction of this
  committee; and
               (5)  the following state agencies: the Department of
  State Health Services, the Anatomical Board of the State of Texas,
  the Texas Funeral Service Commission, the State Committee of
  Examiners in the Fitting and Dispensing of Hearing Instruments, the
  Texas Health Services Authority, the Texas Optometry Board, the
  Radiation Advisory Board, the Texas State Board of Pharmacy, the
  Interagency Obesity Council, the Texas Board of Nursing, the Texas
  Board of Chiropractic Examiners, the Texas Board of Physical
  Therapy Examiners, the Texas State Board of Podiatric Medical
  Examiners, the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, the
  State Board of Dental Examiners, the Texas Medical Board, the
  Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers, the Dental Hygiene Advisory
  Committee, the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas,
  the Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners, the Health
  Professions Council, the Office of Patient Protection, and the
  Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners.
         Sec. 31 [30].  REDISTRICTING (PROCEDURAL). The committee
  shall have nine [17] members, with jurisdiction over all matters
  pertaining to:
               (1)  legislative districts, both house and senate, and
  any changes or amendments;
               (2)  congressional districts, their creation, and any
  changes or amendments;
               (3)  establishing districts for the election of
  judicial officers or of governing bodies or representatives of
  political subdivisions or state agencies as required by law; and
               (4)  preparations for the redistricting process.
         Sec. 32 [31].  RULES AND RESOLUTIONS (PROCEDURAL). The
  committee shall have 11 members, with jurisdiction over:
               (1)  Rules of Procedure of the House of
  Representatives, and all proposed amendments;
               (2)  Joint Rules of the House and Senate, and all
  proposed amendments;
               (3)  all procedures for expediting the business of the
  house in an orderly and efficient manner;
               (4)  all resolutions to congratulate, memorialize, or
  name mascots of the house; and
               (5)  other matters concerning rules, procedures, and
  operation of the house assigned by the speaker.
         Sec. 33.  SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICTS.  (a)  The committee
  shall have nine members, with jurisdiction over all matters
  pertaining to:
               (1)  the creation of any special purpose district not
  otherwise assigned by these rules to other standing committees,
  including a crime control and prevention district, library
  district, public improvement district, municipal management
  district, municipal development district, irrigation district,
  water improvement district, water control and improvement
  district, river authority, or navigation district; and
               (2)  any other local government special purpose
  district authorized or created under law that as the result of its
  creation may levy or impose a tax, assessment, or fee for a special
  purpose.
         (b)  In this section, "local government" means a political
  subdivision of this state, other than a county, and includes a
  corporation or other entity created by a political subdivision of
  this state other than a county.
         Sec. 34 [32].  STATE AFFAIRS. The committee shall have 13
  members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
               (1)  questions and matters of state policy;
               (2)  the administration of state government;
               (3)  the organization, operation, powers, regulation,
  and management of state departments, agencies, and institutions;
               (4)  the operation and regulation of public lands and
  state buildings;
               (5)  the duties and conduct of officers and employees
  of the state government;
               (6)  the operation of state government and its agencies
  and departments; all of above except where jurisdiction is
  specifically granted to some other standing committee;
               (7)  access of the state agencies to scientific and
  technological information;
               (8)  the regulation and deregulation of electric
  utilities and the electric industry;
               (9)  the regulation and deregulation of
  telecommunications utilities and the telecommunications industry;
               (10)  electric utility regulation as it relates to
  energy production and consumption;
               (11)  pipelines, pipeline companies, and all others
  operating as common carriers in the state;
               (12)  the regulation and deregulation of other
  industries jurisdiction of which is not specifically assigned to
  another committee under these rules; and
               (13)  the following organizations and state agencies:
  the Council of State Governments, the National Conference of State
  Legislatures, the Office of the Governor, the Texas Facilities
  Commission, the Department of Information Resources, the Inaugural
  Endowment Fund Committee, the Sunset Advisory Commission, the
  Public Utility Commission of Texas, and the Office of Public
  Utility Counsel.
         Sec. 35 [33].  TECHNOLOGY. The committee shall have five
  members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
               (1)  advances in science and technology, including in
  telecommunications, electronic technology, and automated data
  processing;
               (2)  the promotion of scientific research,
  technological development, and technology transfer in the state;
               (3)  matters relating to cooperation of state and local
  governments with the scientific and technological community,
  including industry, institutions of higher education, and federal
  governmental laboratories; and
               (4)  the Texas Emerging Technology Advisory Committee.
         Sec. 36 [34].  TRANSPORTATION. The committee shall have 11 
  members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
               (1)  commercial motor vehicles, both bus and truck, and
  their control, regulation, licensing, and operation;
               (2)  the Texas highway system, including all roads,
  bridges, and ferries constituting a part of the system;
               (3)  the licensing of private passenger vehicles to
  operate on the roads and highways of the state;
               (4)  the regulation and control of traffic on the
  public highways of the State of Texas;
               (5)  railroads, street railway lines, interurban
  railway lines, steamship companies, and express companies;
               (6)  airports, air traffic, airlines, and other
  organizations engaged in transportation by means of aerial flight;
               (7)  water transportation in the State of Texas, and
  the rivers, harbors, and related facilities used in water
  transportation and the agencies of government exercising
  supervision and control thereover;
               (8)  the regulation of metropolitan transit; and
               (9)  the following state agencies: the Texas Department
  of Motor Vehicles, the Texas Department of Transportation, and the
  Texas Transportation Commission.
         Sec. 37 [35].  URBAN AFFAIRS. The committee shall have
  seven [nine] members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining
  to:
               (1)  municipalities, including their creation,
  organization, powers, government, and finance, and the
  compensation and duties of their officers and employees;
               (2)  home-rule municipalities, their relationship to
  the state, and their powers, authority, and limitations;
               (3)  the creation or change of metropolitan areas and
  the form of government under which those areas operate;
               (4)  problems and issues particularly affecting
  metropolitan areas of the state;
               (5)  other units of local government not otherwise
  assigned by these rules to other standing committees;
               (6)  establishing districts for the election of
  governing bodies of municipalities;
               (7)  land use regulation by municipalities; and
               (8)  the following state agencies: the Texas
  Department of Housing and Community Affairs and the Texas
  Commission on Fire Protection.
         Sec. 38 [36].  WAYS AND MEANS. The committee shall have nine 
  [11] members, with jurisdiction over:
               (1)  all bills and resolutions proposing to raise state
  revenue;
               (2)  all bills or resolutions proposing to levy state
  taxes or other fees;
               (3)  all proposals to modify, amend, or change any
  existing state tax or revenue statute;
               (4)  all proposals to regulate the manner of collection
  of state revenues and taxes;
               (5)  all bills and resolutions containing provisions
  resulting in automatic allocation of funds from the state treasury;
               (6)  all bills and resolutions diverting funds from the
  state treasury or preventing funds from going in that otherwise
  would be placed in the state treasury;
               (7)  all bills and resolutions proposing to permit a
  local government to raise revenue;
               (8)  all bills and resolutions proposing to permit a
  local government to levy or impose property taxes, sales and use
  taxes, or other taxes and fees;
               (9)  all proposals to modify, amend, or change any
  existing local government tax or revenue statute;
               (10)  all proposals to regulate the manner of
  collection of local government revenues and taxes;
               (11)  all bills and resolutions relating to the
  appraisal of property for taxation;
               (12)  all bills and resolutions relating to the Tax
  Code; and
               (13)  the following state agencies: the Office of
  Multistate Tax Compact Commissioner for Texas and the State
  Comptroller of Public Accounts.
  RULE 4. ORGANIZATION, POWERS, AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEES
  CHAPTER A. ORGANIZATION
         Sec. 1.  COMMITTEES, MEMBERSHIP, AND JURISDICTION. Standing
  committees of the house, and the number of members and general
  jurisdiction of each, shall be as enumerated in Rule 3.
         Sec. 2.  DETERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP.  (a)  Membership on
  the standing committees shall be determined at the beginning of
  each regular session in the following manner:
               (1)  For each standing substantive committee, a maximum
  of one-half of the membership, exclusive of the chair and
  vice-chair, shall be determined by seniority. The remaining
  membership of the committee shall be appointed by the speaker.
               (2)  Each member of the house, in order of seniority,
  may designate three committees on which he or she desires to serve,
  listed in order of preference. The member is entitled to become a
  member of the committee of his or her highest preference on which
  there remains a vacant seniority position.
               (3)  If members of equal seniority request the same
  committee, the speaker shall appoint the member from among those
  requesting that committee. Seniority, as the term is used in this
  subsection, shall mean years of cumulative service as a member of
  the house of representatives.
               (4)  After each member of the house has selected one
  committee on the basis of seniority, the remaining membership on
  each standing committee shall be filled by appointment of the
  speaker, subject to the limitations imposed in this chapter.
               (5)  Seniority shall not apply to a procedural
  committee. For purposes of these rules, the procedural committees
  are the Committee on Calendars, the Committee on Local and Consent
  Calendars, the Committee on Rules and Resolutions, the General
  Investigating and Ethics Committee, the Committee on House
  Administration, and the Committee on Redistricting. The entire
  membership of these committees shall be appointed by the speaker.
               (6)  In announcing the membership of committees, the
  speaker shall designate those appointed by the speaker and those
  acquiring membership by seniority.
               (7)  The speaker shall designate the chair and
  vice-chair from the total membership of the committee.
         (b)  In the event of a vacancy in a representative district
  that has not been filled at the time of the determination of the
  membership of standing committees, the representative of the
  district who fills that vacancy shall not be entitled to select a
  committee on the basis of seniority. Committee appointments on
  behalf of that district shall be designated by the district number.
         (c)  In the event that a member-elect of the current
  legislature has not taken the oath of office by the end of the ninth
  day of the regular session, the representative of that district
  shall not be entitled to select a committee on the basis of
  seniority. If the member-elect has not taken the oath of office by
  the time committee appointments are announced, committee
  appointments on behalf of that district shall be designated by
  district number.
         Sec. 3.  RANKING OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS.  Except for the chair
  and vice-chair, members of a standing committee shall rank
  according to their seniority.
         Sec. 4.  MEMBERSHIP RESTRICTIONS.  (a)  No member shall serve
  concurrently on more than two standing substantive committees.
         (b)  A member serving as chair of the Committee on
  Appropriations or the Committee on State Affairs may not serve on
  any other substantive committee.
         Sec. 5.  VACANCIES ON COMMITTEES.  Should a vacancy occur on
  a standing, select, or interim committee subsequent to its
  organization, the speaker shall appoint an eligible member to fill
  the vacancy.
         Sec. 6.  DUTIES OF THE CHAIR.  The chair of each committee
  shall:
               (1)  be responsible for the effective conduct of the
  business of the committee;
               (2)  appoint all subcommittees and determine the number
  of members to serve on each subcommittee;
               (3)  in consultation with members of the committee,
  schedule the work of the committee and determine the order in which
  the committee shall consider and act on bills, resolutions, and
  other matters referred to the committee;
               (4)  have authority to employ and discharge the staff
  and employees authorized for the committee and have supervision and
  control over all the staff and employees;
               (5)  direct the preparation of all committee reports.
  No committee report shall be official until signed by the chair of
  the committee, or by the person acting as chair, or by a majority of
  the membership of the committee;
               (6)  determine the necessity for public hearings,
  schedule hearings, and be responsible for directing the posting of 
  notice of hearings as required by the rules;
               (7)  preside at all meetings of the committee and
  control its deliberations and activities in accordance with
  acceptable parliamentary procedure; and
               (8)  have authority to direct the sergeant-at-arms to
  assist, where necessary, in enforcing the will of the committee.
         Sec. 7.  BILL ANALYSES. Except for the general
  appropriations bill, for each bill or joint resolution referred to
  the committee, the staff of the committee shall be responsible for
  distributing a copy of a bill analysis to each member of the
  committee and to the author of a house measure or sponsor of a
  senate measure at the earliest possible opportunity but not later
  than the first time the measure is laid out in a committee meeting.
  The author of the bill or joint resolution may request the Texas
  Legislative Council to prepare an analysis for purposes of this
  section suitable for distribution by committee staff to each member
  of the committee.
  CHAPTER B. PROCEDURE
         Sec. 8.  MEETINGS.  (a)  As soon as practicable after
  standing committees are constituted and organized, the committee
  coordinator, under the direction of the Committee on House
  Administration, shall prepare a schedule for regular meetings of
  all standing committees. This schedule shall be published in the
  house journal and posted in a convenient and conspicuous place near
  the entrance to the house and on other posting boards for committee
  meeting notices, as determined necessary by the Committee on House
  Administration.  To the extent practicable during each regular
  session, standing committees shall conduct regular committee
  meetings in accordance with the schedule of meetings prepared by
  the committee coordinator under the supervision of the Committee on
  House Administration.
         (b)  Standing committees shall meet at other times as may be
  determined by the committee, or as may be called by the chair.
  Subcommittees of standing committees shall likewise meet at other
  times as may be determined by the committee, or as may be called by
  the chair of the committee or subcommittee.
         (c)  Committees shall also meet in such places and at such
  times as the speaker may designate.
         Sec. 9.  MEETING WHILE HOUSE IN SESSION.  No standing
  committee or subcommittee shall meet during the time the house is in
  session without permission being given by a majority vote of the
  house. No standing committee or subcommittee shall conduct its
  meeting on the floor of the house or in the house chamber while the
  house is in session, but shall, if given permission to meet while
  the house is in session, retire to a designated committee room for
  the conduct of its meeting.
         Sec. 10.  PURPOSES FOR MEETING.  A committee or a
  subcommittee may be assembled for:
               (1)  a public hearing where testimony is to be heard,
  and where official action may be taken, on bills, resolutions, or
  other matters;
               (2)  a formal meeting where the committee may discuss
  and take official action on bills, resolutions, or other matters
  without testimony; and
               (3)  a work session where the committee may discuss
  bills, resolutions, or other matters but take no formal action.
         Sec. 11.  POSTING NOTICE.  (a)  No committee or
  subcommittee, including a calendars committee, shall assemble for
  the purpose of a public hearing during a regular session unless
  notice of the hearing has been posted in accordance with the rules
  at least five calendar days in advance of the hearing. No committee
  or subcommittee, including a calendars committee, shall assemble
  for the purpose of a public hearing during a special session unless
  notice of the hearing has been posted in accordance with the rules
  at least 24 hours in advance of the hearing. The committee minutes
  shall reflect the date of each posting of notice. Notice shall not
  be required for a public hearing on a senate bill which is
  substantially the same as a house bill that has previously been the
  subject of a duly posted public hearing by the committee.
         (b)  No committee or subcommittee, including a calendars
  committee, shall assemble for the purpose of a formal meeting or
  work session during a regular or special session unless written
  notice has been posted and transmitted to each member of the
  committee two hours in advance of the meeting or an announcement has
  been filed with the journal clerk and read by the reading clerk
  while the house is in session.
         (c)  All committees meeting during the interim for the
  purpose of a formal meeting, work session, or public hearing shall
  post notice in accordance with the rules and notify members of the
  committee at least five calendar days in advance of the meeting.
         Sec. 12.  MEETINGS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.  All meetings of a
  committee or subcommittee, including a calendars committee, shall
  be open to other members, the press, and the public unless
  specifically provided otherwise by resolution adopted by the house.
  However, the General Investigating and Ethics Committee or a
  committee considering an impeachment, an address, the punishment of
  a member of the house, or any other matter of a quasi-judicial
  nature may meet in executive session for the limited purpose of
  examining a witness or deliberating, considering, or debating a
  decision, but no decision may be made or voted on except in a
  meeting that is open to the public and otherwise in compliance with
  the rules of the house.
         Sec. 13.  RULES GOVERNING OPERATIONS.  (a)  The Rules of
  Procedure of the House of Representatives, and to the extent
  applicable, the rules of evidence and procedure in the civil courts
  of Texas, shall govern the hearings and operations of each
  committee, including a calendars committee. Subject to the
  foregoing, and to the extent necessary for orderly transaction of
  business, each committee may promulgate and adopt additional rules
  and procedures by which it will function.
         (b)  No standing committee, including a calendars committee,
  or any subcommittee, shall adopt any rule of procedure, including
  but not limited to an automatic subcommittee rule, which will have
  the effect of thwarting the will of the majority of the committee or
  subcommittee or denying the committee or subcommittee the right to
  ultimately dispose of any pending matter by action of a majority of
  the committee or subcommittee. A bill or resolution may not be laid
  on the table subject to call in committee without a majority vote of
  the committee.
         Sec. 14.  APPEALS FROM RULINGS OF THE CHAIR.  Appeals from
  rulings of the chair of a committee shall be in order if seconded by
  three members of the committee, which may include the member making
  the appeal. Procedure in committee following an appeal which has
  been seconded shall be the same as the procedure followed in the
  house in a similar situation.
         Sec. 15.  PREVIOUS QUESTION.  Before the previous question
  can be ordered in a committee, the motion therefor must be seconded
  by not less than 4 members of a committee consisting of 21 or more
  members, 3 members of a committee consisting of less than 21 members
  and more than 10 members, or 2 members of a committee consisting of
  10 members or less. If the motion is properly seconded and ordered
  by a majority vote of the committee, further debate on the
  proposition under consideration shall be terminated, and the
  proposition shall be immediately put to a vote of the committee for
  its action.
         Sec. 16.  QUORUM.  A majority of a committee shall
  constitute a quorum. No action or recommendation of a committee
  shall be valid unless taken at a meeting of the committee with a
  quorum actually present, and the committee minutes shall reflect
  the names of those members of the committee who were actually
  present. No committee report shall be made to the house nor shall
  bills or resolutions be placed on a calendar unless ordered by a
  majority of the membership of the committee, except as otherwise
  provided in the rules, and a quorum of the committee must be present
  when the vote is taken on reporting a bill or resolution, on placing
  bills or resolutions on a calendar, or on taking any other formal
  action within the authority of the committee. No committee report
  shall be made nor shall bills or resolutions be placed on a calendar
  except by record vote of the members of the committee, with the yeas
  and nays to be recorded in the minutes of the committee. Proxies
  cannot be used in committees.
         Sec. 17.  MOVING A CALL OF A COMMITTEE.  (a)  It shall be in
  order to move a call of a committee at any time to secure and
  maintain a quorum for any one or more of the following purposes:
               (1)  for the consideration of a specific bill,
  resolution, or other matter;
               (2)  for a definite period of time; or
               (3)  for the consideration of any designated class of
  bills or other matters.
         (b)  When a call of a committee is moved for one or more of
  the foregoing purposes and seconded by two members, one of whom may
  be the chair, and is ordered by a majority of the members present,
  no member shall thereafter be permitted to leave the committee
  meeting without written permission from the chair. After the call
  is ordered, and in the absence of a quorum, the chair shall have the
  authority to authorize the sergeant-at-arms to locate absent
  members of the committee and to compel their attendance for the
  duration of the call.
         Sec. 18.  MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS.  (a)  For each committee,
  including a calendars committee, the chair, or the member acting as
  chair, shall keep complete minutes of the proceedings in committee,
  which shall include:
               (1)  the time and place of each meeting of the
  committee;
               (2)  a roll call to determine the members present at
  each meeting of the committee, whether that meeting follows an
  adjournment or a recess from a previous committee meeting;
               (3)  an accurate record of all votes taken, including a
  listing of the yeas and nays cast on a record vote;
               (4)  the date of posting of notice of the meeting; and
               (5)  other information that the chair shall determine.
         (b)  The minutes for each public hearing of a committee shall
  also include an attachment listing the names of the persons, other
  than members of the legislature, and the persons or entities
  represented by those persons, who were recognized by the chair to
  address the committee.  The attachment shall also list the name of
  each person, other than a member of the legislature, who submitted
  to the committee a sworn statement indicating that the person was
  present in favor of, in opposition to, or without taking a position
  on the measure or other matter, but who because of the person's
  departure or other reason was not recognized by the chair to address
  the committee; provided that the omission of the name of such a
  person is not a sustainable question of order.
         (c)  Committee minutes shall be corrected only at the
  direction of the chair as authorized by a majority vote of the
  committee. Duplicate originals of committee minutes shall be
  maintained, one to remain with the committee chair and the other to
  be filed with the committee coordinator. The committee minutes of a
  meeting of the Appropriations Committee on the general
  appropriations bill must be filed with the committee coordinator 
  within five days of the committee meeting. All other committee
  minutes must be filed with the committee coordinator  within three
  days of the committee meeting for a substantive committee, and
  within one day of the committee meeting for a procedural committee.
  If the date on which the committee minutes are due occurs on a
  Saturday, Sunday, or holiday on which the house is not in session,
  the committee minutes shall be filed on the following working day.
  The time at which the minutes are filed shall be time-stamped on the
  duplicate originals of the minutes that are filed with the
  committee coordinator. The duplicate originals shall be available
  at all reasonable business hours for inspection by members or the
  public.
         (d)  The committee coordinator  shall maintain the minutes
  and records safe from loss, destruction, and alteration at all
  times, and may, at any time, turn them, or any portion, over to the
  Committee on House Administration.
         Sec. 18A.  INTERNET ACCESS TO COMMITTEE DOCUMENTS. (a)  The
  committee coordinator may establish procedures for making
  available to the public on the Internet documents relating to the
  proceedings of substantive committees.
         (b)  A substantive committee may make available to the public
  on the Internet:
               (1)  any committee substitute or amendment laid before
  the committee; and
               (2)  any nonconfidential written testimony submitted
  by a state agency for consideration by the committee that relates to
  a measure referred to the committee.
         (c)  A committee's failure to comply with this section is not
  subject to a point of order.
         Sec. 19.  RECORDING OF TESTIMONY.  All testimony before
  committees and subcommittees shall be electronically recorded
  under the direction of the Committee on House Administration.
  Copies of the testimony may be released under guidelines
  promulgated by the Committee on House Administration.
         Sec. 20.  SWORN STATEMENT OF WITNESSES.  (a)  The committee
  coordinator, under the direction of the Committee on House
  Administration, shall prescribe the form of a sworn statement,
  which may be in electronic or paper format, to be executed by all
  persons, other than members, who wish to be recognized by the chair
  to address the committee. The statement shall provide for showing
  at least:
               (1)  the committee or subcommittee;
               (2)  the name, address, and telephone number of the
  person appearing;
               (3)  the person, firm, corporation, class, or group
  represented;
               (4)  the type of business, profession, or occupation in
  which the person is engaged, if the person is representing himself
  or herself; and
               (5)  the matter before the committee on which the
  person wishes to be recognized to address the committee and whether
  for, against, or neutral on the matter.
         (b)  No person shall be recognized by the chair to address
  the committee in favor of, in opposition to, or without taking a
  position on a matter until the sworn statement has been filed with
  the chair of the committee. The chair of the committee shall
  indicate [on the sworn statement] whether the person completing the
  statement was recognized to address the committee.
         (c)  Sworn [All sworn] statements submitted in paper format
  for those persons recognized by the chair to address the committee
  shall accompany the copy of the minutes of the meeting filed with
  the committee coordinator.
         (d)  All persons, other than members, recognized by the chair
  to address the committee shall give their testimony under oath, and
  each committee may avail itself of additional powers and
  prerogatives authorized by law.
         (e)  The committee shall ensure that an individual who is
  blind receives any necessary assistance in executing the sworn
  statement.
         (f)  The committee shall inform a witness who is blind which
  members of the committee are present when the witness begins to
  testify and shall inform the witness during the testimony of the
  departure and arrival of committee members.
         (g)  The chair may recognize a witness who has been invited
  by the committee to attend the meeting but is not present in the
  same physical location as the committee to testify before the
  committee through an Internet or other videoconferencing system if:
               (1)  the witness has executed a sworn statement, in
  electronic or paper format, under this section;
               (2)  the witness has filed the statement or a [an
  electronic] copy of the statement with the chair before testifying;
  and
               (3)  two-way communication has been enabled to allow
  the witness to be clearly visible and audible to the committee
  members and the committee members to be clearly visible and audible
  to the witness.
         Sec. 20A.  VIDEO TESTIMONY. The committee coordinator shall
  examine the feasibility of, and to the extent practicable at the
  time the committee coordinator determines appropriate, establish
  procedures to permit a person to submit testimony relating to
  measures under consideration by a committee to the committee in the
  form of an online video. The procedures established must ensure
  that testimony submitted in the form of a video is available to the
  public on the Internet. Online video testimony submitted to the
  committee may not exceed three minutes. Unless the person
  testifies as a witness in a public hearing, a person appearing in
  online video testimony may not submit a witness affirmation form
  and the person's name may not appear on a witness list.
         Sec. 21.  POWER TO ISSUE PROCESS AND SUMMON WITNESSES.  (a)
  By a record vote of not less than two-thirds of those present and
  voting, a quorum being present, each standing committee shall have
  the power and authority to issue process to witnesses at any place
  in the State of Texas, to compel their attendance, and to compel the
  production of all books, records, and instruments. If necessary to
  obtain compliance with subpoenas or other process, the committee
  shall have the power to issue writs of attachment. All process
  issued by the committee may be addressed to and served by an agent
  of the committee or a sergeant-at-arms appointed by the committee
  or by any peace officer of the State of Texas. The committee shall
  also have the power to cite and have prosecuted for contempt, in the
  manner provided by law, anyone disobeying the subpoenas or other
  process lawfully issued by the committee. The chair of the
  committee shall issue, in the name of the committee, the subpoenas
  and other process as the committee may direct.
         (b)  The chair may summon the governing board or other
  representatives of a state agency to appear and testify before the
  committee without issuing process under Subsection (a) of this
  section. The summons may be communicated in writing, orally, or
  electronically. If the persons summoned fail or refuse to appear,
  the committee may issue process under Subsection (a) of this
  section.
         Sec. 22.  MILEAGE AND PER DIEM FOR WITNESSES.  Subject to
  prior approval by the Committee on House Administration, witnesses
  attending proceedings of any committee under process of the
  committee shall be allowed the same mileage and per diem as are
  allowed members of the committee when in a travel status, to be paid
  out of the contingent expense fund of the house of representatives
  on vouchers approved by the chair of the committee, the chair of the
  Committee on House Administration, and the speaker of the house.
         Sec. 23.  POWER TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE OF STATE AGENCIES.  
  Each committee is authorized to request the assistance, when
  needed, of all state departments, agencies, and offices, and it
  shall be the duty of the departments, agencies, and offices to
  assist the committee when requested to do so.  Each committee shall
  have the power and authority to inspect the records, documents, and
  files of every state department, agency, and office, to the extent
  necessary to the discharge of its duties within the area of its
  jurisdiction.
         Sec. 23A.  ASSISTANCE OF OTHER MEMBERS OF LEGISLATURE. At a
  meeting of a committee, the chair may recognize a member of the
  house who is not a member of the committee to provide information to
  the committee, and may recognize a member of the senate for that
  purpose. Recognition is solely within the discretion of the chair
  and is not subject to appeal by that member.
  CHAPTER C. COMMITTEE FUNCTIONS
         Sec. 24.  INTERIM STUDIES.  Standing committees, en banc or
  by subcommittees, are hereby authorized to conduct studies that are
  authorized by the speaker pursuant to Rule 1, Section 17. Studies
  may not be authorized by resolution. The speaker may appoint public
  citizens and officials of state and local governments to standing
  committees to augment the membership for the purpose of interim
  studies and shall provide a list of such appointments to the chief
  clerk. The chair of the standing committee shall have authority to
  name the subcommittees necessary and desirable for the conduct of
  the interim studies and shall also prepare a budget for interim
  studies for approval by the Committee on House Administration.
         Sec. 25.  MOTION PREVENTING REPORTING OR PLACEMENT ON A
  CALENDAR.  No motion is in order in a committee considering a bill,
  resolution, or other matter that would prevent the committee from
  reporting it back to the house or placing it on a calendar in
  accordance with the Rules of the House.
         Sec. 26.  FINAL ACTION IN FORM OF REPORT.  No action by a
  committee on bills or resolutions referred to it shall be
  considered as final unless it is in the form of a favorable report,
  an unfavorable report, or a report of inability to recommend a
  course of action.
         Sec. 27.  VOTE ON MOTION TO REPORT.  Motions made in
  committee to report favorably or unfavorably must receive
  affirmative majority votes, majority negative votes to either
  motion being insufficient to report. If a committee is unable to
  agree on a recommendation for action, as in the case of a tie vote,
  it should submit a statement of this fact as its report, and the
  house shall decide, by a majority vote, the disposition of the
  matter by one of the following alternatives:
               (1)  leave the bill in the committee for further
  consideration;
               (2)  refer the bill to some other committee; or
               (3)  order the bill printed, in which case the bill
  shall go to the Committee on Calendars for placement on a calendar
  and for proposal of an appropriate rule for house consideration.
         Sec. 28.  MINORITY REPORTS.  The report of a minority of a
  committee shall be made in the same general form as a majority
  report. No minority report shall be recognized by the house unless
  it has been signed by not less than 4 members of a committee
  consisting of 21 or more members, 3 members of a committee
  consisting of less than 21 members and more than 10 members, or 2
  members of a committee consisting of 10 or less members. Only
  members who were present when the vote was taken on the bill,
  resolution, or other matter being reported, and who voted on the
  losing side, may sign a minority report. Notice of intention to
  file a minority report shall be given to the assembled committee
  after the vote on the bill, resolution, or other matter, and before
  the recess or adjournment of the committee, provided ample
  opportunity is afforded for the giving of notice; otherwise, notice
  may be given in writing to the chief clerk within 24 hours after the
  recess or adjournment of the committee.
         Sec. 29.  ACTION ON BILLS REPORTED UNFAVORABLY.  If the
  majority report on a bill is unfavorable, and a favorable minority
  report is not signed in accordance with Section 28 of this rule and
  filed with the chief clerk within two calendar days, exclusive of
  Sunday and the date of committee action, the chief clerk shall file
  the bill away as dead; except during the last 15 calendar days of a
  regular session, or the last 7 calendar days of a special session,
  when the chief clerk shall hold a bill only one calendar day,
  exclusive of Sunday and the date of committee action, awaiting the
  filing of a minority report before the bill is filed away as dead.
  If the favorable minority report is properly signed and filed, the
  chief clerk shall hold the bill for five legislative days,
  exclusive of the legislative day in which the minority report was
  filed, awaiting adoption by the house of a motion to print the bill
  on minority report. If the motion to print is carried, the bill
  shall be printed as if it had been reported favorably, and shall
  then be immediately forwarded to the Committee on Calendars for
  placement on a calendar and for proposal of an appropriate rule for
  house consideration. If a motion to print a bill on minority report
  is not made within the five legislative days authorized above, the
  chief clerk shall file the bill away as dead. It shall not be in
  order to move to recommit a bill adversely reported with no minority
  report, except as provided in Section 30 of this rule. A two-thirds
  vote of the house shall be required to print on minority report a
  joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of
  Texas.
         Sec. 30.  MAKING ADVERSE REPORTS WITHOUT HEARING THE
  AUTHOR.  No adverse report shall be made on any bill or resolution
  by any committee without first giving the author or sponsor of the
  bill an opportunity to be heard. If it becomes evident to the house
  that a bill has been reported adversely without the author or
  sponsor having had an opportunity to be heard as provided in this
  section, the house may, by a majority vote, order the bill
  recommitted even though no minority report was filed in the manner
  prescribed by the rules. This provision shall have precedence over
  Rule 7, Section 20.
         Sec. 31.  ADVERSE REPORTS ON LOCAL BILLS.  If a local bill is
  reported adversely, it shall be subject to the same rules that
  govern other bills reported adversely.
         Sec. 32.  FORM OF REPORTS.  (a)  Reports of standing
  committees on bills and resolutions shall be made in duplicate,
  with one copy to be filed with the journal clerk for printing in the
  journal and the other to accompany the original bill.
         (b)  All committee reports must be in writing and shall:
               (1)  be signed by the chair, or the member acting as
  chair, or a majority of the membership of the committee;
               (2)  be addressed to the speaker;
               (3)  contain a statement of the recommendations of the
  committee with reference to the matter which is the subject of the
  report;
               (4)  contain the date the committee made its
  recommendation;
               (5)  indicate whether a copy of a bill or resolution was
  forwarded to the Legislative Budget Board for preparation of a
  fiscal note or other impact statement, if applicable;
               (6)  contain the record vote by which the report was
  adopted, including the vote of each member of the committee;
               (7)  contain the recommendation that the bill or
  resolution be sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars
  for placement on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar if
  applicable;
               (8)  state the name of the primary house sponsor of all
  senate bills and resolutions and indicate the names of all joint
  sponsors or cosponsors;
               (9)  include a summary of the committee hearing on the
  bill or resolution;
               (10)  include a list of the names of the persons, other
  than members of the legislature, and persons or entities
  represented by those persons, who submitted to the committee sworn
  statements indicating that the persons were present in favor of, in
  opposition to, or without taking a position on the bill or
  resolution. The omission from the list of the name of a person who
  submitted a sworn statement regarding a bill or resolution but who
  was not recognized by the chair to address the committee is not a
  sustainable question of order;
               (11)  for a joint resolution proposing a constitutional
  amendment, include the bill number of any enabling legislation for
  the constitutional amendment designated as such by the author or
  sponsor of the joint resolution; and
               (12)  for a bill that is designated by the author or
  sponsor of the bill as enabling legislation for a constitutional
  amendment proposed by a joint resolution, include the number of the
  joint resolution.
         (c)  Except for the general appropriations bill, each
  committee report on a bill or joint resolution, including a
  complete committee substitute, and, to the extent considered
  necessary by the committee, a committee report on any other
  resolution, must include in summary or section-by-section form a
  detailed analysis of the subject matter of the bill or resolution,
  specifically including:
               (1)  background information on the proposal and
  information on what the bill or resolution proposes to do;
               (2)  an analysis of the content of the bill or
  resolution, including a separate statement that lists each statute
  or constitutional provision that is expressly repealed by the bill
  or resolution;
               (3)  a statement indicating whether or not any
  rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to a state officer,
  department, agency, or institution, and, if so, identifying the
  sections of the measure in which that rulemaking authority is
  delegated;
               (4)  a statement of substantial differences between a
  complete committee substitute and the original bill; and
               (5)  a brief explanation of each amendment adopted by
  the committee.
         (d)  The author of a bill or resolution for which an analysis
  is required by Subsection (c) of this section and the committee to
  which the bill or resolution is referred may request the Texas
  Legislative Council to prepare the analysis required by Subsection
  (c) of this section.
         (e)  A committee chair shall provide to the author of a house
  measure or sponsor of a senate measure a copy of the analysis
  required by Subsection (c) of this section as soon as the analysis
  is complete.
         (f)  [A point of order raised as to a violation of Subsection
  (c) of this section may be overruled if the analysis is not
  materially or substantially misleading.
         [(g)]  It shall be the duty of the committee chair, on all
  matters reported by the committee, to see that all provisions of
  Rule 12 are satisfied. The chair shall strictly construe this
  provision to achieve the desired purposes.
         Sec. 33.  FISCAL NOTES.  (a)  If the chair of a standing
  committee determines that a bill or joint resolution, other than
  the general appropriations bill, authorizes or requires the
  expenditure or diversion of state funds for any purpose, the chair
  shall send a copy of the measure to the Legislative Budget Board for
  the preparation of a fiscal note outlining the fiscal implications
  and probable cost of the measure.
         (b)  If the chair of a standing committee determines that a
  bill or joint resolution has statewide impact on units of local
  government of the same type or class and authorizes or requires the
  expenditure or diversion of local funds, or creates or impacts a
  local tax, fee, license charge, or penalty, the chair shall send a
  copy of the measure to the Legislative Budget Board for the
  preparation of a fiscal note outlining the fiscal implications and
  probable cost of the measure.
         (c)  In preparing a fiscal note, the director of the
  Legislative Budget Board may utilize information or data supplied
  by any person, agency, organization, or governmental unit that the
  director deems reliable. If the director determines that the fiscal
  implications of the measure cannot be ascertained, the director
  shall so state in the fiscal note, shall when reasonably
  ascertainable provide an estimated range of the fiscal
  implications, and shall include in the note a statement of the
  reasons the director is unable to ascertain the fiscal implications
  of the measure, in which case the fiscal note shall be in full
  compliance with the rules. If the director of the Legislative
  Budget Board is unable to acquire or develop sufficient information
  to prepare the fiscal note within 15 days of receiving the measure
  from the chair of a committee, the director shall so state in the
  fiscal note, shall when reasonably ascertainable provide an
  estimated range of the fiscal implications, and shall include in
  the note a statement of the reasons the director is unable to
  acquire or develop sufficient information, in which case the note
  shall be in full compliance with the rules.
         (d)  If the chair determines that a fiscal note is required,
  copies of the fiscal note must be distributed to the members of the
  committee not later than the first time the measure is laid out in a
  committee meeting. The fiscal note shall be attached to the measure
  on first printing. If the measure is amended by the committee so as
  to alter its fiscal implications, the chair shall obtain an updated
  fiscal note, which shall also be attached to the measure on first
  printing.
         (e)  All fiscal notes shall remain with the measure
  throughout the entire legislative process, including submission to
  the governor.
         (f)  All fiscal notes must include in the summary box on the
  first page of the fiscal note a statement that indicates whether the
  bill or joint resolution will have fiscal implications or probable
  costs in any year.
         Sec. 34.  OTHER IMPACT STATEMENTS.  (a)  It is the intent of
  this section that all members of the house are timely informed as to
  the impact of proposed legislation on the state or other unit of
  government.
         (a-1)  The chair of the appropriations committee shall send a
  copy of the general appropriations bill to the Legislative Budget
  Board for the preparation of a dynamic economic impact statement,
  specifically including the number of state employees to be affected
  and the estimated impact on private-sector employment in Texas as a
  result of any change in state expenditures made by the bill as
  compared to the biennium preceding the biennium to which the bill
  applies.
         (b)  If the chair of a standing committee determines that a
  bill or joint resolution:
               (1)  authorizes or requires a change in the sanctions
  applicable to adults convicted of felony crimes, the chair shall
  send a copy of the measure to the Legislative Budget Board for the
  preparation of a criminal justice policy impact statement;
               (2)  authorizes or requires a change in the public
  school finance system, the chair shall send a copy of the measure to
  the Legislative Budget Board for the preparation of an equalized
  education funding impact statement;
               (3)  proposes to change benefits or participation in
  benefits of a public retirement system or change the financial
  obligations of a public retirement system, the chair shall send a
  copy of the measure to the Legislative Budget Board for the
  preparation of an actuarial impact statement in cooperation with
  the State Pension Review Board;
               (4)  proposes to create a water district under the
  authority of Article XVI, Section 59, of the Texas Constitution,
  the chair shall send a copy of the measure to the Legislative Budget
  Board for the preparation of a water development policy impact
  statement; or
               (5)  creates or impacts a state tax or fee, the chair
  shall send a copy of the measure to the Legislative Budget Board for
  the preparation of a tax equity note that estimates the general
  effects of the proposal on the distribution of tax and fee burdens
  among individuals and businesses.
         (c)  In preparing an impact statement, the director of the
  Legislative Budget Board may utilize information or data supplied
  by any person, agency, organization, or governmental unit that the
  director deems reliable. If the director determines that the
  particular implications of the measure cannot be ascertained, the
  director shall so state in the impact statement, in which case the
  impact statement shall be in full compliance with the rules.
         (d)  An impact statement is not required to be present before
  a measure is laid out in a committee meeting. If timely received,
  the impact statement shall be attached to the measure on first
  printing. If the measure is amended by the committee so as to alter
  its particular implications, the chair shall obtain an updated
  impact statement. If timely received, the updated impact statement
  shall also be attached to the measure on first printing.
         (e)  An impact statement that is received after the first
  printing of a measure has been distributed to the members shall be
  forwarded by the chair of the committee to the committee
  coordinator. The committee coordinator  shall have the impact
  statement printed and distributed to the members.
         (f)  All impact statements received shall remain with the
  measure throughout the entire legislative process, including
  submission to the governor.
         Sec. 35.  REPORTS ON HOUSE AND CONCURRENT
  RESOLUTIONS.  Committee reports on house and concurrent
  resolutions shall be made in the same manner and shall follow the
  same procedure as provided for bills, subject to any differences
  otherwise authorized or directed by the rules.
         Sec. 36.  ACTION BY HOUSE ON REPORTS NOT REQUIRED.  No
  action by the house is necessary on the report of a standing
  committee. The bill, resolution, or proposition recommended or
  reported by the committee shall automatically be before the house
  for its consideration after the bill or resolution has been
  referred to the appropriate calendars committee for placement on a
  calendar and for proposal of an appropriate rule for house
  consideration.
         Sec. 37.  REFERRAL OF REPORTS TO COMMITTEE COORDINATOR.  All
  committee reports on bills or resolutions shall be immediately
  referred to the committee coordinator. The chair of the committee
  shall be responsible for delivery of the report to the committee
  coordinator.
         Sec. 38.  DELIVERY OF REPORTS TO CALENDARS
  COMMITTEES.  After printing, the chief clerk shall be responsible
  for delivery of a certified copy of the committee report to the
  appropriate calendars committee, which committee shall immediately
  accept the bill or resolution for placement on a calendar and for
  the proposal of an appropriate rule for house consideration.
         Sec. 38A.  NOTIFICATION OF SUNSET BILLS. The chief clerk
  shall provide notice to each member at the member's designated
  Capitol e-mail address when a committee report under Section 38 of
  this rule on a bill extending an agency, commission, or advisory
  committee under the Texas Sunset Act has been printed or posted and
  is available to be distributed to the appropriate calendars
  committee.
         Sec. 39.  COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS.  No committee shall have the
  power to amend, delete, or change in any way the nature, purpose, or
  content of any bill or resolution referred to it, but may draft and
  recommend amendments to it, which shall become effective only if
  adopted by a majority vote of the house.
         Sec. 40.  SUBSTITUTES.  The committee may adopt and report a
  complete germane committee substitute containing the title,
  enacting clause, and text of the bill in lieu of an original bill,
  in which event the complete substitute bill on committee report
  shall be laid before the house and shall be the matter then before
  the house for its consideration, instead of the original bill. If
  the substitute bill is defeated at any legislative stage, the bill
  is considered not passed.
         Sec. 41.  GERMANENESS OF SUBSTITUTE.  If a point of order is
  raised that a complete committee substitute is not germane, in
  whole or in part, and the point of order is sustained, the committee
  substitute shall be returned to the Committee on Calendars, which
  may have the original bill printed and distributed and placed on a
  calendar in lieu of the substitute or may return the original bill
  to the committee from which it was reported for further action.
         Sec. 42.  AUTHOR'S RIGHT TO OFFER AMENDMENTS TO
  REPORT.  Should the author or sponsor of the bill, resolution, or
  other proposal not be satisfied with the final recommendation or
  form of the committee report, the member shall have the privilege of
  offering on the floor of the house such amendments or changes as he
  or she considers necessary and desirable, and those amendments or
  changes shall be given priority during the periods of time when
  original amendments are in order under the provisions of Rule 11,
  Section 7.
  CHAPTER D. SUBCOMMITTEES
         Sec. 43.  JURISDICTION.  Each committee is authorized to
  conduct its activities and perform its work through the use of
  subcommittees as shall be determined by the chair of the committee.
  Subcommittees shall be created, organized, and operated in such a
  way that the subject matter and work area of each subcommittee shall
  be homogeneous and shall pertain to related governmental
  activities. The size and jurisdiction of each subcommittee shall
  be determined by the chair of the committee.
         Sec. 44.  MEMBERSHIP.  The chair of each standing committee
  shall appoint from the membership of the committee the members who
  are to serve on each subcommittee. Any vacancy on a subcommittee
  shall be filled by appointment of the chair of the standing
  committee. The chair and vice-chair of each subcommittee shall be
  named by the chair of the committee.
         Sec. 45.  RULES GOVERNING OPERATIONS.  The Rules of
  Procedure of the House of Representatives, to the extent
  applicable, shall govern the hearings and operations of each
  subcommittee. Subject to the foregoing, and to the extent
  necessary for orderly transaction of business, each subcommittee
  may promulgate and adopt additional rules and procedures by which
  it will function.
         Sec. 46.  QUORUM.  A majority of a subcommittee shall
  constitute a quorum, and no action or recommendation of a
  subcommittee shall be valid unless taken at a meeting with a quorum
  actually present. All reports of a subcommittee must be approved by
  record vote by a majority of the membership of the subcommittee.
  Minutes of the subcommittee shall be maintained in a manner similar
  to that required by the rules for standing committees. Proxies
  cannot be used in subcommittees.
         Sec. 47.  POWER AND AUTHORITY.  Each subcommittee, within
  the area of its jurisdiction, shall have all of the power,
  authority, and rights granted by the Rules of Procedure of the House
  of Representatives to the standing committee, except subpoena
  power, to the extent necessary to discharge the duties and
  responsibilities of the subcommittee.
         Sec. 48.  REFERRAL OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO
  SUBCOMMITTEE.  All bills and resolutions referred to a standing
  committee shall be reviewed by the chair to determine appropriate
  disposition of the bills and resolutions. All bills and
  resolutions shall be considered by the entire standing committee
  unless the chair of that standing committee determines to refer the
  bills and resolutions to subcommittee. If a bill or resolution is
  referred by the chair of the standing committee to a subcommittee,
  it shall be considered by the subcommittee in the same form in which
  the measure was referred to the standing committee, and any action
  taken by the standing committee on a proposed amendment or
  committee substitute before a measure is referred to subcommittee
  is therefore voided at the time the measure is referred to
  subcommittee. The subcommittee shall be charged with the duty and
  responsibility of conducting the hearing, doing research, and
  performing such other functions as the subcommittee or its parent
  standing committee may determine. All meetings of the subcommittee
  shall be scheduled by the subcommittee chair, with appropriate
  public notice and notification of each member of the subcommittee
  under the same rules of procedure as govern the conduct of the
  standing committee.
         Sec. 49.  REPORT BY SUBCOMMITTEE.  At the conclusion of its
  deliberations on a bill, resolution, or other matter referred to
  it, the subcommittee may  prepare a written report, comprehensive
  in nature, for submission to the full committee. The report shall
  include background material as well as recommended action and shall
  be accompanied by a complete draft of the bill, resolution, or other
  proposal in such form as the subcommittee shall determine.
         Sec. 50.  ACTION ON SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS.  Subcommittee
  reports shall be directed to the chair of the committee, who shall
  schedule meetings of the standing committee from time to time as
  necessary and appropriate for the reception of subcommittee reports
  and for action on reports by the standing committee. No
  subcommittee report shall be scheduled for action by the standing
  committee until at least 24  hours after a copy of the subcommittee
  report is provided to each member of the standing committee.
  CHAPTER E. COMMITTEES OF THE WHOLE HOUSE
         Sec. 51.  RESOLUTION INTO A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
  HOUSE.  The house may resolve itself into a committee of the whole
  house to consider any matter referred to it by the house. In
  forming a committee of the whole house, the speaker shall vacate the
  chair and shall appoint a chair to preside in committee.
         Sec. 52.  RULES GOVERNING OPERATIONS.  The rules governing
  the proceedings of the house and those governing committees shall
  be observed in committees of the whole, to the extent that they are
  applicable.
         Sec. 53.  MOTION FOR A CALL OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE
  WHOLE.  (a)  It shall be in order to move a call of the committee of
  the whole at any time to secure and maintain a quorum for the
  following purposes:
               (1)  for the consideration of a certain or specific
  matter; or
               (2)  for a definite period of time; or
               (3)  for the consideration of any designated class of
  bills.
         (b)  When a call of the committee of the whole is moved and
  seconded by 10 members, of whom the chair may be one, and is ordered
  by majority vote, the main entrance of the hall and all other doors
  leading out of the hall shall be locked, and no member shall be
  permitted to leave the hall without written permission. Other
  proceedings under a call of the committee shall be the same as under
  a call of the house.
         Sec. 54.  HANDLING OF A BILL.  A bill committed to a
  committee of the whole house shall be handled in the same manner as
  in any other committee. The body of the bill shall not be defaced or
  interlined, but all amendments shall be duly endorsed by the chief
  clerk as they are adopted by the committee, and so reported to the
  house. When a bill is reported by the committee of the whole house
  it shall be referred immediately to the appropriate calendars
  committee for placement on the appropriate calendar and shall
  follow the same procedure as any other bill on committee report.
         Sec. 55.  FAILURE TO COMPLETE WORK AT ANY SITTING.  In the
  event that the committee of the whole, at any sitting, fails to
  complete its work on any bill or resolution under consideration for
  lack of time, or desires to take any action on that measure that is
  permitted under the rules for other committees, it may, on a motion
  made and adopted by majority vote, rise, report progress, and ask
  leave of the house to sit again generally, or at a time certain.
         Sec. 56.  REPORTS OF SELECT COMMITTEES.  Reports of select
  committees made during a session shall be filed with the chief clerk
  and printed in the journal, unless otherwise determined by the
  house.
  CHAPTER F. INTERIM STUDY COMMITTEES
         Sec. 57.  INTERIM STUDIES.  Pursuant to Rule 1, Section 17,
  the speaker may create interim study committees to conduct studies
  by issuing a proclamation for each committee, which shall specify
  the issue to be studied, committee membership, and any additional
  authority and duties. A copy of each proclamation creating an
  interim study committee shall be filed with the chief clerk. An
  interim study committee expires on release of its final report or
  when the next legislature convenes, whichever is earlier. An
  interim study committee may not be created by resolution.
         Sec. 58.  APPOINTMENT AND MEMBERSHIP.  The speaker shall
  appoint all members of an interim study committee, which may
  include public citizens and officials of state and local
  governments. The speaker shall also designate the chair and
  vice-chair and may authorize the chair to create subcommittees and
  appoint citizen advisory committees.
         Sec. 59.  RULES GOVERNING OPERATIONS.  The rules governing
  the proceedings of the house and those governing standing
  committees shall be observed by an interim study committee, to the
  extent that they are applicable. An interim study committee shall
  have the power to issue process and to request assistance of state
  agencies as provided for a standing committee in Sections 21, 22,
  and 23 of this rule.
         Sec. 60.  FUNDING AND STAFF.  An interim study committee
  shall use existing staff resources of its members, standing
  committees, house offices, and legislative service agencies. The
  chair of an interim study committee shall prepare a detailed budget
  for approval by the speaker and the Committee on House
  Administration. An interim study committee may accept gifts,
  grants, and donations for the purpose of funding its activities as
  provided by Sections 301.032(b) and (c), Government Code.
         Sec. 61.  STUDY REPORTS.  (a) The final report or
  recommendations of an interim study committee shall be approved by
  a majority of the committee membership. Dissenting members may
  attach statements to the final report.
         (b)  An interim study committee shall submit the committee's
  final report to the committee coordinator in the manner prescribed
  by the committee coordinator. The committee coordinator shall:
               (1)  distribute copies of the final report to the
  speaker, the Legislative Reference Library, and other appropriate
  agencies; and
               (2)  make a copy of the final report available on the
  house's Internet website.
         (c)  This section shall also apply to interim study reports
  of standing committees.
         Sec. 62.  JOINT HOUSE AND SENATE INTERIM
  STUDIES.  Procedures may be established by a concurrent resolution
  adopted by both houses, by which the speaker may authorize and
  appoint, jointly with the senate, committees to conduct interim
  studies. A copy of the authorization for and the appointments to a
  joint interim study committee shall be filed with the chief clerk.
  Individual joint interim study committees may not be authorized or
  created by resolution.
  RULE 5. FLOOR PROCEDURE
  CHAPTER A. QUORUM AND ATTENDANCE
         Sec. 1.  QUORUM.  Two-thirds of the house shall constitute a
  quorum to do business.
         Sec. 2.  ROLL CALLS.  On every roll call or registration,
  the names of the members shall be called or listed, as the case may
  be, alphabetically by surname, except when two or more have the same
  surname, in which case the initials of the members shall be added.
         Sec. 3.  LEAVE OF ABSENCE.  (a)  No member shall be absent
  from the sessions of the house without leave, and no member shall be
  excused on his or her own motion.
         (b)  A leave of absence may be granted by a majority vote of
  the house and may be revoked at any time by a similar vote.
         (c)  Any member granted a leave of absence due to a meeting of
  a committee or conference committee that has authority to meet
  while the house is in session shall be so designated on each roll
  call or registration for which that member is excused.
         Sec. 4.  FAILURE TO ANSWER ROLL CALL.  Any member who is
  present and fails or refuses to record on a roll call after being
  requested to do so by the speaker shall be recorded as present by
  the speaker and shall be counted for the purpose of making a quorum.
         Sec. 5.  POINT OF ORDER OF "NO QUORUM." (a) The point of
  order of "No Quorum" shall not be accepted by the chair if the last
  roll call showed the presence of a quorum, provided the last roll
  call was taken within two hours of the time the point of order is
  raised.
         (b)  If the last roll call was taken more than two hours
  before the point of order is raised, it shall be in order for the
  member who raised the point of order to request a roll call. Such a
  request must be seconded by 25 members. If the request for a roll
  call is properly seconded, the chair shall order a roll call.
         (c)  Once a point of order has been made that a quorum is not
  present, it may not be withdrawn after the absence of a quorum has
  been ascertained and announced.
         Sec. 6.  MOTIONS IN ORDER WHEN QUORUM NOT PRESENT.  If a
  registration or record vote reveals that a quorum is not present,
  only a motion to adjourn or a motion for a call of the house and the
  motions incidental thereto shall be in order.
         Sec. 7.  MOTION FOR CALL OF THE HOUSE.  It shall be in order
  to move a call of the house at any time to secure and maintain a
  quorum for one of the following purposes:
               (1)  for the consideration of a specific bill,
  resolution, motion, or other measure;
               (2)  for the consideration of any designated class of
  bills; or
               (3)  for a definite period of time.
         Motions for, and incidental to, a call of the house are not
  debatable.
         Sec. 8.  SECURING A QUORUM.  When a call of the house is
  moved for one of the above purposes and seconded by 15 members (of
  whom the speaker may be one) and ordered by a majority vote, the
  main entrance to the hall and all other doors leading out of the
  hall shall be locked and no member permitted to leave the house
  without the written permission of the speaker. The names of members
  present shall be recorded. All absentees for whom no sufficient
  excuse is made may, by order of a majority of those present, be sent
  for and arrested, wherever they may be found, by the
  sergeant-at-arms or an officer appointed by the sergeant-at-arms
  for that purpose, and their attendance shall be secured and
  retained. The house shall determine on what conditions they shall
  be discharged. Members who voluntarily appear shall, unless the
  house otherwise directs, be immediately admitted to the hall of the
  house and shall report their names to the clerk to be entered in the
  journal as present.
         Until a quorum appears, should the roll call fail to show one
  present, no business shall be transacted, except to compel the
  attendance of absent members or to adjourn. It shall not be in
  order to recess under a call of the house.
         Sec. 9.  FOLLOWING ACHIEVEMENT OF A QUORUM.  When a quorum
  is shown to be present, the house may proceed with the matters on
  which the call was ordered, or may enforce the call and await the
  attendance of as many of the absentees as it desires. When the
  house proceeds to the business on which the call was ordered, it
  may, by a majority vote, direct the sergeant-at-arms to cease
  bringing in absent members.
         Sec. 10.  REPEATING A RECORD VOTE.  When a record vote
  reveals the lack of a quorum, and a call is ordered to secure one, a
  record vote shall again be taken when the house resumes business
  with a quorum present.
  CHAPTER B. ADMITTANCE TO HOUSE CHAMBER
         Sec. 11.  PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE FLOOR.  Only the following
  persons shall be entitled to the privileges of the floor of the
  house when the house is in session: members of the house; employees
  of the house when performing their official duties as determined by
  the Committee on House Administration; members of the senate;
  employees of the senate when performing their official duties; the
  Governor of Texas and the governor's executive and administrative
  assistant; the lieutenant governor; the secretary of state; duly
  accredited reporters, photographers, correspondents, and
  commentators of press, radio, and television who have complied with
  Sections 20(a), (b), (c), and (d) of this rule; contestants in
  election cases pending before the house; and immediate families of
  the members of the legislature on such special occasions as may be
  determined by the Committee on House Administration.
         Sec. 12.  ADMITTANCE WITHIN THE RAILING.  Only the following
  persons shall be admitted to the area on the floor of the house
  enclosed by the railing when the house is in session: members of
  the house; members of the senate; the governor; the lieutenant
  governor; officers and employees of the senate and house when those
  officers and employees are actually engaged in performing their
  official duties as determined by the Committee on House
  Administration; spouses of members of the house on such occasions
  as may be determined by the Committee on House Administration; and,
  within the area specifically designated for media representatives,
  duly accredited reporters, photographers, correspondents, and
  commentators of press, radio, and television who have complied with
  Sections 20(a), (b), (c), and (d) of this rule.
         Sec. 13.  SOLICITORS AND COLLECTORS PROHIBITED.  Solicitors
  and collectors shall not be admitted to the floor of the house while
  the house is in session.
         Sec. 14.  INVITATION TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE.  A motion to
  invite a person to address the house while it is in session shall be
  in order only if the person invited is entitled to the privileges of
  the floor as defined by Section 11 of this rule and if no business is
  pending before the house.
         Sec. 15.  LOBBYING ON FLOOR.  No one, except the governor or
  a member of the legislature, who is lobbying or working for or
  against any pending or prospective legislative measure shall be
  permitted on the floor of the house or in the adjacent rooms while
  the house is in session.
         Sec. 16.  SUSPENSION OF FLOOR PRIVILEGES.  If any person
  admitted to the floor of the house under the rules, except the
  governor or a member of the legislature, lobbies or works for or
  against any pending or prospective legislation or violates any of
  the other rules of the house, the privileges extended to that person
  under the rules shall be suspended by a majority vote of the
  Committee on House Administration. The action of the committee
  shall be reviewable by the house only if two members of the
  committee request an appeal from the decision of the committee. The
  request shall be in the form of a minority report and shall be
  subject to the same rules that are applicable to minority reports on
  bills. Suspension shall remain in force until the accused person
  purges himself or herself and comes within the rules, or until the
  house, by majority vote, reverses the action of the committee.
         Sec. 17.  MEMBERS LOUNGE PRIVILEGES.  Only the following
  persons shall be admitted to the members lounge at any
  time:  members of the house; members of the senate; and former
  members of the house and senate who are not engaged in any form of
  employment requiring them to lobby or work for or against any
  pending or prospective legislative measures.
         Sec. 18.  FLOOR DUTIES OF HOUSE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.  It
  shall be the duty of the Committee on House Administration to
  determine what duties are to be discharged by officers and
  employees of the house on the floor of the house, specifically in
  the area enclosed by the railing, when the house is in session. It
  shall be the duty of the speaker to see that the officers and
  employees do not violate the regulations promulgated by the
  Committee on House Administration.
         Sec. 19.  PROPER DECORUM.  No person shall be admitted to,
  or allowed to remain in, the house chamber while the house is in
  session unless properly attired, and all gentlemen shall wear a
  coat and tie. Food or beverage shall not be permitted in the house
  chamber at any time, and no person carrying food or beverage shall
  be admitted to the chamber, whether the house is in session or in
  recess. Reading newspapers shall not be permitted in the house
  chamber while the house is in session.  Smoking is not permitted in
  the member's lounge or bathrooms.  The Committee on House
  Administration shall designate an area for smoking that is easily
  accessible to the house chamber.
         Sec. 20.  MEDIA ACCESS TO HOUSE CHAMBER.  (a)  When the
  house is in session, no media representative shall be admitted to
  the floor of the house or allowed its privileges unless the person
  is a salaried staff correspondent, reporter, or photographer
  regularly employed by a newspaper, a press association or news
  service serving newspapers, a publication requiring telegraphic
  coverage, or a duly licensed radio or television station or
  network.
         (b)  Any media representative seeking admission to the floor
  of the house under the provisions of Subsection (a) of this section
  must present to the Committee on House Administration fully
  accredited credentials from his or her employer certifying that the
  media representative is engaged primarily in reporting the sessions
  of the legislature. Regularly accredited media representatives who
  have duly qualified under the provisions of this section may, when
  requested to do so, make recommendations through their professional
  committees to the Committee on House Administration as to the
  sufficiency or insufficiency of the credentials of any person
  seeking admission to the floor of the house under this section.
         Every media representative, before being admitted to the
  floor of the house during its sessions, shall file with the
  Committee on House Administration a written statement showing the
  paper or papers, press association, news service, publication
  requiring telegraphic coverage, or radio or television station or
  network which he or she represents and certifying that no part of
  his or her salary for legislative coverage is paid by any person,
  firm, corporation, or association except the listed news media
  which he or she represents.
         (c)  If the Committee on House Administration determines
  that a person's media credentials meet the requirements of this
  section, the committee shall issue a pass card to the person. This
  pass card must be presented to the doorkeeper each time the person
  seeks admission to the floor of the house while the house is in
  session. Pass cards issued under this section shall not be
  transferable. Persons admitted to the floor of the house pursuant
  to the provisions of this section shall work in appropriate
  convenient seats or work stations in the house, which shall be
  designated for that purpose by the Committee on House
  Administration.
         (d)  Members of the house shall not engage in interviews and
  press conferences on the house floor while the house is in session.
  The Committee on House Administration is authorized to enforce this
  provision and to prescribe such other regulations as may be
  necessary and desirable to achieve these purposes. Persons
  governed by this subsection shall be subject to the provisions of
  Section 15 of this rule.
         (e)  Permission to make live or recorded television or radio
  broadcasts in or from the house chamber while the house is in
  session may be granted only by the Committee on House
  Administration. The committee shall promulgate regulations
  governing television or radio broadcasts, and such regulations
  shall be printed as an addendum to the rules of the house. When
  television or radio broadcasts from the floor of the house are
  recommended by the Committee on House Administration, the
  recommendation shall identify those persons in the technical crews
  to whom pass cards to the floor of the house and galleries are to be
  issued. Passes granted under this authority shall be subject to
  revocation on the recommendation of the Committee on House
  Administration. Each committee of the house shall have authority
  to determine whether or not to permit television or radio
  broadcasts of any of its proceedings.
         Sec. 21.  PUBLIC ADMISSION TO AND NONLEGISLATIVE USE OF THE
  HOUSE CHAMBER.  When the house is not in session, the floor of the
  house shall remain open on days and hours determined by the
  Committee on House Administration. By resolution, the house may
  open the floor of the house during its sessions for the inauguration
  of the governor and lieutenant governor and for such other public
  ceremonies as may be deemed warranted.
  CHAPTER C. SPEAKING AND DEBATE
         Sec. 22.  ADDRESSING THE HOUSE.  When a member desires to
  speak or deliver any matter to the house, the member shall rise and
  respectfully address the speaker as "Mr. (or Madam) Speaker" and,
  on being recognized, may address the house from the microphone at
  the reading clerk's desk, and shall confine all remarks to the
  question under debate, avoiding personalities.
         Sec. 23.  WHEN TWO MEMBERS RISE AT ONCE.  When two or more
  members rise at once, the speaker shall name the one who is to speak
  first. This decision shall be final and not open to debate or
  appeal.
         Sec. 24.  RECOGNITION.  (a)  Except as otherwise provided
  by this section, there  shall be no appeal from the speaker's
  recognition, but the speaker shall be governed by rules and usage in
  priority of entertaining motions from the floor.  When a member
  seeks recognition, the speaker may ask, "For what purpose does the
  member rise?" or "For what purpose does the member seek
  recognition?" and may then decide if recognition is to be granted,
  except that the speaker shall recognize a member who seeks
  recognition on a question of privilege.
         (b)  If the speaker denies recognition of a member who seeks
  recognition on a question of privilege, other than a question of
  privilege relating to the right of the house to remove the speaker
  and elect a new speaker, the decision of recognition may be appealed
  using the procedures provided in Rule 1, Section 9.
         (c)  If the speaker denies recognition of a member who seeks
  recognition on a question of privilege relating to the right of the
  house to remove the speaker and elect a new speaker, the member may
  appeal the speaker's denial of recognition if the member submits to
  the speaker a written request, signed by at least 76 members of the
  house, to appeal the decision of recognition.  Upon receiving a
  request for appeal in accordance with this subsection, the speaker
  shall announce the request to the house.  The names of the members
  who signed the request and the time that the announcement was made
  shall be entered in the journal.  The appeal of a decision of
  recognition under this subsection is eligible for consideration 24
  hours after the request for appeal has been announced in accordance
  with this subsection.  The appeal and consideration of the question
  of privilege, if the appeal is successful, takes precedence over
  all other questions except motions to adjourn.
         Sec. 25.  INTERRUPTION OF A MEMBER WHO HAS THE FLOOR.  A
  member who has the floor shall not be interrupted by another member
  for any purpose, unless he or she consents to yield to the other
  member. A member desiring to interrupt another in debate should
  first address the speaker for the permission of the member
  speaking. The speaker shall then ask the member who has the floor
  if he or she wishes to yield, and then announce the decision of that
  member. The member who has the floor may exercise personal
  discretion as to whether or not to yield, and it is entirely within
  the member's discretion to determine who shall interrupt and when.
         Sec. 26.  YIELDING THE FLOOR.  A member who obtains the
  floor on recognition of the speaker may not be taken off the floor
  by a motion, even the highly privileged motion to adjourn, but if
  the member yields to another to make a motion or to offer an
  amendment, he or she thereby loses the floor.
         Sec. 27.  RIGHT TO OPEN AND CLOSE DEBATE.  The mover of any
  proposition, or the member reporting any measure from a committee,
  or, in the absence of either of them, any other member designated by
  such absentee, shall have the right to open and close the debate,
  and for this purpose may speak each time not more than 20 minutes.
         Sec. 28.  TIME LIMITS ON SPEECHES.  All speeches shall be
  limited to 10 minutes in duration, except as provided in Section 27
  of this rule, and the speaker shall call the members to order at the
  expiration of their time. If the house by a majority vote extends
  the time of any member, the extension shall be for 10 minutes only.
  A second extension of time shall be granted only by unanimous
  consent. During the last 10 calendar days of the regular session,
  and the last 5 calendar days of a special session, Sundays excepted,
  all speeches shall be limited to 10 minutes and shall not be
  extended. The time limits established by this rule shall include
  time consumed in yielding to questions from the floor.
         Sec. 29.  LIMIT ON NUMBER OF TIMES TO SPEAK.  No member shall
  speak more than twice on the same question without leave of the
  house, nor more than once until every member choosing to speak has
  spoken, nor shall any member be permitted to consume the time of
  another member without leave of the house being given by a majority
  vote.
         Sec. 30.  EFFECT OF ADJOURNMENT ON SPEAKING LIMIT.  If a
  pending question is not disposed of because of an adjournment of the
  house, a member who has spoken twice on the subject shall not be
  allowed to speak again without leave of the house.
         Sec. 31.  OBJECTION TO READING A PAPER.  When the reading of
  a paper is called for, and objection is made, the matter shall be
  determined by a majority vote of the house, without debate.
         Sec. 32.  PASSING BETWEEN MICROPHONES DURING DEBATE.  No
  person shall pass between the front and back microphones during
  debate or when a member has the floor and is addressing the house.
         Sec. 33.  TRANSGRESSION OF RULES WHILE SPEAKING.  If any
  member, in speaking or otherwise, transgresses the rules of the
  house, the speaker shall, or any member may, call the member to
  order, in which case the member so called to order shall immediately
  be seated; however, that member may move for an appeal to the house,
  and if appeal is duly seconded by 10 members, the matter shall be
  submitted to the house for decision by majority vote. In such
  cases, the speaker shall not be required to relinquish the chair, as
  is required in cases of appeals from the speaker's decisions. The
  house shall, if appealed to, decide the matter without debate. If
  the decision is in favor of the member called to order, the member
  shall be at liberty to proceed; but if the decision is against the
  member, he or she shall not be allowed to proceed, and, if the case
  requires it, shall be liable to the censure of the house, or such
  other punishment as the house may consider proper.
         Sec. 34.  ELECTRONIC RECORDING OF ALL HOUSE PROCEEDINGS. (a) 
  All proceedings of the house of representatives shall be
  electronically recorded under the direction of the Committee on
  House Administration. Copies of the proceedings may be released
  under guidelines promulgated by the Committee on House
  Administration.
         (b)  Archived video broadcasts of proceedings in the house
  chamber that are available through the house's Internet or intranet
  website may, under the direction of the Committee on House
  Administration, include a link to the point in time in the video
  where each measure under consideration by the house is laid out.  
  Such a link shall be provided as soon as the committee determines is
  practical.
  CHAPTER D. QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE
         Sec. 35.  QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE DEFINED.  Questions of
  privilege shall be:
               (1)  those affecting the rights of the house
  collectively, its safety and dignity, and the integrity of its
  proceedings, including the right of the house to remove the speaker
  and elect a new speaker; and
               (2)  those affecting the rights, reputation, and
  conduct of members individually in their representative capacity
  only.
         Sec. 36.  PRECEDENCE OF QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE.  Questions
  of privilege shall have precedence over all other questions except
  motions to adjourn. When in order, a member may address the house
  on a question of privilege, or may at any time print it in the
  journal, provided it contains no reflection on any member of the
  house.
         Sec. 37.  WHEN QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE NOT IN ORDER.  (a) It
  shall not be in order for a member to address the house on a question
  of privilege:
               (1)  between the time an undebatable motion is offered
  and the vote is taken on the motion;
               (2)  between the time the previous question is ordered
  and the vote is taken on the last proposition included under the
  previous question; or
               (3)  between the time a motion to table is offered and
  the vote is taken on the motion.
         (b)  If a question of privilege relating to removal of the
  speaker and election of a new speaker fails, a subsequent attempt to
  remove the same speaker can be made only by reconsidering the vote
  by which the original question of privilege failed. Such
  reconsideration shall be subject to the rules of the house
  governing reconsideration.
         Sec. 38.  CONFINING REMARKS TO QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE;
  INTERRUPTIONS PROHIBITED. (a)  When speaking on privilege,
  members must confine their remarks within the limits of Section 35
  of this rule, which will be strictly construed to achieve the
  purposes hereof.
         (b)  When a member is speaking on privilege, the member shall
  not be interrupted by another member for any purpose. While the
  member is speaking, another member may submit a question of order to
  the speaker in writing or by approaching the podium in person. The
  member submitting the question of order shall not interrupt the
  member who is speaking. The speaker may interrupt the member who is
  speaking if the speaker determines it is appropriate to address the
  question of order at that time.
         Sec. 39.  DISCUSSION OF MERITS OF MOTION FORBIDDEN.  Merits
  of a main or subsidiary motion shall not be discussed or debated
  under the guise of speaking to a question of privilege.
  CHAPTER E. VOTING
         Sec. 40.  RECORDING ALL VOTES ON VOTING MACHINE.  On all
  votes, except viva voce votes, members shall record their votes on
  the voting machine and shall not be recognized by the chair to cast
  their votes from the floor. If a member attempts to vote from the
  floor, the speaker shall sustain a point of order directed against
  the member's so doing. This rule shall not be applicable to the
  mover or the principal opponent of the proposition being voted on
  nor to a member whose voting machine is out of order. If a member
  demands strict enforcement of this section, Section 47 shall not
  apply to the taking of a vote, and the house may discipline a member
  in violation of this rule pursuant to its inherent authority.
         Sec. 41.  REGISTRATION EQUIVALENT TO ROLL CALL VOTE.  A
  registration or vote taken on the voting machine of the house shall
  in all instances be considered the equivalent of a roll call or yea
  and nay vote, which might be had for the same purpose.
         Sec. 42.  DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL OR PRIVATE INTEREST.  Any
  member who has a personal or private interest in any measure or bill
  proposed or pending before the house shall disclose the fact and not
  vote thereon.
         Sec. 43.  DIVIDING THE QUESTION.  By a majority vote of the
  house, a quorum being present, the question shall be divided, if it
  includes propositions so distinct in substance that, one being
  taken away, a substantive proposition remains. A motion for a
  division vote cannot be made after the previous question has been
  ordered, after a motion to table has been offered, after the
  question has been put, nor after the yeas and nays have been
  ordered. Under this subsection, the speaker may divide the
  question into groups of propositions that are closely related.
         Sec. 44.  FAILURE OR REFUSAL TO VOTE.  Any member who is
  present and fails or refuses to vote after being requested to do so
  by the speaker shall be recorded as present but not voting, and
  shall be counted for the purpose of making a quorum.
         Sec. 45.  PRESENCE IN HOUSE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO VOTE.  A
  member must be on the floor of the house or in an adjacent room or
  hallway on the same level as the house floor, in order to vote.
         Sec. 46.  LOCKING VOTING MACHINES OF ABSENT MEMBERS.  During
  each calendar day in which the house is in session, it shall be the
  duty of the journal  clerk to lock the voting machine of each member
  who is excused or who is otherwise known to be absent. Each such
  machine shall remain locked until the member in person contacts the
  journal clerk and personally requests the unlocking of the machine.
  Unless otherwise directed by the speaker, the journal  clerk shall
  not unlock any machine except at the personal request of the member
  to whom the machine is assigned. Any violation, or any attempt by a
  member or employee to circumvent the letter or spirit of this
  section, shall be reported immediately to the speaker for such
  disciplinary action by the speaker, or by the house, as may be
  warranted under the circumstances.
         Sec. 47.  VOTING FOR ANOTHER MEMBER.  Any member found
  guilty by the house of knowingly voting for another member on the
  voting machine without that other member's permission shall be
  subject to discipline deemed appropriate by the house.
         Sec. 48.  INTERRUPTION OF A ROLL CALL.  Once a roll call has
  begun, it may not be interrupted for any reason. While a yea and nay
  vote is being taken, or the vote is being counted, no member shall
  visit the reading clerk's desk or the voting clerk's desk.
         Sec. 49.  EXPLANATION OF VOTE.  (a)  No member shall be
  allowed to interrupt the vote or to make any explanation of a vote
  that the member is about to give after the voting machine has been
  opened, but may record in the journal the reasons for giving such a
  vote.
         (b)  A "Reason for Vote" must be in writing and filed with the
  journal clerk. If timely received, the "Reason for Vote" shall be
  printed immediately following the results of the vote in the
  journal. Otherwise, "Reasons for Vote" shall be printed in a
  separate section at the end of the journal for the day on which the
  reasons were recorded with the journal clerk. Such "Reason for
  Vote" shall not deal in personalities or contain any personal
  reflection on any member of the legislature, the speaker, the
  lieutenant governor, or the governor, and shall not in any other
  manner transgress the rules of the house relating to decorum and
  debate.
         (c)  A member absent when a vote was taken may file with the
  journal clerk while the house is in session a statement of how the
  member would have voted if present. If timely received, the
  statement shall be printed immediately following the results of the
  vote in the journal. Otherwise, statements shall be printed in a
  separate section at the end of the journal for the day on which the
  statements were recorded with the journal clerk.
         Sec. 50.  PAIRS.  (a) All pairs must be announced before the
  vote is declared by the speaker, and a written statement sent to the
  journal clerk.  The statement must be signed by the absent member to
  the pair, or the member's signature must have been authorized in
  writing or by telephone, and satisfactory evidence presented to the
  speaker if deemed necessary.  If authorized in writing, the writing
  shall be delivered to the chief clerk by personal delivery or by
  commercially acceptable means of delivery, including electronic
  transmission by PDF or similar secure format that is capable of
  transmitting an accurate image of the member's signature.  If
  authorized by telephone, the call must be to and confirmed by the
  chief clerk in advance of the vote to which it applies.  Pairs shall
  be entered in the journal, and the member present shall be counted
  to make a quorum.
         (b)  The speaker may not refuse to recognize a pair that
  complies with the requirements of Subsection (a), if both members
  consent to the pair.
         Sec. 51.  ENTRY OF YEA AND NAY VOTE IN JOURNAL. (a) At the
  desire of any member present, the yeas and nays of the members of
  the house on any question shall be taken and entered in the journal.
  No member or members shall be allowed to call for a yea and nay vote
  after a vote has been declared by the speaker.
         (b)  A motion to expunge a yea and nay vote from the journal
  shall not be in order.
         (c)  The yeas and nays of the members of the house on final
  passage of any bill, and on any joint resolution proposing or
  ratifying a constitutional amendment, shall be taken and entered in
  the journal. For purposes of this subsection, a vote on final
  passage means a vote on:
               (1)  third reading;
               (2)  second reading if the house suspends or otherwise
  dispenses with the requirement for three readings;
               (3)  whether to concur in the senate's amendments; or
               (4)  whether to adopt a conference committee report.
         Sec. 51A.  REAL-TIME ACCESS BY PUBLIC TO YEAS AND NAYS.  The
  Committee on House Administration shall ensure that:
               (1)  the recorded yeas and nays are available to the
  public on the Internet and on any televised broadcast of the house
  proceedings produced by or under the direction of the house; and
               (2)  members of the public may view the yeas and nays in
  real time to the extent possible on the Internet and on any
  televised broadcast of the house proceedings produced by or under
  the direction of the house.
         Sec. 52.  JOURNAL RECORDING OF VOTES ON ANY QUESTION.  On
  any question where a record of the yeas and nays has not been
  ordered, members may have their votes recorded in the journal as
  "yea" or "nay" by filing such information with the journal clerk
  before adjournment or recess to another calendar day.
         Sec. 53.  CHANGING A VOTE.  Before the result of a vote has
  been finally and conclusively pronounced by the chair, but not
  thereafter, a member may change his or her vote; however, if a
  member's vote is erroneous, the member shall be allowed to change
  that vote at a later time provided:
               (1)  the result of the record vote is not changed
  thereby;
               (2)  the request is made known to the house by the chair
  and permission for the change is granted by unanimous consent; and
               (3)  a notation is made in the journal that the member's
  vote was changed.
         Sec. 54.  TIE VOTE.  All matters on which a vote may be taken
  by the house shall require for adoption a favorable affirmative
  vote as required by these rules, and in the case of a tie vote, the
  matter shall be considered lost.
         Sec. 55.  VERIFICATION OF A YEA AND NAY VOTE.  When the
  result of a yea and nay vote is close, the speaker may on the request
  of any member order a verification vote, or the speaker may order a
  verification on his or her own initiative. During verification, no
  member shall change a vote unless it was erroneously recorded, nor
  may any member not having voted cast a vote; however, when the clerk
  errs in reporting the yeas and nays, and correction thereof leaves
  decisive effect to the speaker's vote, the speaker may exercise the
  right to vote, even though the result has been announced. A
  verification shall be called for immediately after the vote is
  announced. The speaker shall not entertain a request for
  verification after the house has proceeded to the next question, or
  after a recess or an adjournment. A vote to recess or adjourn, like
  any other proposition, may be verified. Only one vote verification
  can be pending at a time. A verification may be dispensed with by a
  two-thirds vote.
         Sec. 56.  VERIFICATION OF A REGISTRATION.  The speaker may
  allow the verification of a registration (as differentiated from a
  record vote) if in the speaker's opinion there is serious doubt as
  to the presence of a quorum.
         Sec. 57.  MOTION FOR A CALL OF THE HOUSE PENDING
  VERIFICATION.  A motion for a call of the house, and all incidental
  motions relating to it, shall be in order pending the verification
  of a vote. These motions must be made before the roll call on
  verification begins, and it shall not be in order to break into the
  roll call to make them.
         Sec. 58.  ERRONEOUS ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE RESULT OF A
  VOTE.  If, by an error of the voting clerk or reading clerk in
  reporting the yeas and nays from a registration or verification,
  the speaker announces a result different from that shown by the
  registration or verification, the status of the question shall be
  determined by the vote as actually recorded. If the vote is
  erroneously announced in such a way as to change the true result,
  all subsequent proceedings in connection therewith shall fail, and
  the journal shall be amended accordingly.
  RULE 6.  ORDER OF BUSINESS AND CALENDARS
         Sec. 1.  DAILY ORDER OF BUSINESS. (a) When the house
  convenes on a new legislative day, the daily order of business shall
  be as follows:
               (1)  Call to order by speaker.
               (2)  Registration of members.
               (3)  Prayer by chaplain, unless the invocation has been
  given previously on the particular calendar day.
               (4)  Pledge of allegiance to the United States flag.
               (5)  Pledge of allegiance to the Texas flag.
               (6)  Excuses for absence of members and officers.
               (7)  First reading and reference to committee of bills
  filed with the chief clerk; and motions to introduce bills, when
  such motions are required.
               (8)  Requests to print bills and other papers; requests
  of committees for further time to consider papers referred to them;
  and all other routine motions and business not otherwise provided
  for, all of which shall be undebatable except that the mover and one
  opponent of the motion shall be allowed three minutes each.
         The mover of a routine motion shall be allowed his or her
  choice of making the opening or the closing speech under this rule.
  If the house, under a suspension of the rules, extends the time of a
  member under this rule, such extensions shall be for three minutes.
  Subsidiary motions that are applicable to routine motions shall be
  in order, but the makers of such subsidiary motions shall not be
  entitled to speak thereon in the routine motion period, nor shall
  the authors of the original routine motions be allowed any
  additional time because of subsidiary motions.
               (9)  Unfinished business.
               (10)  Third reading calendars of the house in their
  order of priority in accordance with Section 7 of this rule, unless
  a different order is determined under other provisions of these
  rules.
               (11)  Postponed matters to be laid before the house in
  accordance with Rule 7, Section 15.
               (12)  Second reading calendars  of the house in their
  order of priority in accordance with Section 7 of this rule, unless
  a different order is determined under other provisions of these
  rules.
         (b)  When the house reconvenes for the first time on a new
  calendar day following a recess, the daily order of business shall
  be:
               (1)  Call to order by the speaker.
               (2)  Registration of members.
               (3)  Prayer by the chaplain.
               (4)  Pledge of allegiance to the United States flag.
               (5)  Pledge of allegiance to the Texas flag.
               (6)  Excuses for absence of members and officers.
               (7)  Pending business.
               (8)  Calendars of the house in their order of priority
  in accordance with Section 7 of this rule, unless a different order
  is determined under other provisions of these rules.
         Sec. 2.  SPECIAL ORDERS.  (a)  Any bill, resolution, or
  other measure may on any day be made a special order for the same day
  or for a future day of the session by an affirmative vote of
  two-thirds of the members present. A motion to set a special order
  shall be subject to the three-minute pro and con debate rule. When
  once established as a special order, a bill, resolution, or other
  measure shall be considered from day to day until disposed of; and
  until it has been disposed of, no further special orders shall be
  made.
         A three-fourths vote of the members present shall be required
  to suspend the portion of this rule which specifies that only one
  special order may be made and pending at a time.
         (b)  After the first eight  items under the daily order of
  business for a legislative day have been passed, a special order
  shall have precedence when the hour for its consideration has
  arrived, except as provided in Section 9 of this rule.
         (c)  After the 115th day of a regular session, if a joint
  resolution has appeared on a daily house calendar and is adopted,
  and a bill that is enabling legislation for the joint resolution is
  either on or eligible to be placed on a calendar, the author or
  sponsor of the bill or another member may immediately be recognized
  for a motion to set the bill that is the enabling legislation as a
  special order pursuant to this section. For purposes of this
  subsection, the bill must have been designated as the enabling
  legislation for the joint resolution in writing filed with the
  chief clerk not later than the date the committee report for the
  enabling legislation is printed and distributed.
         Sec. 3.  POSTPONEMENT OF A SPECIAL ORDER.  A special order
  may be postponed to a day certain by a two-thirds vote of those
  present, and when so postponed, shall be considered as disposed of
  so far as its place as a special order is concerned.
         Sec. 4.  TABLED MEASURES AS SPECIAL ORDERS.  A bill or
  resolution laid on the table subject to call may be made a special
  order.
         Sec. 5.  SUBSTITUTION IN MOTION FOR A SPECIAL ORDER.  When a
  motion is pending to set a particular bill or resolution as a
  special order, it shall not be in order to move as a substitute to
  set another bill or resolution as a special order. It shall be in
  order, however, to substitute, by majority vote, a different time
  for the special order consideration than that given in the original
  motion.
         Sec. 6.  MEMBER'S SUSPENSION AND SPECIAL ORDER PRIVILEGES.
  If a member moves to set a bill or joint resolution as a special
  order, or moves to suspend the rules to take up a bill or joint
  resolution out of its regular order, and the motion prevails, the
  member shall not have the right to make either of these motions
  again until every other member has had an opportunity, via either of
  these motions, to have some bill or joint resolution considered out
  of its regular order during that session of the legislature. A
  member shall not lose the suspension privilege if the motion to
  suspend or set for special order does not prevail.
         Sec. 7.  SYSTEM OF CALENDARS.  (a)  Legislative business of
  the house shall be controlled by a system of calendars, consisting
  of the following:
               (1)  EMERGENCY CALENDAR, on which shall appear bills
  considered to be of such pressing and imperative import as to demand
  immediate action, bills to raise revenue and levy taxes, and the
  general appropriations bill. A bill submitted as an emergency
  matter by the governor may also be placed on this calendar.
               (2)  MAJOR STATE CALENDAR, on which shall appear bills
  of statewide effect, not emergency in nature, which establish or
  change state policy in a major field of governmental activity and
  which will have a major impact in application throughout the state
  without regard to class, area, or other limiting factors.
               (3)  CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS CALENDAR, on which
  shall appear joint resolutions proposing amendments to the Texas
  Constitution, joint resolutions proposing the ratification of
  amendments to the Constitution of the United States, and joint
  resolutions applying to Congress for a convention to amend the
  Constitution of the United States.
               (4)  GENERAL STATE CALENDAR, on which shall appear
  bills of statewide effect, not emergency in nature, which establish
  or change state law and which have application to all areas but are
  limited in legal effect by classification or other factors which
  minimize the impact to something less than major state policy, and
  bills, not emergency in nature, which are not on the local, consent,
  and resolutions calendar.
               (5)  LOCAL, CONSENT, AND RESOLUTIONS CALENDAR, on which
  shall appear bills, house resolutions, and concurrent resolutions,
  not emergency in nature, regardless of extent and scope, on which
  there is such general agreement as to render improbable any
  opposition to the consideration and passage thereof, and which have
  been recommended by the appropriate standing committee for
  placement on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar by the
  Committee on Local and Consent Calendars.
               (6)  RESOLUTIONS CALENDAR, on which shall appear house
  resolutions and concurrent resolutions, not emergency in nature and
  not privileged.
               (7)  CONGRATULATORY AND MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS CALENDAR,
  on which shall appear congratulatory and memorial resolutions whose
  sole intent is to congratulate, memorialize, or otherwise express
  concern or commendation. The Committee on Rules and Resolutions
  may provide separate categories for congratulatory and memorial
  resolutions.
         (b)  A calendars committee shall strictly construe and the
  speaker shall strictly enforce this system of calendars.
         Sec. 8.  SENATE BILL CALENDARS.  (a)  Senate bills and
  resolutions pending in the house shall follow the same procedure
  with regard to calendars as house bills and resolutions, but
  separate calendars shall be maintained for senate bills and
  resolutions, and consideration of them on senate bill days shall
  have priority in the manner and order specified in this rule.
         (b)  No other business shall be considered on days devoted to
  the consideration of senate bills when there remain any bills on any
  of the senate calendars, except with the consent of the senate. When
  all senate calendars are clear, the house may proceed to
  consideration of house calendars on senate bill days.
         Sec. 9.  SENATE BILL DAYS.  (a)  On calendar Wednesday and
  on calendar Thursday of each week, only senate bills and senate
  resolutions shall be taken up and considered, until disposed of.
  Senate bills and senate resolutions shall be considered in the
  order prescribed in Section 7 of this rule on separate senate
  calendars prepared by the Committee on Calendars. In case a senate
  bill or senate resolution is pending at adjournment on calendar
  Thursday, it shall go over to the succeeding calendar Wednesday as
  unfinished business.
         (b)  Precedence given in Rule 8 to certain classes of bills
  during the first 60 calendar days of a regular session shall also
  apply to senate bills on senate bill days.
         Sec. 10.  CONSIDERATION OF SENATE BILL ON SAME
  SUBJECT.  When any house bill is reached on the calendar or is
  before the house for consideration, it shall be the duty of the
  speaker to give the place on the calendar of the house bill to any
  senate bill containing the same subject that has been referred to
  and reported from a committee of the house and to lay the senate
  bill before the house, to be considered in lieu of the house bill.
         Sec. 11.  PERIODS FOR CONSIDERATION OF CONGRATULATORY AND
  MEMORIAL CALENDARS.  As the volume of legislation shall warrant,
  the chair of the Committee on Rules and Resolutions shall move to
  designate periods for the consideration of congratulatory and
  memorial calendars. Each such motion shall require a two-thirds
  vote for its adoption. In each instance, the Committee on Rules and
  Resolutions shall prepare and post on the electronic legislative
  information system a calendar at least 24 hours in advance of the
  hour set for consideration. No memorial or congratulatory
  resolution will be heard by the full house without having first been
  approved, at least 24 hours in advance, by a majority of the
  membership of the Committee on Rules and Resolutions, in accordance
  with Rule 4, Section 16. It shall not be necessary for the
  Committee on Rules and Resolutions to report a memorial or
  congratulatory resolution from committee in order to place the
  resolution on a congratulatory and memorial calendar. If the
  Committee on Rules and Resolutions determines that a resolution is
  not eligible for placement on the congratulatory and memorial
  calendar the measure shall be sent to the Committee on Calendars for
  further action. A congratulatory and memorial calendar will
  contain the resolution number, the author's name, and a brief
  description of the intent of the resolution. On the congratulatory
  and memorial calendar, congratulatory resolutions may be listed
  separately from memorial resolutions. Once a calendar is posted,
  no additional resolutions will be added to it, and the requirements
  of this section shall not be subject to suspension.
         Sec. 12.  PROCEDURE FOR CONSIDERATION OF CONGRATULATORY AND
  MEMORIAL CALENDARS.  During the consideration of a congratulatory
  and memorial calendar, resolutions shall not be read in full unless
  they pertain to members or former members of the legislature, or
  unless the intended recipient of the resolution is present on the
  house floor or in the gallery. All other such resolutions shall be
  read only by number, type of resolution, and name of the person or
  persons designated in the resolutions. Members shall notify the
  chair, in advance of consideration of the calendar, of any
  resolutions that will be required to be read in full. In addition,
  the following procedures shall be observed:
               (1)  The chair shall recognize the reading clerk to
  read the resolutions within each category on the calendar only by
  number, type of resolution, author or sponsor, and name of the
  person or persons designated in the resolutions, except for those
  resolutions that have been withdrawn or that are required to be read
  in full. The resolutions read by the clerk shall then be adopted in
  one motion for each category.
               (2)  Subsequent to the adoption of the resolutions read
  by the clerk, the chair shall proceed to lay before the house the
  resolutions on the calendar that are required to be read in full.
  Each such resolution shall be read and adopted individually.
               (3)  If it develops that any resolution on the
  congratulatory and memorial calendar does not belong on that
  calendar, the chair shall withdraw the resolution from further
  consideration, remove it from the calendar, and refer it to the
  appropriate calendars committee for placement on the proper
  calendar.
         Sec. 13.  PERIODS FOR CONSIDERATION OF LOCAL, CONSENT, AND
  RESOLUTIONS CALENDARS.  (a)  As the volume of legislation shall
  warrant, the chair of the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars
  shall move to designate periods for the consideration of local,
  consent, and resolutions calendars. Each such motion shall require
  a two-thirds vote for its adoption. In each instance, the Committee
  on Local and Consent Calendars shall prepare and post on the
  electronic legislative information system a calendar at least 48
  hours in advance of the hour set for consideration. Once a calendar
  is posted, no additional bills or resolutions will be added to it.
  This requirement can be suspended only by unanimous consent. No
  local, consent, and resolutions calendar may be considered by the
  house if it is determined that the rules of the house were not
  complied with by the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars in
  preparing that calendar.
         (b)  The period designated for the consideration of a local,
  consent, and resolutions calendar under this section or under a
  special order under Section 2 of this rule may not exceed one
  calendar day.
         Sec. 14.  PROCEDURE FOR CONSIDERATION OF LOCAL, CONSENT, AND
  RESOLUTIONS CALENDARS.  During the consideration of a local,
  consent, and resolutions calendar set by the Committee on Local and
  Consent Calendars the following procedures shall be observed:
               (1)  The chair shall allow the sponsor of each bill or
  resolution three minutes to explain the measure, and the time shall
  not be extended except by unanimous consent of the house. This rule
  shall have precedence over all other rules limiting time for
  debate.
               (2)  If it develops that any bill or resolution on a
  local, consent, and resolutions calendar is to be contested on the
  floor of the house, the chair shall withdraw the bill or resolution
  from further consideration and remove it from the calendar.
               (3)  Any bill or resolution on a local, consent, and
  resolutions calendar shall be considered contested if notice is
  given by five or more members that they intend to oppose the bill or
  resolution, either by a raising of hands or the delivery of written
  notice to the chair.
               (4)  Any bill or resolution on a local, consent, and
  resolutions calendar shall be considered contested if debate
  exceeds 10 minutes. The chair shall strictly enforce this time
  limit and automatically withdraw the bill from further
  consideration if the time limit herein imposed is exceeded.
               (5)  Any bill or resolution on a local, consent, and
  resolutions calendar that is not reached for floor consideration
  because of the expiration of the calendar day period for
  consideration established by Section 13 of this rule shall carry
  over onto the next local, consent, and resolutions calendar.  Bills
  or resolutions that carry over must appear in the same relative
  order as on the calendar on which the bills or resolutions initially
  appeared, and bills or resolutions originally from older calendars
  must appear before those originally from more recent calendars.
         Sec. 15.  ORDER OF CONSIDERATION OF CALENDARS.  Except for
  local, consent, and resolutions calendars and congratulatory and
  memorial calendars, consideration of calendars shall be in the
  order named in Section 7 of this rule, subject to any exceptions
  ordered by the Committee on Calendars.  Bills  and resolutions on
  third reading shall have precedence over bills and resolutions on
  second reading.
         Sec. 16.  DAILY CALENDARS, SUPPLEMENTAL CALENDARS, AND LISTS
  OF ITEMS ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION.  (a)  Calendars shall be
  prepared daily when the house is in session. A calendar must be
  posted on the electronic legislative information system at least 36
  hours if convened in regular session and 24 hours if convened in
  special session before the calendar may be considered by the house,
  except as otherwise provided by these rules for the calendar on
  which the general appropriations bill is first eligible for
  consideration on second reading when convened in regular session.
  A calendar that contains a bill extending an agency, commission, or
  advisory committee under the Texas Sunset Act must be posted at
  least 48 hours if convened in regular or special session before the
  calendar may be considered by the house.  Deviations from the
  calendars as posted shall not be permitted except that the
  Committee on Calendars shall be authorized to prepare and post, not
  later than two hours before the house convenes, a supplemental
  daily house calendar, on which shall appear:
               (1)  bills or resolutions which were passed to third
  reading on the previous legislative day;
               (2)  bills or resolutions which appeared on the Daily
  House Calendar for a previous calendar day which were not reached
  for floor consideration;
               (3)  postponed business from a previous calendar day;
  and
               (4)  notice to take from the table a bill or resolution
  which was laid on the table subject to call on a previous
  legislative day.
         In addition to the items listed above, the bills and
  resolutions from a daily house calendar that will be eligible for
  consideration may be incorporated, in their proper order as
  determined by these rules, into the supplemental daily house
  calendar.
         (a-1)  If the house is convened in regular session, the
  calendar on which the general appropriations bill is first eligible
  for consideration on second reading must be posted on the
  electronic legislative information system at least 144 hours before
  the calendar may be considered by the house. The posted calendar
  must indicate the date and time at which the calendar is scheduled
  for consideration by the house, which date and time must be in
  accordance with Rule 8, Section 14.
         (b)  In addition, when the volume of legislation shall
  warrant, and upon request of the speaker, the chief clerk shall have
  prepared a list of Items Eligible for Consideration, on which shall
  appear only:
               (1)  house bills with senate amendments that are
  eligible for consideration under Rule 13, Section 5, including the
  number of senate amendments and the total number of pages of senate
  amendments;
               (2)  senate bills for which the senate has requested
  appointment of a conference committee; and
               (3)  conference committee reports that are eligible for
  consideration under Rule 13, Section 10.
         (c)  The list of Items Eligible for Consideration must be
  posted on the electronic legislative information system at least
  six hours before the list may be considered by the house.
         (d)  The time at which a calendar or list is posted on the
  electronic legislative information system shall be time-stamped on
  the originals of the calendar or list.
         (e)  No house calendar shall be eligible for consideration if
  it is determined that the rules of the house were not complied with
  by the Committee on Calendars in preparing that calendar.
         (f)  If the Committee on Calendars has proposed a rule for
  floor consideration of a bill or resolution that is eligible to be
  placed on a calendar of the daily house calendar, the rule must be
  printed and a copy distributed to each member. If the bill or
  resolution to which the rule will apply has already been placed on a
  calendar of the daily house calendar, a copy of the rule must also
  be posted with the calendar on which the bill or resolution appears.
  The speaker shall lay a proposed rule before the house prior to the
  consideration of the bill or resolution to which the rule will
  apply. The rule shall be laid before the house not earlier than six
  hours after a copy of the rule has been distributed to each member
  in accordance with this subsection. The rule shall not be subject
  to amendment, but to be effective, the rule must be approved by the
  house by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of those members present
  and voting, except that the rule must be approved by an affirmative
  vote of a majority of those members present and voting if the rule
  applies to a tax bill, an appropriations bill, or a redistricting
  bill. If approved by the house in accordance with this subsection,
  the rule will be effective for the consideration of the bill or
  resolution on both second and third readings.
         Sec. 17.  POSITION ON A CALENDAR. (a) Unless removed from
  the calendar under Subsection (b) of this section, once a bill or
  resolution is placed on its appropriate calendar under these rules,
  and has appeared on a house calendar, as posted on the electronic
  legislative information system, the bill shall retain its relative
  position on the calendar until reached for floor consideration, and
  the calendars committee with jurisdiction over the bill or
  resolution shall have no authority to place other bills on the
  calendar ahead of that bill, but all additions to the calendar shall
  appear subsequent to the bill.
         (b)  If a bill or resolution that has been placed on a house
  calendar, as posted on the electronic legislative information
  system, is recommitted or withdrawn from further consideration, the
  bill or resolution relinquishes its position on the calendar, and
  the bill or resolution shall be removed from the calendar.
         Sec. 18.  REQUIREMENTS FOR PLACEMENT ON A CALENDAR.  Except
  as provided in Section 11 of this rule as it relates to
  congratulatory and memorial resolutions, no bill or resolution
  shall be placed on a calendar until:
               (1)  it has been referred to and reported from its
  appropriate standing committee by favorable committee action; or
               (2)  it is ordered printed on minority report or after a
  committee has reported its inability to recommend a course of
  action.
         Sec. 19.  REFERRAL TO CALENDARS COMMITTEES.  All bills and
  resolutions, on being reported from committee, shall be referred
  immediately to the committee coordinator  for printing and then to
  the appropriate calendars committee for placement on the
  appropriate calendar.
         Sec. 20.  TIME LIMIT FOR VOTE TO PLACE ON A CALENDAR.  Within
  30 calendar days after a bill or resolution has been referred to the
  appropriate calendars committee, the committee must vote on whether
  to place the bill or resolution on one of the calendars of the daily
  house calendar or the local, consent, and resolutions calendar, as
  applicable. A vote against placement of the bill or resolution on a
  calendar does not preclude a calendars committee from later voting
  in favor of placement of the bill or resolution on a calendar.
         Sec. 21.  MOTION TO PLACE ON A CALENDAR.  (a)  When a bill or
  resolution has been in the appropriate calendars committee for 30
  calendar days, exclusive of the calendar day on which it was
  referred, awaiting placement on one of the calendars of the daily
  house calendar or on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar,
  it shall be in order for a member to move that the bill or resolution
  be placed on a specific calendar of the daily house calendar or on
  the local, consent, and resolutions calendar without action by the
  committee. This motion must be seconded by five members and shall
  require a majority vote for adoption.
         (b)  A motion to place a bill or resolution on a specific
  calendar of the daily house calendar or on the local, consent, and
  resolutions calendar is not a privileged motion and must be made
  during the routine motion period unless made under a suspension of
  the rules.
         Sec. 22.  REQUEST FOR PLACEMENT ON LOCAL, CONSENT, AND
  RESOLUTIONS CALENDAR.  No bill or resolution shall be considered
  for placement on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar by
  the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars unless a request for
  that placement has been made to the chair of the standing committee
  from which the bill or resolution was reported and unless the
  committee report of the standing committee recommends that the bill
  or resolution be sent to the Committee on Local and Consent
  Calendars for placement on the local, consent, and resolutions
  calendar. The recommendation of the standing committee shall be
  advisory only, and the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars
  shall have final authority to determine whether or not a bill or
  resolution shall be placed on the local, consent, and resolutions
  calendar. If the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars
  determines that the bill or resolution is not eligible for
  placement on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar, the
  measure shall be sent to the Committee on Calendars for further
  action.
         Sec. 23.  QUALIFICATIONS FOR PLACEMENT ON THE LOCAL,
  CONSENT, AND RESOLUTIONS CALENDAR.  (a) No bill defined as a local
  bill by Rule 8, Section 10(c), shall be placed on the local,
  consent, and resolutions calendar unless:
               (1)  evidence of publication of notice in compliance
  with the Texas Constitution and these rules is filed with the
  Committee on Local and Consent Calendars; and
               (2)  it has been recommended unanimously by the present
  and voting members of the committee from which it was reported that
  the bill be sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars for
  placement on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar.
         (b)  No other bill or resolution shall be placed on the
  local, consent, and resolutions calendar unless it has been
  recommended unanimously by the present and voting members of the
  committee from which it was reported that the bill be sent to the
  Committee on Local and Consent Calendars for placement on the
  local, consent, and resolutions calendar.
         (c)  No bill or resolution shall be placed on the local,
  consent, and resolutions calendar that:
               (1)  directly or indirectly prevents from being
  available for purposes of funding state government generally any
  money that under existing law would otherwise be available for that
  purpose, including a bill that transfers or diverts money in the
  state treasury from the general revenue fund to another fund; or
               (2)  authorizes or requires the expenditure or
  diversion of state funds for any purpose, as determined by a fiscal
  note attached to the bill.
         Sec. 24.  REPLACEMENT OF CONTESTED BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS.  A
  bill or resolution once removed from the local, consent, and
  resolutions calendar shall be returned to the Committee on Local
  and Consent Calendars for further action. The Committee on Local
  and Consent Calendars, if it feels such action is warranted, may
  again place the bill or resolution on the local, consent, and
  resolutions calendar, provided, however, that if the bill or
  resolution is not placed on the next local, consent, and
  resolutions calendar set by the Committee on Local and Consent
  Calendars, the bill or resolution shall immediately be referred to
  the Committee on Calendars for further action. If the bill or
  resolution is then removed from the calendar a second time by being
  contested on the floor of the house, the bill or resolution shall
  not again be placed on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar
  by the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars during that session
  of the legislature but shall be returned to the Committee on
  Calendars for further action.
         Sec. 25.  DISCRETION IN PLACEMENT ON CALENDARS.  Subject to
  the limitations contained in this rule, the Committee on Calendars
  shall have full authority to make placements on calendars in
  whatever order is necessary and desirable under the circumstances
  then existing, except that bills on third reading shall have
  precedence over bills on second reading.  It is the intent of the
  calendar system to give the Committee on Calendars wide discretion
  to insure adequate consideration by the house of important
  legislation.
  RULE 7.  MOTIONS
  CHAPTER A.  GENERAL MOTIONS
         Sec. 1.  MOTIONS DECIDED WITHOUT DEBATE.  The following
  motions, in addition to any elsewhere provided herein, shall be
  decided without debate, except as otherwise provided in these
  rules:
               (1)  to adjourn;
               (2)  to lay on the table;
               (3)  to lay on the table subject to call;
               (4)  to suspend the rule as to the time for introduction
  of bills;
               (5)  to order a call of the house, and all motions
  incidental thereto;
               (6)  an appeal by a member called to order;
               (7)  on questions relating to priority of business;
               (8)  to amend the caption of a bill or resolution;
               (9)  to extend the time of a member speaking under the
  previous question or to allow a member who has the right to speak
  after the previous question is ordered to yield the time, or a part
  of it, to another;
               (10)  to reconsider and table.
         Sec. 2.  MOTIONS SUBJECT TO DEBATE.  The speaker shall permit
  the mover and one opponent of the motion three minutes each during
  which to debate the following motions without debating the merits
  of the bill, resolution, or other matter, and the mover of the
  motion may elect to either open the debate or close the debate, but
  the mover's time may not be divided:
               (1)  to suspend the regular order of business and take
  up some measure out of its regular order;
               (2)  to instruct a committee to report a certain bill or
  resolution;
               (3)  to rerefer a bill or resolution from one committee
  to another;
               (4)  to place a bill or resolution on a specific
  calendar without action by the appropriate calendars committee;
               (5)  to take up a bill or resolution laid on the table
  subject to call;
               (6)  to set a special order;
               (7)  to suspend the rules;
               (8)  to suspend the constitutional rule requiring bills
  to be read on three several days;
               (9)  to pass a resolution suspending the joint rules;
               (10)  to order the previous question;
               (11)  to order the limiting of amendments to a bill or
  resolution;
               (12)  to print documents, reports, or other material in
  the journal;
               (13)  to take any other action required or permitted
  during the routine motion period by Rule 6, Section 1;
               (14)  to divide the question.
         Sec. 3.  MOTIONS ALLOWED DURING DEBATE.  When a question is
  under debate, the following motions, and none other, shall be in
  order, and such motions shall have precedence in the following
  order:
               (1)  to adjourn;
               (2)  to take recess;
               (3)  to lay on the table;
               (4)  to lay on the table subject to call;
               (5)  for the previous question;
               (6)  to postpone to a day certain;
               (7)  to commit, recommit, refer, or rerefer;
               (8)  to amend by striking out the enacting or resolving
  clause, which, if carried, shall have the effect of defeating the
  bill or resolution;
               (9)  to amend;
               (10)  to postpone indefinitely.
         Sec. 4.  STATEMENT OR READING OF A MOTION.  When a motion has
  been made, the speaker shall state it, or if it is in writing, order
  it read by the clerk; and it shall then be in possession of the
  house.
         Sec. 5.  ENTRY OF MOTIONS IN JOURNAL.  Every motion made to
  the house and entertained by the speaker shall be reduced to writing
  on the demand of any member, and shall be entered on the journal
  with the name of the member making it.
         Sec. 6.  WITHDRAWAL OF A MOTION.  A motion may be withdrawn
  by the mover at any time before a decision on the motion, even
  though an amendment may have been offered and is pending. It cannot
  be withdrawn, however, if the motion has been amended. After the
  previous question has been ordered, a motion can be withdrawn only
  by unanimous consent.
         Sec. 7.  MOTIONS TO ADJOURN OR RECESS.  A motion to adjourn
  or recess shall always be in order, except:
               (1)  when the house is voting on another motion;
               (2)  when the previous question has been ordered and
  before the final vote on the main question, unless a roll call shows
  the absence of a quorum;
               (3)  when a member entitled to the floor has not yielded
  for that purpose; or
               (4)  when no business has been transacted since a
  motion to adjourn or recess has been defeated.
         Sec. 8.  CONSIDERATION OF SEVERAL MOTIONS TO ADJOURN OR
  RECESS.  When several motions to recess or adjourn are made at the
  same period, the motion to adjourn carrying the shortest time shall
  be put first, then the next shortest time, and in that order until a
  motion to adjourn has been adopted or until all have been voted on
  and lost; and then the same procedure shall be followed for motions
  to recess.
         Sec. 9.  WITHDRAWAL OR ADDITION OF A MOTION TO ADJOURN OR
  RECESS.  A motion to adjourn or recess may not be withdrawn when it
  is one of a series upon which voting has commenced, nor may an
  additional motion to adjourn or recess be made when voting has
  commenced on a series of such motions.
         Sec. 10.  RECONSIDERATION OF VOTE TO ADJOURN OR RECESS.  The
  vote by which a motion to adjourn or recess is carried or lost shall
  not be subject to a motion to reconsider.
         Sec. 11.  ADJOURNING WITH LESS THAN A QUORUM.  A smaller
  number of members than a quorum may adjourn from day to day, and may
  compel the attendance of absent members.
         Sec. 12.  MOTION TO TABLE.  A motion to lay on the table, if
  carried, shall have the effect of killing the bill, resolution,
  amendment, or other immediate proposition to which it was applied.
  Such a motion shall not be debatable, but the mover of the
  proposition to be tabled, or the member reporting it from
  committee, shall be allowed to close the debate after the motion to
  table is made and before it is put to a vote. When a motion to table
  is made to a debatable main motion, the main motion mover shall be
  allowed 20 minutes to close the debate, whereas the movers of other
  debatable motions sought to be tabled shall be allowed only 10
  minutes to close. The vote by which a motion to table is carried or
  lost cannot be reconsidered. After the previous question has been
  ordered, a motion to table is not in order. The provisions of this
  section do not apply to motions to "lay on the table subject to
  call"; however, a motion to lay on the table subject to call cannot
  be made after the previous question has been ordered.
         Sec. 13.  MATTERS TABLED SUBJECT TO CALL.  When a bill,
  resolution, or other matter is pending before the house, it may be
  laid on the table subject to call, and one legislative day's notice,
  as provided on the Supplemental House Calendar, must be given
  before the proposition can be taken from the table, unless it is on
  the same legislative day, in which case it can be taken from the
  table at any time except when there is another matter pending before
  the house. A bill, resolution, or other matter can be taken from
  the table only by a majority vote of the house. When a special order
  is pending, a motion to take a proposition from the table cannot be
  made unless the proposition is a privileged matter.
         Sec. 14.  MOTION TO POSTPONE.  A motion to postpone to a day
  certain may be amended and is debatable within narrow limits, but
  the merits of the proposition sought to be postponed cannot be
  debated. A motion to postpone indefinitely opens to debate the
  entire proposition to which it applies.
         Sec. 15.  POSTPONED MATTERS.  (a)  A bill or proposition
  postponed to a day certain shall be laid before the house at the
  time on the calendar day to which it was postponed, provided it is
  otherwise eligible under the rules and no other business is then
  pending.  If business is pending, the postponed matter shall be
  deferred until the pending business is disposed of without
  prejudice otherwise to its right of priority.  When a privileged
  matter is postponed to a particular time, and that time arrives, the
  matter, still retaining its privileged nature, shall be taken up
  even though another matter is pending.
         (b)  Consideration of a bill postponed to a day certain from
  the local, consent, and resolutions calendar is governed on second
  reading by the rules applicable to the calendar from which it was
  postponed to the extent practicable.
         Sec. 16.  ORDER OF CONSIDERATION OF POSTPONED MATTERS.  If
  two or more bills, resolutions, or other propositions are postponed
  to the same time, and are otherwise eligible for consideration at
  that time, they shall be considered in the chronological order of
  their setting.
         Sec. 17.  MOTION TO REFER.  When motions are made to refer a
  subject to a select or standing committee, the question on the
  subject's referral to a standing committee shall be put first.
         Sec. 18.  MOTION TO RECOMMIT.  A motion to recommit a bill,
  after being defeated at the routine motion period, may again be made
  when the bill itself is under consideration; however, a motion to
  recommit a bill shall not be in order at the routine motion period
  if the bill is then before the house as either pending business or
  unfinished business.
         A motion to recommit a bill or resolution can be made and
  voted on even though the author, sponsor, or principal proponent is
  not present.
         Sec. 19.  TERMS OF DEBATE ON MOTIONS TO REFER, REREFER,
  COMMIT, OR RECOMMIT.  A motion to refer, rerefer, commit, or
  recommit is debatable within narrow limits, but the merits of the
  proposition may not be brought into the debate. A motion to refer,
  rerefer, commit, or recommit with instructions is fully debatable.
         Sec. 20.  RECOMMITTING TO COMMITTEE FOR A SECOND TIME.  
  Except as provided in Rule 4, Section 30, when a bill has been
  recommitted once at any reading and has been reported adversely by
  the committee to which it was referred, it shall be in order to
  again recommit the bill only if a minority report has been filed in
  the time required by the rules of the house. A two-thirds vote of
  those present shall be required to recommit a second time.
  CHAPTER B.  MOTION FOR THE PREVIOUS QUESTION
         Sec. 21.  MOTION FOR THE PREVIOUS QUESTION.  There shall be a
  motion for the previous question, which shall be admitted only when
  seconded by 25 members. It shall be put by the chair in this manner:
  "The motion has been seconded. Three minutes pro and con debate
  will be allowed on the motion for ordering the previous question."
  As soon as the debate has ended, the chair shall continue: "As many
  as are in favor of ordering the previous question on (here state on
  which question or questions) will say 'Aye,'" and then, "As many as
  are opposed say 'Nay.'" As in all other propositions, a motion for
  the previous question may be taken by a record vote if demanded by
  any member. If ordered by a majority of the members voting, a
  quorum being present, it shall have the effect of cutting off all
  debate, except as provided in Section 23 of this rule, and bringing
  the house to a direct vote on the immediate question or questions on
  which it has been asked and ordered.
         Sec. 22.  DEBATE ON MOTION FOR PREVIOUS QUESTION.  On the
  motion for the previous question, there shall be no debate except as
  provided in Sections 2 and 21 of this rule. All incidental
  questions of order made pending decision on such motion shall be
  decided, whether on appeal or otherwise, without debate.
         Sec. 23.  LIMITATION OF DEBATE AFTER PREVIOUS QUESTION
  ORDERED.  After the previous question has been ordered, there shall
  be no debate upon the questions on which it has been ordered, or
  upon the incidental questions, except that the mover of the
  proposition or any of the pending amendments or any other motions,
  or the member making the report from the committee, or, in the case
  of the absence of either of them, any other member designated by
  such absentee, shall have the right to close the debate on the
  particular proposition or amendment. Then a vote shall be taken
  immediately on the amendments or other motions, if any, and then on
  the main question.
         Sec. 24.  SPEAKING AND VOTING AFTER THE PREVIOUS QUESTION
  ORDERED.  All members having the right to speak after the previous
  question has been ordered shall speak before the question is put on
  the first proposition covered by the previous question. All votes
  shall then be taken in the correct order, and no vote or votes shall
  be deferred to allow any member to close on any one of the
  propositions separately after the voting has commenced.
         Sec. 25.  SPEAKING ON AN AMENDMENT AS SUBSTITUTED.  When an
  amendment has been substituted and the previous question is then
  moved on the adoption of the amendment as substituted, the author of
  the amendment as substituted shall have the right to close the
  debate on that amendment in lieu of the author of the original
  amendment.
         Sec. 26.  SPEAKING ON A MOTION TO POSTPONE OR AMEND.  When
  the previous question is ordered on a motion to postpone
  indefinitely or to amend by striking out the enacting clause of a
  bill, the member moving to postpone or amend shall have the right to
  close the debate on that motion or amendment, after which the mover
  of the proposition or bill proposed to be so postponed or amended,
  or the member reporting it from the committee, or, in the absence of
  either of them, any other member designated by the absentee, shall
  be allowed to close the debate on the original proposition.
         Sec. 27.  APPLICATION OF THE PREVIOUS QUESTION.  The
  previous question may be asked and ordered on any debatable single
  motion or series of motions, or any amendment or amendments
  pending, or it may be made to embrace all authorized debatable
  motions or amendments pending and include the bill, resolution, or
  proposition that is on second or third reading. The previous
  question cannot be ordered, however, on the main proposition
  without including other pending motions of lower rank as given in
  Section 3 of this rule.
         Sec. 28.  LIMIT OF APPLICATION.  The previous question shall
  not extend beyond the final vote on a motion or sequence of motions
  to which the previous question has been ordered.
         Sec. 29.  AMENDMENTS NOT YET LAID BEFORE THE HOUSE.  
  Amendments on the speaker's desk for consideration which have not
  actually been laid before the house and read cannot be included
  under a motion for the previous question.
         Sec. 30.  MOVING THE PREVIOUS QUESTION AFTER A MOTION TO
  TABLE.  If a motion to table is made directly to a main motion, the
  motion for the previous question is not in order. In a case where an
  amendment to a main motion is pending, and a motion to table the
  amendment is made, it is in order to move the previous question on
  the main motion, the pending amendment, and the motion to table the
  amendment.
         Sec. 31.  NO SUBSTITUTE FOR MOTION FOR THE PREVIOUS
  QUESTION.  There is no acceptable substitute for a motion for the
  previous question, nor can other motions be applied to it.
         Sec. 32.  MOTION FOR THE PREVIOUS QUESTION NOT SUBJECT TO
  TABLING.  The motion for the previous question is not subject to a
  motion to table.
         Sec. 33.  MOTION TO ADJOURN AFTER MOTION FOR PREVIOUS
  QUESTION ACCEPTED.  The motion to adjourn is not in order after a
  motion for the previous question is accepted by the chair, or after
  the seconding of such motion and before a vote is taken.
         Sec. 34.  MOTIONS IN ORDER AFTER PREVIOUS QUESTION ORDERED.  
  After the previous question has been ordered, no motion shall be in
  order until the question or questions on which it was ordered have
  been voted on, without debate, except:
               (1)  a motion for a call of the house, and motions
  incidental thereto;
               (2)  a motion to extend the time of a member closing on
  a proposition;
               (3)  a motion to permit a member who has the right to
  speak to yield the time or a part thereof to another member;
               (4)  a request for and a verification of a vote;
               (5)  a motion to reconsider the vote by which the
  previous question was ordered. A motion to reconsider may be made
  only once and that must be before any vote under the previous
  question has been taken;
               (6)  a motion to table a motion to reconsider the vote
  by which the previous question has been ordered;
               (7)  a double motion to reconsider and table the vote by
  which the previous question was ordered.
         Sec. 35.  MOTION TO ADJOURN OR RECESS AFTER PREVIOUS
  QUESTION ORDERED.  No motion for an adjournment or a recess shall be
  in order after the previous question is ordered until the final vote
  under the previous question has been taken, unless the roll call
  shows the absence of a quorum.
         Sec. 36.  ADJOURNING WITHOUT A QUORUM.  When the house
  adjourns without a quorum under the previous question, the previous
  question shall remain in force and effect when the bill,
  resolution, or other proposition is again laid before the house.
  CHAPTER C.  RECONSIDERATION
         Sec. 37.  MOTION TO RECONSIDER A VOTE.  (a)  When a question
  has been decided by the house and the yeas and nays have been called
  for and recorded, any member voting with the prevailing side may, on
  the same legislative day, or on the next legislative day, move a
  reconsideration; however, if a reconsideration is moved on the next
  legislative day, it must be done before the order of the day, as
  designated in the 10th  item of Rule 6, Section 1(a), is taken up.  
  If the house refuses to reconsider, or on reconsideration, affirms
  its decision, no further action to reconsider shall be in order.
         (b)  Where the yeas and nays have not been called for and
  recorded, any member, regardless of whether he or she voted on the
  prevailing side or not, may make the motion to reconsider; however,
  even when the yeas and nays have not been recorded, the following
  shall not be eligible to make a motion to reconsider:
               (1)  a member who was absent;
               (2)  a member who was paired and, therefore, did not
  vote; and
               (3)  a member who was recorded in the journal as having
  voted on the losing side.
         (c)  A motion to reconsider the vote by which a bill, joint
  resolution, or concurrent resolution was defeated is not in order
  unless a member has previously provided at least one hour's notice
  of intent to make the motion by addressing the house when the house
  is in session and stating that a member intends to make a motion to
  reconsider the vote by which the bill or resolution was defeated.  
  It is not necessary for the member providing the notice to be
  eligible to make or to be the member who subsequently makes the
  motion to reconsider.  If notice of intent to make a motion to
  reconsider is given within the period that the motion to reconsider
  may be made under Subsection (a) of this section and that period
  expires during the one-hour period required by this subsection,
  then the period within which the motion may be made under Subsection
  (a) is extended by the amount of time, not to exceed one hour during
  which the house is in session, necessary to satisfy the one-hour
  notice required by this subsection.  For purposes of this
  subsection, a motion to reconsider includes a motion to reconsider
  and table and a motion to reconsider and spread on the journal.
         Sec. 38.  DEBATE ON MOTION TO RECONSIDER.  A motion to
  reconsider shall be debatable only when the question to be
  reconsidered is debatable. Even though the previous question was
  in force before the vote on a debatable question was taken, debate
  is permissible on the reconsideration of such debatable question.
         Sec. 39.  MAJORITY VOTE REQUIRED.  Every motion to
  reconsider shall be decided by a majority vote, even though the vote
  on the original question requires a two-thirds vote for affirmative
  action. If the motion to reconsider prevails, the question then
  immediately recurs on the question reconsidered.
         Sec. 40.  WITHDRAWAL OF MOTION TO RECONSIDER.  A motion to
  reconsider cannot be withdrawn unless permission is given by a
  majority vote of the house, and the motion may be called up by any
  member.
         Sec. 41.  TABLING MOTION TO RECONSIDER.  A motion to
  reconsider shall be subject to a motion to table, which, if carried,
  shall be a final disposition of the motion to reconsider.
         Sec. 42.  DOUBLE MOTION TO RECONSIDER AND TABLE.  The double
  motion to reconsider and table shall be in order. It shall be
  undebatable. When carried, the motion to reconsider shall be
  tabled. When it fails, the question shall then be on the motion to
  reconsider, and the motion to reconsider shall, without further
  action, be spread on the journal, but it may be called up by any
  member, in accordance with the provisions of Section 43 of this
  rule.
         Sec. 43.  DELAYED DISPOSITION OF MOTION TO RECONSIDER.  (a)  
  If a motion to reconsider is not disposed of when made, it shall be
  entered in the journal, and cannot, after that legislative day, be
  called up and disposed of unless one legislative day's notice has
  been given.
         (b)  Unless called up and disposed of prior to 72 hours
  before final adjournment of the session, all motions to reconsider
  shall be regarded as determined and lost.
         (c)  All motions to reconsider made during the last 72 hours
  of the session shall be disposed of when made; otherwise, the motion
  shall be considered as lost.
         Sec. 44.  MOTION TO RECONSIDER AND SPREAD ON JOURNAL.  (a)  A
  member voting on the prevailing side may make a motion to reconsider
  and spread on the journal, which does not require a vote, and on the
  motion being made, it shall be entered on the journal. Any member,
  regardless of whether he or she voted on the prevailing side or not,
  who desires immediate action on a motion to reconsider which has
  been spread on the journal, can call it up as soon as it is made, and
  demand a vote on it, or can call it up and move to table it.
         (b)  If the motion to table the motion to reconsider is
  defeated, the motion to reconsider remains spread on the journal
  for future action; however, any member, regardless of whether he or
  she voted on the prevailing side or not, can call the motion from
  the journal for action by the house, and, once disposed of, no other
  motion to reconsider can be made.
         Sec. 45.  MOTION TO REQUIRE COMMITTEE TO REPORT.  (a)  During
  the first 76 calendar days of a regular session, when any bill,
  resolution, or other paper has been in committee for 6 calendar
  days, exclusive of the calendar day on which it was referred, it
  shall be in order for a member to move that the committee be
  required to report the same within 7 calendar days.  This motion
  shall require a two-thirds vote for passage.
         (b)  After the first 76 calendar days of a regular session,
  when any bill, resolution, or other paper has been in committee for
  6 calendar days, exclusive of the calendar day on which it was
  referred, it shall be in order for a member to move that the
  committee be required to report the same within 7 calendar days.  
  This motion shall require a majority vote for passage.
         (c)  A motion to instruct a committee to report is not a
  privileged motion and must be made during the routine motion period
  unless made under a suspension of the rules.
         (d)  The house shall have no authority to instruct a
  subcommittee directly; however, instructions recognized under the
  rules may be given to a committee and shall be binding on all
  subcommittees.
         Sec. 46.  MOTION TO REREFER TO ANOTHER COMMITTEE.  (a)  
  During the first 76 calendar days of a regular session, when any
  bill, resolution, or other paper has been in committee for 7
  calendar days after the committee was instructed by the house to
  report that measure by a motion made under Section 45 of this rule,
  it shall be in order for a member to move to rerefer the bill,
  resolution, or other paper to a different committee. This motion
  shall require a two-thirds vote for passage.
         (b)  After the first 76 calendar days of a regular session,
  when any bill, resolution, or other paper has been in committee for
  7 calendar days after the committee has been instructed to report
  that measure by a motion made under Section 45  of this rule, it
  shall be in order for a member to move to rerefer the bill,
  resolution, or other paper to a different committee. This motion
  shall require a majority vote for passage.
         (c)  A motion to rerefer a bill, resolution, or other paper
  from one committee to another committee is not a privileged motion
  and must be made during the routine motion period unless made under
  a suspension of the rules.
  RULE 8.  BILLS
         Sec. 1.  CONTENTS OF BILLS.  (a)  Proposed laws or changes in
  laws must be incorporated in bills, which shall consist of:
               (1)  a title or caption, beginning with the words "A
  Bill to be Entitled An Act" and a brief statement that gives the
  legislature and the public reasonable notice of the subject of the
  proposed measure;
               (2)  an enacting clause, "Be It Enacted by the
  Legislature of the State of Texas"; and
               (3)  the bill proper.
         (b)  A house bill that would impose, authorize, increase, or
  change the rate or amount of a tax, assessment, surcharge, or fee
  must include a short statement at the end of its title or caption
  indicating the general effect of the bill on the tax, assessment,
  surcharge, or fee, such as "imposing a tax (or assessment),"
  "authorizing a surcharge (or fee)," or "increasing the rate (or
  amount) of a tax."
         Sec. 2.  PUBLISHING ACTS IN THEIR ENTIRETY.  No law shall be
  revived or amended by reference to its title. The act revived, or
  the section or sections amended, shall be reenacted and published
  at length. This rule does not apply to revisions adopted under
  Article III, Section 43, of the Texas Constitution.
         Sec. 3.  LIMITING A BILL TO A SINGLE SUBJECT.  Each bill
  (except a general appropriations bill, which may embrace the
  various subjects and accounts for which money is appropriated or a
  revision adopted under Article III, Section 43, of the Texas
  Constitution) shall contain only one subject.
         Sec. 4.  CHANGING GENERAL LAW THROUGH AN APPROPRIATIONS
  BILL.  A general law may not be changed by the provisions in an
  appropriations bill.
         Sec. 5.  COAUTHORSHIP, JOINT AUTHORSHIP, SPONSORSHIP,
  COSPONSORSHIP, AND JOINT SPONSORSHIP.  (a) A house bill or
  resolution may have only one primary author. The signature of the
  primary author shall be the only signature that appears on the
  original measure and all copies filed with the chief clerk. The
  signatures of all coauthors or joint authors shall appear on the
  appropriate forms in the chief clerk's office.
         (b)  Any member may become the coauthor of a bill or
  resolution by securing permission from the author. If permission
  is secured from the author prior to the time the measure is filed
  with the chief clerk, the primary author and the coauthor shall sign
  the appropriate form, which shall be included with the measure when
  it is filed with the chief clerk. If a member wishes to become the
  coauthor of a measure after it has been filed, no action shall be
  required by the house, but it shall be the duty of the member
  seeking to be a coauthor to obtain written authorization on the
  appropriate form from the author. This authorization shall be
  filed with the chief clerk before the coauthor signs the form for
  the bill or resolution. The chief clerk shall report daily to the
  journal clerk the names of members filed as coauthors of bills or
  resolutions. If a coauthor of a bill or resolution desires to
  withdraw from such status, the member shall notify the chief clerk,
  who in turn shall notify the journal clerk.
         (c)  The primary author of a measure may designate up to four
  joint authors by providing written authorization on the appropriate
  form to the chief clerk. If a member designated as a joint author
  has not already signed on the measure as a coauthor, that member
  must also sign the form before the records will reflect the joint
  author status of that member. The names of all joint authors shall
  be shown immediately following the primary author's name on all
  official printings of the measure, on all house calendars, in the
  house journal, and in the electronic legislative information
  system.
         (d)  The determination of the house sponsor of a senate
  measure is made at the time the measure is reported from committee.
  In the case of multiple requests for house sponsorship, the house
  sponsor of a senate measure shall be determined by the chair of the
  committee, in consultation with the senate author of the measure.
  The chair of the committee must designate a primary sponsor and may
  designate up to four joint sponsors or an unlimited number of
  cosponsors. The names of all joint sponsors shall be shown
  immediately following the primary sponsor's name on all official
  printings of the measure, on all house calendars, in the house
  journal, and in the electronic legislative information system.
         Sec. 6.  FILING, FIRST READING, AND REFERRAL TO COMMITTEE.  
  Each bill shall be filed with the chief clerk when introduced and
  shall be numbered in its regular order. Each bill shall be read
  first time by caption and referred by the speaker to the appropriate
  committee with jurisdiction.
         Sec. 7.  PREFILING.  Beginning the first Monday after the
  general election preceding the next regular legislative session, or
  within 30 days prior to any special session, it shall be in order to
  file with the chief clerk bills and resolutions for introduction in
  that session. On receipt of the bills or resolutions, the chief
  clerk shall number them and make them a matter of public record,
  available for distribution. Once a bill or resolution has been so
  filed, it may not be recalled. This shall apply only to
  members-elect of the succeeding legislative session.
         Sec. 8.  DEADLINE FOR INTRODUCTION.  (a)  Bills and joint
  resolutions introduced during the first 60 calendar days of the
  regular session may be considered by the committees and in the house
  and disposed of at any time during the session, in accordance with
  the rules of the house.  After the first 60 calendar days of a
  regular session, any bill or joint resolution, except local bills,
  emergency appropriations, and all emergency matters submitted by
  the governor in special messages to the legislature, shall require
  an affirmative vote of four-fifths of those members present and
  voting to be introduced.
         (b)  In addition to a bill defined as a "local bill" under
  Section 10(c) of this rule, a bill is considered local for purposes
  of this section if it relates to a specified district created under
  Article XVI, Section 59, of the Texas Constitution (water
  districts, etc.), a specified hospital district, or another
  specified special purpose district, even if neither these rules nor
  the Texas Constitution require publication of notice for that bill.
         Sec. 9.  NUMBER OF COPIES FILED.  (a)  Nine copies of every
  bill, except bills relating to conservation and reclamation
  districts and governed by the provisions of Article XVI, Section
  59, of the Texas Constitution, must be filed with the chief clerk at
  the time that the bill is introduced.
         (b)  Eleven copies of every bill relating to conservation and
  reclamation districts and governed by the provisions of Article
  XVI, Section 59, of the Texas Constitution, with copies of the
  notice to introduce the bill attached, must be filed with the chief
  clerk at the time that the bill is introduced if the bill is
  intended to:
               (1)  create a particular conservation and reclamation
  district; or
               (2)  amend the act of a particular conservation and
  reclamation district to:
                     (A)  add additional land to the district;
                     (B)  alter the taxing authority of the district;
                     (C)  alter the authority of the district with
  respect to issuing bonds; or
                     (D)  alter the qualifications or terms of office
  of the members of the governing body of the district.
         (c)  No bill may be laid before the house on first reading
  until it is in compliance with the provisions of this section.
         Sec. 10.  LOCAL BILLS.  (a)  The  house may not consider a
  local bill unless notice of intention to apply for the passage of
  the bill was published as provided by law and evidence of the
  publication is  attached to the bill.  If not attached to the bill on
  filing with the chief clerk or receipt of the bill from the senate,
  copies of the evidence of timely publication shall be filed with the
  chief clerk and must be distributed to the members of the committee
  not later than the first time the bill is laid out in a committee
  meeting.  The evidence shall be attached to the bill on first
  printing and shall remain with the measure throughout the entire
  legislative process, including submission to the governor.
         (b)  Neither the house nor a committee of the house may
  consider a bill whose application is limited to one or more
  political subdivisions by means of population brackets or other
  artificial devices in lieu of identifying the political subdivision
  or subdivisions by name. However, this subsection does not prevent
  consideration of a bill that classifies political subdivisions
  according to a minimum or maximum population or other criterion
  that bears a reasonable relation to the purpose of the proposed
  legislation or a bill that updates laws based on population
  classifications to conform to a federal decennial census.
         (c)  Except as provided by Subsection (d) of this section,
  "local bill" for purposes of this section means:
               (1)  a bill for which publication of notice is required
  under Article XVI, Section 59, of the Texas Constitution (water
  districts, etc.);
               (2)  a bill for which publication of notice is required
  under Article IX, Section 9, of the Texas Constitution (hospital
  districts);
               (3)  a bill relating to hunting, fishing, or
  conservation of wildlife resources of a specified locality;
               (4)  a bill creating or affecting a county court or
  statutory court or courts of one or more specified counties or
  municipalities;
               (5)  a bill creating or affecting the juvenile board or
  boards of a specified county or counties; or
               (6)  a bill creating or affecting a road utility
  district under the authority of Article III, Section 52, of the
  Texas Constitution.
         (d)  A bill is not considered to be a local bill under
  Subsection (c)(3), (4), or (5) if it affects a sufficient number of
  localities, counties, or municipalities so as to be of general
  application or of statewide importance.
         Sec. 11.  CONSIDERATION IN COMMITTEE.  (a)  No bill shall be
  considered unless it first has been referred to a committee and
  reported from it.
         (b)  After a bill has been recommitted, it shall be
  considered by the committee as a new subject.
         Sec. 12.  ORDER OF CONSIDERATION.  All bills and resolutions
  before the house shall be taken up and acted on in the order in which
  they appear on their respective calendars, and each calendar shall
  have the priority accorded to it by the provisions of Rule 6,
  Sections 7 and 8.
         Sec. 13.  DEADLINES FOR CONSIDERATION.  (a)  No house bill
  that is local as defined by Section 10(c) of this rule and that
  appears on a local, consent, and resolutions calendar shall be
  considered for any purpose after the 130th day of a regular session,
  except to:
               (1)  act on senate amendments;
               (2)  adopt a conference committee report;
               (3)  reconsider the bill to make corrections; or
               (4)  pass the bill notwithstanding the objections of
  the governor.
         (b)  No other house bill or joint resolution shall be
  considered on its second reading after the 122nd day of a regular
  session if it appears on a daily or supplemental daily house
  calendar, or for any purpose after the 123rd day of a regular
  session, except to:
               (1)  act on senate amendments;
               (2)  adopt a conference committee report;
               (3)  reconsider the bill or resolution to make
  corrections; or
               (4)  pass the bill notwithstanding the objections of
  the governor.
         (c)  No senate bill or joint resolution shall be considered
  on its second reading after the 134th day of a regular session if it
  appears on a daily or supplemental daily house calendar, or for any
  purpose after the 135th day of a regular session, except to:
               (1)  adopt a conference committee report;
               (2)  reconsider the bill or resolution to remove house
  amendments;
               (3)  reconsider the bill or resolution to make
  corrections; or
               (4)  pass the bill notwithstanding the objections of
  the governor.
         (d)  The speaker shall not lay any bill or joint resolution
  before the house or permit a vote to be taken on its passage on the
  136th and 137th days of a regular session, except to:
               (1)  act on senate amendments;
               (2)  adopt a conference committee report;
               (3)  reconsider the bill or resolution to remove house
  amendments;
               (4)  reconsider the bill or resolution to make
  corrections; or
               (5)  pass the bill notwithstanding the objections of
  the governor.
         (e)  The speaker shall not lay any bill or joint resolution
  before the house or permit a vote to be taken on its passage on the
  138th and 139th days of a regular session, except to:
               (1)  adopt a conference committee report;
               (2)  reconsider the bill or resolution to remove house
  amendments;
               (3)  discharge house conferees and concur in senate
  amendments;
               (4)  reconsider the bill or resolution to make
  corrections; or
               (5)  pass the bill notwithstanding the objections of
  the governor.
         (f)  No vote shall be taken upon the passage of any bill or
  resolution within 24 hours of the final adjournment of a regular
  session unless it be to reconsider the bill or resolution to make
  corrections, or to adopt a corrective resolution.
         Sec. 14.  DELIVERY PRIOR TO CONSIDERATION. (a)  Each bill or
  resolution, except the general appropriations bill, shall be
  delivered to each member by making a copy of the bill or resolution
  available in an electronic format for viewing by the member and,
  when the electronic format copy of the appropriate printing becomes
  available, by sending notice of that fact to a Capitol e-mail
  address designated by the member, at least 36 hours if convened in
  regular session and 24 hours if convened in special session before
  the bill can be considered by the house on second reading. If a
  member informs the chief clerk in writing that the member desires to
  receive paper copies of bills and resolutions under this section in
  addition to delivery in an electronic format, the chief clerk shall
  place a paper copy of the bill or resolution in the newspaper box of
  the member as soon as practicable after the electronic copies of the
  bill or resolution are made available for viewing.
         (a-1)  A printed copy of the general appropriations bill
  shall be placed in the newspaper mailbox of each member at least 168
  hours during a regular session and at least 72 hours during a
  special session before the bill can be considered by the house on
  second reading.
         (b)  By majority vote, the house may order both the original
  bill or resolution and the complete committee substitute to be
  printed. It shall not be necessary for the house to order complete
  committee substitutes printed in lieu of original bills.
         (c)  A two-thirds vote of the house is necessary to order
  that bills, other than local bills, be not printed. It shall not be
  necessary for the house to order that local bills be not printed.
         Sec. 15.  REQUIREMENT FOR THREE READINGS.  A bill shall not
  have the force of law until it has been read on three several
  legislative days in each house and free discussion allowed, unless
  this provision is suspended by a vote of four-fifths of the members
  present and voting, a quorum being present. The yeas and nays shall
  be taken on the question of suspension and entered in the journal.
         Sec. 16.  CONSIDERATION SECTION BY SECTION.  (a)  During the
  consideration of any bill or resolution, the house may, by a
  majority vote, order the bill or resolution to be considered
  section by section, or department by department, until each section
  or department has been given separate consideration. If such a
  procedure is ordered, only amendments to the section or department
  under consideration at that time shall be in order. However, after
  each section or department has been considered separately, the
  entire bill or resolution shall be open for amendment, subject to
  the provisions of Rule 11, Section 8(b). Once the consideration of
  a bill section by section or department by department has been
  ordered, it shall not be in order to move the previous question on
  the entire bill, to recommit it, to lay it on the table, or to
  postpone it, until each section or department has been given
  separate consideration or until the vote by which section by
  section consideration was ordered is reconsidered.
         (b)  A motion to consider a bill section by section is
  debatable within narrow limits; that is, the pros and cons of the
  proposed consideration can be debated but not the merits of the
  bill.
         Sec. 17.  PASSAGE TO ENGROSSMENT OR THIRD READING.  After a
  bill or complete committee substitute for a bill has been taken up
  and read, amendments shall be in order.  If no amendment is made, or
  if those proposed are disposed of, then the final question on its
  second reading shall be, in the case of a house bill, whether it
  shall be passed to engrossment, or, in the case of a senate bill,
  whether it shall pass to its third reading.  All bills ordered
  passed to engrossment or passed to a third reading shall remain on
  the calendar on which placed, but with future priority over bills
  that have not passed second reading.
         Sec. 18.  CERTIFICATION OF FINAL PASSAGE.  The chief clerk
  shall certify the final passage of each bill, noting on the bill the
  date of its passage, and the vote by which it passed, if by a yea and
  nay vote.
         Sec. 19.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  Every law passed by the
  legislature, except the General Appropriations Act, shall take
  effect or go into force on the 91st day after the adjournment of the
  session at which it was enacted, unless the legislature provides
  for an earlier effective date by a vote of two-thirds of all the
  members elected to each house. The vote shall be taken by yeas and
  nays and entered in the journals.
         Sec. 20.  BILLS CONTAINING SAME SUBSTANCE AS DEFEATED BILL.  
  After a bill or resolution has been considered and defeated by
  either house of the legislature, no bill or resolution containing
  the same substance shall be passed into law during the same session.
         Sec. 21.  CONSIDERATION OF BILLS INVOLVING STATE FUNDS.  (a)  
  In order to assure the continuation of financial support of
  existing state services through the passage of the general
  appropriations bill, it shall not be in order during the first 118
  days of the regular session for the speaker to lay before the house,
  prior to the consideration, passage, and certification by the
  comptroller of the general appropriations bill, any bill that
  directly or indirectly prevents from being available for purposes
  of funding state government generally any money that under existing
  law would otherwise be available for that purpose, including a bill
  that transfers or diverts money in the state treasury from the
  general revenue fund to another fund.
         (b)  In order to assure compliance with the limitation on
  appropriations of state tax revenue not dedicated by the
  constitution as provided by Article VIII, Section 22, of the Texas
  Constitution, it is not in order for the speaker to lay before the
  house, prior to the time that the general appropriations bill has
  been finally passed and sent to the comptroller, any bill that
  appropriates funds from the state treasury that are not dedicated
  by the constitution.
         (c)  When bills subject to the provisions of Subsection (a)
  of this section become eligible for consideration, they shall be
  considered for passage under the rules of the house and the joint
  rules as any other bill but shall not be signed by the speaker as
  required by the Constitution of Texas and the rules of the house
  until the general appropriations bill has been signed by the
  presiding officers of both houses of the legislature and
  transmitted to the comptroller of public accounts for certification
  as required by Article III, Section 49a, of the Constitution of
  Texas.
         (d)  All bills subject to the provisions of Subsection (a) of
  this section that have finally passed both houses shall be enrolled
  as required by the rules and transmitted to the speaker. The
  speaker shall note on each bill the date and hour of final
  legislative action and shall withhold his or her signature and any
  further action on all such bills until the general appropriations
  bill has been signed by the presiding officers of both houses and
  transmitted to the comptroller of public accounts for
  certification. Immediately thereafter, the speaker shall sign in
  the presence of the house all bills on which further action was
  being withheld because the bills were subject to the provisions of
  this section. After being signed by the speaker, the bills shall
  then be transmitted to the comptroller of public accounts for
  certification or to the governor, as the case may be, in the order
  in which final legislative action was taken. "Final legislative
  action," as that term is used in this subsection, shall mean the
  last act of either house meeting in general session necessary to
  place the bill in its final form preparatory to enrollment.
         (e)  Subsections (a)-(d) of this section shall not apply to
  any bills providing for:
               (1)  the payment of expenses of the legislature;
               (2)  the payment of judgments against the state;
               (3)  any emergency matter when requested by the
  governor in a formal message to the legislature; or
               (4)  the reduction of taxes.
         (f)  Unless within the authority of a resolution or
  resolutions adopted pursuant to Article VIII, Section 22(b), of the
  Texas Constitution, it is not in order for the house to consider for
  final passage on third reading, on motion to concur in senate
  amendments, or on motion to adopt a conference committee report, a
  bill appropriating funds from the state treasury in an amount that,
  when added to amounts previously appropriated by bills finally
  passed and sent or due to be sent to the comptroller, would exceed
  the limit on appropriations established under Chapter 316,
  Government Code.
         (g)  The general appropriations bill shall be reported to the
  house by the Committee on Appropriations not later than the 90th
  calendar day of the regular session. Should the Committee on
  Appropriations fail to report by the deadline, Subsections (a)-(d)
  of this section shall be suspended for the balance of that regular
  session.
  RULE 9.  JOINT RESOLUTIONS
         Sec. 1.  AMENDMENTS TO THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION.  (a)  A
  proposed amendment to the Texas Constitution shall take the form of
  a joint resolution, which shall be subject to the rules that govern
  the proceedings on bills, except as provided by this section.
         (b)  A joint resolution is not subject to the provisions of
  Rule 8, Section 3, or Rule 11, Section 3.
         (c)  A joint resolution shall be adopted on any reading after
  the first if it receives a two-thirds vote of the elected membership
  of the house. If such a joint resolution receives only a majority
  vote on second reading, it shall be passed to engrossment, and
  subsequent proceedings shall be the same as those governing the
  final passage of bills which have been passed to engrossment. If
  such a joint resolution does not receive a two-thirds vote of the
  elected membership of the house on third reading and final passage,
  it shall fail of adoption.
         Sec. 2.  RATIFYING OR PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE
  CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.  Ratification by Texas of a
  proposed amendment to or application to Congress for a convention
  to amend the Constitution of the United States shall take the form
  of a joint resolution, which shall be subject to the rules that
  govern the proceedings on bills, except that it shall be adopted on
  second reading if it receives a majority vote of the members present
  and voting, a quorum being present. If such a joint resolution
  fails to receive a majority vote, it shall fail of adoption and
  shall not be considered again unless revived by a motion to
  reconsider as otherwise provided in the rules.
         Sec. 3.  PLACEMENT OF JOINT RESOLUTIONS ON A CALENDAR.  Joint
  resolutions on committee report shall be referred to the Committee
  on Calendars for placement on an appropriate calendar. The
  Committee on Calendars shall maintain a separate calendar for house
  joint resolutions and a separate calendar for senate joint
  resolutions. Senate joint resolutions shall be considered on
  calendar Wednesdays and calendar Thursdays along with senate bills.
  RULE 10.  HOUSE RESOLUTIONS AND CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS
         Sec. 1.  FILING.  Resolutions shall be introduced by the
  filing of nine identical copies with the chief clerk, who shall
  number and record house resolutions in one series and concurrent
  resolutions in a separate series.
         Sec. 2.  REFERRAL TO COMMITTEE.  (a)  After numbering and
  recording, all resolutions shall be sent to the speaker for
  referral to the proper committee.
         (b)  Resolutions proposing the expenditure of money out of
  the contingent expense fund of the legislature shall be referred to
  the Committee on House Administration.
         (c)  All other resolutions shall be referred to the
  appropriate committee with jurisdiction.
         Sec. 3.  REFERRAL TO CALENDARS COMMITTEES.  All resolutions
  on committee report, other than privileged resolutions, shall be
  referred immediately to the appropriate calendars committee for
  placement on the appropriate calendar.
         Sec. 4.  ORDER OF CONSIDERATION.  Unless privileged,
  resolutions shall be considered by the house only at the time
  assigned for their consideration on the calendar, in accordance
  with the provisions of Rule 6, Section 7.
         Sec. 4A.  RECORD VOTE REQUIRED BY TEXAS CONSTITUTION. A vote
  on final passage of a resolution other than a resolution of a purely
  ceremonial or honorary nature must be by record vote with the vote
  of each member entered in the journal as required by Section 12(b),
  Article III, Texas Constitution.
         Sec. 5.  SIGNING BY GOVERNOR.  Concurrent resolutions shall
  take the same course as house resolutions, except that they shall be
  sent to the governor for signing when finally passed by both houses.
         Sec. 6.  MASCOT RESOLUTIONS.  (a)  All candidates for the
  office of mascot shall be named in and elected by a single house
  resolution.
         (b)  Only children of house members who are under the age of
  12 years shall be eligible for election to the honorary office of
  mascot. A child once named a mascot shall not be eligible for the
  honor a second time.
         (c)  No separate classification or special title shall be
  given to any mascot, but all shall receive the same title of
  honorary mascot of the house of representatives.
         (d)  The speaker shall issue a certificate showing the
  election of each mascot and deliver it to the parent member of the
  child.
         Pictures of mascots shall appear on the panel picture of the
  house.
         Sec. 7.  CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS DURING CALLED
  SESSIONS.  The subject matter of house resolutions and concurrent
  resolutions does not have to be submitted by the governor in a
  called session before they can be considered.
         Sec. 8.  RESOLUTIONS AUTHORIZING TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.  
  Resolutions authorizing the enrolling clerk of the house or senate
  to make technical corrections to a measure that has been finally
  acted upon by both houses of the legislature shall be privileged in
  nature and need not be referred to committee. Such resolutions
  shall be eligible for consideration by the house upon introduction
  in the house or receipt from the senate.
         Sec. 9.  AUTHOR'S SIGNATURE ON CONGRATULATORY OR MEMORIAL
  RESOLUTION. The enrolled printing of a house congratulatory or
  memorial resolution shall include a place for the signature of the
  primary author of the resolution. The chief clerk shall provide the
  primary author with the opportunity to sign the resolution after
  the resolution is enrolled. The absence of the primary author's
  signature does not affect the validity of the resolution as adopted
  by the house.
  RULE 11.  AMENDMENTS
         Sec. 1.  ACCEPTABLE MOTIONS TO AMEND.  When a bill,
  resolution, motion, or proposition is under consideration, a motion
  to amend and a motion to amend that amendment shall be in order. It
  shall also be in order to offer a further amendment by way of a
  substitute. Such a substitute may not be amended. If the
  substitute is adopted, the question shall then be on the amendment
  as substituted, and under this condition an amendment is not in
  order.
         Sec. 2.  MOTIONS ON A DIFFERENT SUBJECT OFFERED AS
  AMENDMENTS.  No motion or proposition on a subject different from
  the subject under consideration shall be admitted as an amendment
  or as a substitute for the motion or proposition under debate.
  "Proposition" as used in this section shall include a bill,
  resolution, joint resolution, or any other motion which is
  amendable.
         Amendments pertaining to the organization, powers,
  regulation, and management of the agency, commission, or advisory
  committee under consideration are germane to bills extending state
  agencies, commissions, or advisory committees under the provisions
  of the Texas Sunset Act (Chapter 325, Government Code).
         An amendment to a committee substitute laid before the house
  in lieu of an original bill is germane if each subject of the
  amendment is a subject that is included in the committee substitute
  or was included in the original bill.
         Sec. 3.  AMENDING A BILL TO CHANGE ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE.  No
  bill shall be amended in its passage through either house so as to
  change its original purpose.
         Sec. 4.  AMENDMENTS TO BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS ON LOCAL,
  CONSENT, AND RESOLUTIONS CALENDARS.  Amendments to a bill or
  resolution shall not be in order during its consideration on a
  local, consent, and resolutions calendar set by the Committee on
  Local and Consent Calendars, unless the amendments have first been
  submitted to and approved by the Committee on Local and Consent
  Calendars, which shall be noted thereon by the chair of the
  Committee on Local and Consent Calendars prior to the offering of
  the amendments.
         Sec. 5.  AMENDMENTS ON THIRD READING.  When a bill has been
  taken up on its third reading, amendments shall be in order, but
  shall require a two-thirds vote of the members present for their
  adoption. A bill on third reading may be recommitted to a committee
  and later reported to the house with amendments, in which case the
  bill shall again take the course of a bill at its second reading.
         Sec. 6.  COPIES OF AN AMENDMENT.  (a)  Five copies of each
  amendment shall be filed with the speaker. When the amendment is
  read, two copies shall go to the chief clerk, one copy to the
  journal clerk, one copy to the reading clerk, and one copy to the
  speaker. No amendment offered from the floor shall be in order
  unless the sponsoring member has complied with the provisions of
  this section with respect to copies of the amendment.  The chief
  clerk shall retain one copy of each amendment filed with the speaker
  under this section whether or not the amendment was offered by the
  filing member.
         (b)  Prior to the time that an amendment is offered, if the
  amendment exceeds one page in length, the sponsoring member must
  provide to the chief clerk a minimum of five copies to be available
  for distribution to those members requesting copies of the
  amendment.
         (c)  If the amendment is only one page in length or less, the
  sponsoring member must provide one additional copy of the amendment
  to the chief clerk, who shall immediately proceed to have
  additional copies made and available for those members requesting
  copies of the amendment.
         (d)  The provisions of this section with respect to extra
  copies shall not apply to committee amendments or to amendments
  which do nothing more than delete material from the bill or
  resolution.
         (e)  The speaker shall not recognize a member to offer an
  original amendment that exceeds one page in length and that is in
  the form of a complete substitute for the bill or resolution laid
  before the house, or in the opinion of the speaker is a substantial
  substitute, unless 10 copies of the amendment have been provided to
  the chief clerk and were available in the chief clerk's office at
  least 12 hours prior to the time the calendar on which the bill or
  resolution to be amended is eligible for consideration.
         (f)  An amendment may be typed, hand-printed, or
  handwritten, but must be legible in order to be offered.
         (g)  The speaker shall not recognize a member to offer an
  original amendment to a bill extending an agency, commission, or
  advisory committee under the Texas Sunset Act unless 10 copies of
  the amendment have been provided to the chief clerk and were
  available in the chief clerk's office at least 24 hours prior to the
  time the calendar on which the bill or resolution to be amended is
  eligible for consideration.
         (h)  If the house is convened in regular session, the speaker
  shall not recognize a member to offer an original amendment to the
  general appropriations bill on second reading unless 10 copies of
  the amendment have been provided to the chief clerk and were
  available in the chief clerk's office at least 72 hours prior to the
  time the calendar on which the general appropriations bill appears
  for second reading is first eligible for consideration.
         (i)  The Committee on House Administration shall ensure
  that:
               (1)  the floor amendment system through which members
  of the house may view an electronic image of current or past
  amendments, or the system's successor in function, is available to
  the public on the Internet; [and]
               (2)  members of the public using the system available
  on the Internet may view the same information that members may view
  at the same time that members may view the information; and
               (3)  members of the public using the system available
  on the Internet may view any amendment required to be provided to
  the chief clerk under Rule 11, Sections 6(e), (g), and (h) at least
  10 hours prior to the time the calendar on which the bill or
  resolution to be amended is eligible for consideration.
         (j)  To the extent practicable, an amendment must include the
  page and line numbers of the text of the bill, resolution, or
  amendment being amended. Failure to comply with the requirements of
  this subsection is not a sustainable point of order.
         Sec. 7.  ORDER OF OFFERING MOTIONS TO AMEND.  Classes of
  motions to amend shall be offered in the following order:
               (1)  motions to amend by striking out the enacting
  clause of a bill (or the resolving clause of a resolution), which
  amendment cannot be amended or substituted;
               (2)  motions to amend an original bill, resolution,
  motion, or proposition (other than substitute bills as provided for
  in Subdivision (3) below), which shall have precedence as follows:
                     (A)  original amendment;
                     (B)  amendment to the amendment;
                     (C)  substitute for the amendment to the
  amendment.
         Recognition for the offering of original amendments shall be
  as follows:  first, the main author; second, the member or members
  offering the committee amendment; and third, members offering other
  amendments from the floor;
               (3)  motions to amend an original bill by striking out
  all after the enacting clause (substitute bills), which substitute
  bills shall be subject to amendment as follows:
                     (A)  amendment to the substitute bill;
                     (B)  substitute for the amendment to the
  substitute bill.
         Recognition for offering such substitute bills shall be as
  follows:  first, the main author of the original bill, if the
  member has not sought to perfect the bill by amendments as provided
  for in Subdivision (2) above; second, the member or members
  offering the committee amendment; and, third, members offering
  amendments from the floor.
         It shall be in order under the procedure described in this
  subdivision to have as many as four complete measures pending
  before the house at one time; that is, an original bill, an
  amendment striking out all after the enacting clause of the bill and
  inserting a new bill body, an amendment to the amendment striking
  out all after the enacting clause of the bill and inserting a new
  bill body, and a substitute for this amendment to the amendment to
  the original bill which is also a new bill body. These "substitute
  bills" shall be voted on in the reverse order of their offering;
               (4)  motions to amend the caption of a bill or joint
  resolution, which may also be offered in accordance with Section
  9(a) of this rule.
         Sec. 8.  STRIKE OUTS AND INSERTIONS.  (a)  A motion to strike
  out and to insert new matter in lieu of that to be stricken out shall
  be regarded as a substitute and shall be indivisible.
         (b)  Matter inserted or stricken out of an original bill by
  way of amendment may not be taken out or reinserted at a later time
  on the same reading except under the following conditions:
               (1)  reconsideration of the inserting or deleting
  amendment;
               (2)  adoption of a "substitute bill" amendment;
               (3)  adoption of an amendment for a whole paragraph,
  section or subdivision of a bill which so materially changes the
  original text that the portion inserted or deleted is in fact of
  minor importance.
         Sec. 9.  AMENDING CAPTIONS.  (a)  An amendment to the caption
  of a bill or resolution shall not be in order until all other
  proposed amendments have been acted on and the house is ready to
  vote on the passage of the measure, and it shall then be decided
  without debate.
         (b)  If the previous question has been ordered on a bill or
  joint resolution at any reading, an amendment to the caption of that
  bill or joint resolution may be offered and voted on immediately
  preceding the final vote on the bill or joint resolution.
         Sec. 10.  MOTION TO LIMIT AMENDMENTS.  (a)  A motion to limit
  amendments shall be admitted only when seconded by 25 members. The
  motion may take either of two forms:
               (1)  to limit amendments to those pending before the
  house; or
               (2)  to limit amendments to those pending on the
  speaker's desk.
         (b)  The motion shall be put by the chair in this manner: "The
  motion has been seconded. Three minutes pro and con debate will be
  allowed on the motion to limit amendments." As soon as the debate
  has ended, the chair shall continue: "As many as are in favor of
  limiting amendments on (here state on which question or questions)
  will say 'Aye,'" and then "As many as are opposed say 'Nay.'" As in
  all other propositions, a motion to limit amendments shall be
  decided by a record vote if demanded by any member. If ordered by a
  majority of the members voting, a quorum being present, the motion
  shall have the effect of confining further debate and consideration
  to those amendments included within the motion, and thereafter the
  chair will accept no more amendments to the proposition to which the
  motion is applied.
         (c)  The motion to limit amendments, if adopted, shall not in
  any way cut off or limit debate or other parliamentary maneuvers on
  the pending proposition or propositions or amendment or amendments
  included within the motion. The sole function of the motion is to
  prevent the chair from accepting further amendments to the
  proposition to which the motion is applied.
         (d)  Except as otherwise provided, the motion to limit
  amendments shall have no effect on the parliamentary situation to
  which the motion is applied, and the matter to which the motion is
  applied shall continue to be considered by the house in all other
  respects as though the motion had not been made.
         (e)  The amendments that are included within the motion to
  limit amendments shall each be subject to amendment, if otherwise
  permitted under the rules.
         Sec. 11.  MOTION TO TABLE A MOTION TO LIMIT AMENDMENTS.  The
  motion to limit amendments is not subject to a motion to table.
         Sec. 12.  ORDER OF VOTING ON AMENDMENTS.  When an amendment
  is offered, followed by an amendment to that amendment, and then a
  substitute for the amendment to the amendment, these questions
  shall be voted on in the reverse order of their offering.
         Sec. 13.  CERTIFICATION OF ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS.  When an
  amendment is adopted, such action shall be certified by the chief
  clerk on the amendment, and the official copy of the amendment shall
  then be securely attached to the bill or resolution which it amends.
  RULE 12.  PRINTING
         Sec. 1.  PRINTINGS OF BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS.  (a)  
  Except as otherwise provided in this rule, all bills and joint
  resolutions shall be printed and a copy provided to each member at
  each of the following stages in the parliamentary progress of the
  bill or joint resolution:
               (1)  at the time of the committee report on the bill or
  joint resolution, which shall be known as "First Printing" and
  which shall consist of:
                     (A)  a complete text of the bill or joint
  resolution as reported from committee;
                     (B)  a complete copy of the bill analysis, a
  complete copy of the summary of committee action, and a complete
  copy of the witness list;
                     (C)  the text of the committee report;
                     (D)  the record vote by which the measure was
  reported from committee, including the vote of individual members;
                     (E)  a copy of the latest fiscal note; and
                     (F)  a copy of each impact statement received by
  the committee;
               (2)  at the time the bill or joint resolution, if
  amended, finally passes the senate, senate amendments and house
  engrossment text will be printed, which shall be known as "Second
  Printing"; and
               (3)  at the time the conference committee, if any,
  makes its report on the bill or joint resolution, which shall be
  known as "Third Printing."
         (b)  In any section of the first printing of a bill or joint
  resolution that proposes to amend an existing statute or
  constitutional provision, language sought to be deleted must be
  bracketed and stricken through, and language sought to be added
  must be underlined. This requirement does not apply to:
               (1)  an appropriations bill;
               (2)  a local bill;
               (3)  a game bill;
               (4)  a recodification bill;
               (5)  a redistricting bill;
               (6)  a section of a bill or joint resolution not
  purporting to amend an existing statute or constitutional
  provision;
               (7)  a section of a bill or joint resolution that
  revises the entire text of an existing statute or constitutional
  provision, to the extent that it would confuse rather than clarify
  to show deletions and additions; and
               (8)  a section of a bill or joint resolution providing
  for severability, nonseverability, emergency, or repeal of an
  existing statute or constitutional provision.
         (c)  The speaker may overrule a point of order raised as to a
  violation of Subsection (b) of this section if the violation is
  typographical or minor and does not tend to deceive or mislead.
         (d)  The requirement to provide a copy of a printing to each
  member may be accomplished by making a copy of the printing
  available in an electronic format for viewing by the member and,
  when the electronic format copy of the appropriate printing becomes
  available, sending notice of that fact to a Capitol e-mail address
  designated by the member. If a member informs the chief clerk that
  the member also desires to receive a paper copy of printings at
  first, second, or third printing, the chief clerk shall place paper
  copies of those printings designated by the member in the newspaper
  box of the member as soon as practicable after the electronic copies
  of the printings are made available for viewing.
         (e)  The provisions of Subsection (d) of this section
  authorizing delivery of a printing by electronic means also apply
  to any fiscal note, impact statement, analysis, or other item
  required by these rules to be delivered or made available to each
  member as an attachment to or in connection with the applicable
  printing.
         Sec. 2.  LOCAL BILLS.  Local bills shall not be reprinted
  after the first printing except when ordered printed by a majority
  vote of the house.
         Sec. 3.  CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS.  A concurrent resolution
  shall be printed only if the resolution:
               (1)  grants permission to sue the state;
               (2)  memorializes Congress to take or to refrain from
  taking certain action;
               (3)  sets legislative policy or declares legislative
  intent;
               (4)  makes corrective changes in any bill, joint
  resolution, or conference committee report;
               (5)  establishes or interprets policy for a state
  agency, department, or political subdivision;
               (6)  establishes, modifies, or changes internal
  procedures or administration of the legislature or any component
  part thereof;
               (7)  proposes an amendment to the Joint Rules of the
  Senate and the House of Representatives; or
               (8)  is ordered printed by a majority vote of the house.
         Sec. 4.  HOUSE RESOLUTIONS.  A house resolution shall be
  printed only if the resolution:
               (1)  proposes an amendment to the rules of the house;
               (2)  establishes, modifies, or changes the internal
  procedures and administration of the house;
               (3)  establishes legislative policy or interprets
  legislative intent; or
               (4)  is ordered printed by a majority of the house.
         Sec. 5.  ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS OF COMPLIANCE WITH PRINTING
  REQUIREMENTS.  Except for matter to be printed in the journal, all
  requirements contained in the rules with respect to the printing of
  bills, resolutions, reports, and other matters shall be considered
  complied with if the material is adequately and properly reproduced
  by any acceptable means of reproduction.
  RULE 13.  INTERACTIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND SENATE
  CHAPTER A.  MESSAGES
         Sec. 1.  MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR.  Messages and
  communications from the governor shall be received when announced,
  and shall be read on the calendar day received.
         Sec. 2.  MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE.  (a)  All messages from
  the senate shall be received when announced. Senate bills
  announced as passed shall be read for the first time and referred to
  the appropriate committee as soon as practicable.
         (b)  Messages from the senate announcing amendments to house
  bills and resolutions, nonconcurrence in house amendments to senate
  bills and resolutions, requests for conference committees, reports
  of conference committees, and all other matters of disagreement,
  amendments, and requests between the two houses, shall go to the
  speaker's desk in their regular order, but may be called up for
  action by the house at any time as a privileged matter, yielding
  only to a motion to adjourn.
  CHAPTER B.  SENATE AMENDMENTS
         Sec. 3.  HOUSE ACTION ON SENATE AMENDMENTS.  When a bill,
  resolution, or other matter is returned to the house with senate
  amendments, the house may:
               (1)  agree to the amendments; or
               (2)  disagree to all of the amendments and ask for a
  conference committee; or
               (3)  agree to one or more of the amendments and disagree
  as to the remainder and request a conference committee to consider
  those in disagreement; or
               (4)  agree to one or more and disagree as to the
  remainder; or
               (5)  disagree to all amendments.
         Sec. 4.  ADOPTION OF SENATE AMENDMENTS FOR BILLS WITH
  IMMEDIATE EFFECT.  If a bill is to go into immediate effect, senate
  amendments thereto must be adopted by a vote of two-thirds of the
  elected membership of the house.
         Sec. 5.  PRINTING SENATE AMENDMENTS.  (a)  Senate amendments
  to house bills and resolutions must be printed and copies provided
  to the members at least 24 hours before any action can be taken
  thereon by the house during a regular or special session.
         (b)  When a house bill or joint resolution, other than the
  general appropriations bill, with senate amendments is returned to
  the house, the chief clerk shall request the Legislative Budget
  Board to prepare a fiscal note outlining the fiscal implications
  and probable cost of the measure as impacted by the senate
  amendments.  A copy of the fiscal note shall be distributed with the
  senate amendments on their printing before any action can be taken
  on the senate amendments by the house.
         (c)  When a house bill or joint resolution, other than the
  general appropriations bill, with senate amendments is returned to
  the house, the chief clerk shall request the Texas Legislative
  Council to prepare an analysis that describes the substantive
  changes made to the house version of the bill by the senate
  amendments.  A copy of the council's analysis of senate amendments
  shall be provided to the members electronically or as a printed copy
  at least 12 hours before action is taken on the senate amendments by
  the house.  The Texas Legislative Council shall make all reasonable
  efforts to timely provide the analysis in as accurate a form as time
  allows.  However, an unavoidable inability to provide the analysis
  or an inadvertent error in the analysis is not a sustainable
  question of order.
         (d)  When a house bill or joint resolution for which a tax
  equity note was required under Rule 4, Section 34(b)(5), is
  returned to the house with senate amendments, the chief clerk shall
  request the Legislative Budget Board to prepare a tax equity note
  estimating the general effects of the senate amendments on the
  distribution of tax and fee burdens among individuals and
  businesses.  A copy of the updated tax equity note shall be made
  available to each member, in some format, before any vote on the
  floor can be taken on the senate amendments by the house.
         Sec. 5A.  RETURN OF NONGERMANE SENATE AMENDMENTS BY SPEAKER.
  When a house bill or joint resolution, other than the general
  appropriations bill, with senate amendments is returned to the
  house, the speaker, with the permission of the primary author of the
  bill or resolution, may return the bill or resolution to the senate
  if the speaker determines that the senate amendments are not
  germane to the house version of the bill or resolution. The speaker
  may act under this section without regard to whether the bill or
  resolution is eligible for consideration by the house. If the
  speaker returns a bill or resolution to the senate under this
  section, the speaker shall attach to the bill or resolution a
  statement of the speaker's action that includes an explanation of
  the speaker's determination, and shall enter the statement in the
  journal as soon as practicable.
  CHAPTER C.  CONFERENCE COMMITTEES
         Sec. 6.  MEMBERSHIP AND OPERATION.  (a) In all conferences
  between the senate and the house by committee, the number of
  committee members from each house shall be five. All votes on
  matters of difference shall be taken by each committee separately.
  A majority of each committee shall be required to determine the
  matter in dispute. Reports by conference committees must be signed
  by a majority of each committee of the conference.
         (b)  A copy of the report signed by a majority of each
  committee of the conference must be furnished to each member of the
  committee in person or if unable to deliver in person by placing a
  copy in the member's newspaper mailbox at least one hour before the
  report is furnished to each member of the house under Section 10(a)
  of this rule.  The paper copies of the report submitted to the chief
  clerk under Section 10(b) of this rule must contain a certificate
  that the requirement of this subsection has been satisfied, and
  that certificate must be attached to the copy of the report
  furnished to each member under Section 10(d) of this rule.  Failure
  to comply with this subsection is not a sustainable point of order
  under this rule.
         Sec. 7.  MEETINGS.  (a)  House conferees when meeting with
  senate conferees to adjust differences shall meet in public and
  shall give a reasonable amount of notice of the meeting in the place
  designated for giving notice of meetings of house standing
  committees. Any such meeting shall be open to the news media. Any
  conference committee report adopted in private shall not be
  considered by the house.
         (b)  At a meeting of the conferees to adjust differences on
  the general appropriations bill, the chair of the house conferees
  may request the assistance of any house member who serves on the
  appropriations committee.
         Sec. 8.  INSTRUCTIONS.  Instructions to a conference
  committee shall be made after the conference is ordered and before
  the conferees are appointed by the speaker, and not thereafter.
         Sec. 9.  LIMITATIONS ON JURISDICTION.  (a)  Conference
  committees shall limit their discussions and their actions solely
  to the matters in disagreement between the two houses. A conference
  committee shall have no authority with respect to any bill or
  resolution:
               (1)  to change, alter, or amend text which is not in
  disagreement;
               (2)  to omit text which is not in disagreement;
               (3)  to add text on any matter which is not in
  disagreement;
               (4)  to add text on any matter which is not included in
  either the house or senate version of the bill or resolution.
         This rule shall be strictly construed by the presiding
  officer in each house to achieve these purposes.
         (b)  Conference committees on appropriations bills, like
  other conference committees, shall limit their discussions and
  their actions solely to the matters in disagreement between the two
  houses. In addition to the limitations contained elsewhere in the
  rules, a conference committee on appropriations bills shall be
  strictly limited in its authority as follows:
               (1)  If an item of appropriation appears in both house
  and senate versions of the bill, the item must be included in the
  conference committee report.
               (2)  If an item of appropriation appears in both house
  and senate versions of the bill, and in identical amounts, no change
  can be made in the item or the amount.
               (3)  If an item of appropriation appears in both house
  and senate versions of the bill but in different amounts, no change
  can be made in the item, but the amount shall be at the discretion of
  the conference committee, provided that the amount shall not exceed
  the larger version and shall not be less than the smaller version.
               (4)  If an item of appropriation appears in one version
  of the bill and not in the other, the item can be included or omitted
  at the discretion of the conference committee. If the item is
  included, the amount shall not exceed the sum specified in the
  version containing the item.
               (5)  If an item of appropriation appears in neither the
  house nor the senate version of the bill, the item must not be
  included in the conference committee report. However, the
  conference committee report may include appropriations for
  purposes or programs authorized by bills that have been passed and
  sent to the governor and may include contingent appropriations for
  purposes or programs authorized by bills that have been passed by at
  least one house.
         This rule shall be strictly construed by the presiding
  officer in each house to achieve these purposes.
         (c)  Conference committees on tax bills, like other
  conference committees, shall limit their discussions and their
  actions solely to the matters in disagreement between the two
  houses. In addition to the limitations contained elsewhere in the
  rules, a conference committee on a tax bill shall be strictly
  limited in its authority as follows:
               (1)  If a tax item appears in both house and senate
  versions of the bill, the item must be included in the conference
  committee report.
               (2)  If a tax item appears in both house and senate
  versions of the bill, and in identical form and with identical
  rates, no change can be made in the item or the rate provided.
               (3)  If a tax item appears in both house and senate
  versions of the bill but at differing rates, no change can be made
  in the item, but the rate shall be at the discretion of the
  conference committee, provided that the rate shall not exceed the
  higher version and shall not be less than the lower version.
               (4)  If a tax item appears in one version of the bill
  and not in the other, the item can be included or omitted at the
  discretion of the conference committee. If the item is included,
  the rate shall not exceed the rate specified in the version
  containing the item.
               (5)  If a tax item appears in neither the house nor the
  senate version of the bill, the item must not be included in the
  conference committee report.
         This rule shall be strictly construed by the presiding
  officer in each house to achieve these purposes.
         (d)  Conference committees on reapportionment bills, to the
  extent possible, shall limit their discussions and their actions to
  the matters in disagreement between the two houses. Since the
  adjustment of one district in a reapportionment bill will
  inevitably affect other districts, the strict rule of construction
  imposed on other conference committees must be relaxed somewhat
  when reapportionment bills are involved. Accordingly, the
  following authority and limitations shall apply only to conference
  committees on reapportionment bills:
               (1)  If the matters in disagreement affect only certain
  districts, and other districts are identical in both house and
  senate versions of the bill, the conference committee shall make
  adjustments only in those districts whose rearrangement is
  essential to the effective resolving of the matters in
  disagreement. All other districts shall remain unchanged.
               (2)  If the matters in disagreement permeate the entire
  bill and affect most, if not all, of the districts, the conference
  committee shall have wide discretion in rearranging the districts
  to the extent necessary to resolve all differences between the two
  houses.
               (3)  Insofar as the actual structure of the districts
  is concerned, and only to that extent, the provisions of Subsection
  (a) of this section shall not apply to conference committees on
  reapportionment bills.
         (e)  Conference committees on recodification bills, like
  other conference committees, shall limit their discussions and
  their actions solely to the matters in disagreement between the two
  houses. The comprehensive and complicated nature of recodification
  bills makes necessary the relaxing of the strict rule of
  construction imposed on other conference committees only to the
  following extent:
               (1)  If it develops in conference committee that
  material has been inadvertently included in both house and senate
  versions which properly has no place in the recodification, that
  material may be omitted from the conference committee report, if by
  that omission the existing statute is not repealed, altered, or
  amended.
               (2)  If it develops in conference committee that
  material has been inadvertently omitted from both the house and
  senate versions which properly should be included if the
  recodification is to achieve its purpose of being all-inclusive of
  the statutes being recodified, that material may be added to the
  conference committee report, if by the addition the existing
  statute is merely restated without substantive change in existing
  law.
         (f)  Limitations imposed on certain conference committees by
  the provisions of this section may be suspended in part by
  permission of the house to allow consideration of and action on a
  specific matter or matters which otherwise would be prohibited.
  Permission shall be granted only by resolution passed by majority
  vote of the house. All such resolutions shall be privileged in
  nature and need not be referred to a committee. The introduction of
  such a resolution shall be announced from the house floor and the
  resolution shall be eligible for consideration by the house:
               (1)  three hours after a copy of the resolution has been
  distributed to each member; or
               (2)  for a resolution suspending limitations on a
  conference committee considering the general appropriations bill,
  48 hours in a regular session and 24 hours in a special session
  after a copy of the resolution has been distributed to each member.
         (g)  The time at which the copies of such a resolution are
  distributed to the members shall be time-stamped on the originals
  of the resolution. The resolution shall specify in detail:
               (1)  the exact language of the matter or matters
  proposed to be considered;
               (2)  the specific limitation or limitations to be
  suspended;
               (3)  the specific action contemplated by the conference
  committee;
               (4)  except for a resolution suspending the limitations
  on the conferees for the general appropriations bill, the reasons
  that suspension of the limitations is being requested; and
               (5)  a fiscal note distributed with the resolution
  outlining the fiscal implications and probable cost of the items to
  be included in the conference committee report that would otherwise
  be prohibited but for the passage of the resolution.
         (h)  In the application of Subsection (g) of this section to
  appropriations bills, the resolution:
               (1)  need not include changes in amounts resulting from
  a proposed salary plan or changes in format that do not affect the
  amount of an appropriation or the method of finance of an
  appropriation, but shall include a general statement describing the
  salary plan or format change;
               (2)  need not include differences in language which do
  not affect the substance of the bill;
               (3)  if suspending a limitation imposed by Subsection
  (b)(2), (3), (4), or (5) of this section, must specify the amount by
  which the appropriation in the conference committee report is less
  than or greater than the amount permitted for that item of
  appropriation under Subsection (b) of this section; and
               (4)  shall be available in its entirety on the
  electronic legislative information system that is accessible by the
  general public.
         (i)  Permission granted by a resolution under Subsection (f)
  of this section shall suspend the limitations only for the matter or
  matters clearly specified in the resolution, and the action of the
  conference committee shall be in conformity with the resolution.
         Sec. 10.  PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF REPORTS.  (a)  All
  conference committee reports must be printed and a copy furnished
  to each member as provided by Rule 12, Section 1, at least 24 hours
  before action can be taken on the report by the house during a
  regular or special session.
         (b)  Three original copies of a conference committee report
  shall be submitted to the chief clerk for printing.  Each original
  conference committee report shall contain the following:
               (1)  the signatures of the house conferees and senate
  conferees who voted to adopt the conference committee report;
               (2)  the text of the bill or resolution as adopted by
  the conference committee; and
               (3)  an analysis of the conference committee report as
  required by Section 11 of this rule.
         (c)  Before action can be taken by the house on a conference
  committee report on a bill or joint resolution, other than the
  general appropriations bill, a fiscal note outlining the fiscal
  implications and probable cost of the conference committee report
  shall be submitted to the chief clerk, and a copy of the fiscal note
  shall be distributed with the conference committee report on its
  printing.
         (d)  Before a vote on the floor can be taken by the house on a
  conference committee report on a bill or joint resolution for which
  a tax equity note was required under Rule 4, Section 34(b)(5), a tax
  equity note estimating the general effects of the conference
  committee report on the distribution of tax and fee burdens among
  individuals and businesses shall be submitted to the chief clerk,
  and a copy of the tax equity note shall be made available to each
  member.
         Sec. 11.  ANALYSIS OF REPORTS.  (a) All reports of conference
  committees shall include an analysis showing wherein the report
  differs from the house and senate versions of the bill, resolution,
  or other matter in disagreement. The analysis of appropriations
  bills shall show in dollar amounts the differences between the
  conference committee report and the house and senate versions. No
  conference committee report shall be considered by the house unless
  such an analysis has been prepared and distributed to each member.
         (b)  The analysis shall to the extent practical indicate any
  instance wherein the conference committee in its report appears to
  have exceeded the limitations imposed on its jurisdiction by
  Section 9 of this rule. An analysis and the conference committee
  report in which the analysis is included are not subject to a point
  of order due to a failure to comply with this subsection or due to a
  mistake made in complying with this subsection.
         Sec. 12.  CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS.  A conference committee
  report is not subject to amendment, but must be accepted or rejected
  in its entirety. While a conference committee report is pending, a
  motion to deal with individual amendments in disagreement is not in
  order.
         Sec. 13.  WHEN REPORTS NOT ACCEPTABLE.  When a conference
  committee report is not acceptable to the house for any reason, it
  may be recommitted to the same committee with the request for
  further consideration, and the house may or may not give any
  specific instructions on the report to the conference committee; or
  the house may request the appointment by the senate of a new
  conference committee and then proceed to empower the speaker to
  name new conferees for the house.
  RULE 14.  GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 1.  WHEN RULES ARE SILENT.  If the rules are silent or
  inexplicit on any question of order or parliamentary practice, the
  Rules of the House of Representatives of the United States
  Congress, and its practice as reflected in published precedents,
  and Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure shall be considered as
  authority.
         Sec. 2.  AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES.  (a)  Amendments to the
  rules of the house shall be proposed by house resolutions which
  shall be referred at once, without debate, to the Committee on Rules
  and Resolutions for study and recommendation.
         (b)  A resolution proposing an amendment to the rules shall
  not be considered by the house until a printed copy of the
  resolution has been provided to each member of the house at least 48
  hours before consideration.
         (c)  Amendments to the rules shall require a majority vote of
  the house for adoption.
         Sec. 3.  MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES.  A motion to suspend
  the rules shall be in order at any time, except when motions to
  adjourn or recess are pending, even when the house is operating
  under the previous question. A motion to "suspend all rules" shall
  be sufficient to suspend every rule under which the house is
  operating for a particular purpose except the provisions of the
  constitution and the joint rules of the two houses. If the rules
  have been suspended on a main motion for a given purpose, no other
  motion to suspend the rules on a main motion shall be in order until
  the original purpose has been accomplished.
         Sec. 4.  NOTICE OF PENDING MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES.  It
  shall not be in order to move to suspend the rules or the regular
  order of business to take up a measure out of its regular order, and
  the speaker shall not recognize anyone for either purpose, unless
  the speaker has announced to the house in session that the speaker
  would recognize a member for that purpose at least one hour before
  the member is so recognized to make the motion. In making the
  announcement to the house, the speaker shall advise the house of the
  member's name and the bill number, and this information, together
  with the time that the announcement was made, shall be entered in
  the journal. This rule may be suspended only by unanimous consent.
         Sec. 5.  VOTE REQUIREMENTS FOR SUSPENSION.  A standing rule
  of the house may be suspended by an affirmative vote of two-thirds
  of the members present. However, if a rule contains a specific
  provision showing the vote by which that rule may be suspended, that
  vote shall be required for the suspension of the rule. The specific
  provision may not be suspended under the provisions of this
  section.
         Sec. 6.  DISPOSAL OF MEASURES TAKEN UP UNDER SUSPENSION.  Any
  measure taken up under suspension and not disposed of on the same
  day shall go over as pending or unfinished business to the next day
  that the house is in session, and shall be considered thereafter
  from day to day (except the days used for the consideration of
  senate bills) until disposed of.
         Sec. 7.  COMMITTEE GIFTS.  A member of the house may not
  offer, confer, or agree to confer to a committee member one or more
  gifts with a total value of more than $75 per year.
         Sec. 8.  EXPLANATION OF THE FINAL RULING OF A POINT OF ORDER.  
  The speaker shall instruct the parliamentarian to provide to each
  member a written explanation of the final ruling on a point of
  order, including providing the citation of any house or
  congressional precedents used in determining the ruling.  The
  explanation shall be provided to each member not later than 24 hours
  after the final ruling was announced before the house.
 
  Smithee
 
  ______________________________
  Speaker of the House     
 
         I certify that H.R. No. 4 was adopted by the House on January
  14, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 148, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
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