ELEVENTH DAY
(Monday, February 11, 2019)
The Senate met at 3:00 p.m. pursuant to adjournment and was called to order by President Pro Tempore Watson.
The roll was called and the following Senators were present: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Buckingham, Campbell, Creighton, Fallon, Flores, Hall, Hancock, Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, Johnson, Kolkhorst, Lucio, Menéndez, Miles, Nelson, Nichols, Paxton, Perry, Powell, Rodríguez, Schwertner, Seliger, Taylor, Watson, West, Whitmire, Zaffirini.
The President Pro Tempore announced that a quorum of the Senate was present.
Chaplain Phil Crenshaw, Lubbock, was introduced by Senator Perry and offered the invocation as follows:
Our holy God, I thank Thee for the privilege I have to open today's session with prayer. I seek Thy wisdom and counsel for decisions to be considered. I am humbled for the task ahead and for the voters who have entrusted us with this mission. I pray for wisdom to sort out the frivolous from issues that require our keenest attention. I thank Thee for both the privilege and the responsibility involved. Grant that the decisions made here will be the best for the generations to follow–our grandchildren and beyond, acknowledging they are our dearest treasure. Again, I thank You for this day, recognizing You as almighty God, creator of heaven and Earth. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our savior. Amen.
Senator Whitmire moved that the reading of the Journal of the proceedings of the previous day be dispensed with and the Journal be approved as printed.
The motion prevailed without objection.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Senator Perry, joined by Senator Campbell, acknowledged the presence of Phil Crenshaw, the last living chaplain's assistant to serve in World War II.
The Senate welcomed its guest.
MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR
The following Messages from the Governor were read and were referred to the Committee on Nominations:
February 7, 2019
Austin, Texas
TO THE SENATE OF THE EIGHTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, REGULAR SESSION:
I ask the advice, consent and confirmation of the Senate with respect to the following appointments:
To be the Nonresident Violator Compact Administrator for a term to expire February 1, 2021:
Amanda A. Arriaga
Austin, Texas
(Ms. Arriaga is being reappointed)
To be members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles for terms to expire February 1, 2025:
Allen D. "D'Wayne" Jernigan
Del Rio, Texas
(Sheriff Jernigan is being reappointed)
Carmella T. Jones
Sweeny, Texas
(Sheriff Jones is being reappointed)
To be the Independent Ombudsman for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department for a term to expire February 1, 2021:
Jeffery D. "JD" Robertson
Wimberley, Texas
(Major Robertson is being reappointed)
Respectfully submitted,
/s/Greg Abbott
Governor
February 8, 2019
Austin, Texas
TO THE SENATE OF THE EIGHTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, REGULAR SESSION:
I ask the advice, consent and confirmation of the Senate with respect to the following appointments:
To be a member of the Governing Board of the Texas Civil Commitment Office for a term to expire February 1, 2025:
Jose L. Aliseda, Jr.
Beeville, Texas
(Mr. Aliseda is being reappointed)
To be members of the Brazos River Authority Board of Directors for terms to expire February 1, 2023:
Jennifer L. "Jen" Henderson
Round Rock, Texas
(replacing Christopher S. Adams, Jr. of Granbury whose term expired)
Judy A. Krohn, Ph.D.
Georgetown, Texas
(replacing Paul J. Christensen of Crawford whose term expired)
Traci G. LaChance
Danbury, Texas
(replacing Carolyn H. Johnson of Freeport whose term expired)
Royce Lesley
Comanche, Texas
(replacing Roberta J. "Jeanie" Killgore Grant of Salado whose term expired)
Alan K. Sandersen
Sugar Land, Texas
(replacing Robert M. Christian of Jewett whose term expired)
Jarrod D. Smith
Danbury, Texas
(Mr. Smith is being reappointed)
Roger "Wayne" Wilson, Jr.
Bryan, Texas
(replacing Henry W. Munson of Angleton whose term expired)
To be Wood County Criminal District Attorney for a term until December 31, 2020 or until her successor shall be duly elected and qualified:
Angela L. Albers
Mineola, Texas
(replacing Jim Wheeler who resigned)
Respectfully submitted,
/s/Greg Abbott
Governor
February 11, 2019
Austin, Texas
TO THE SENATE OF THE EIGHTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, REGULAR SESSION:
I ask the advice, consent and confirmation of the Senate with respect to the following appointment:
To be a member of the Correctional Managed Health Care Committee for a term to expire February 1, 2023:
Preston Johnson, Jr.
Sugar Land, Texas
(Mr. Johnson is being reappointed)
Respectfully submitted,
/s/Greg Abbott
Governor
PHYSICIAN OF THE DAY
The President Pro Tempore presented Dr. Tim Vachris of Pflugerville, accompanied by Anupam Banerjee, as the Physician of the Day.
The Senate welcomed Dr. Vachris and thanked him for his participation in the Physician of the Day program sponsored by the Texas Academy of Family Physicians.
GUESTS PRESENTED
Senator Flores was recognized and introduced to the Senate a delegation from Brewster County: Alpine Mayor Andy Ramos, Commissioner Sara Colando, Alpine City Manager Jessica Garza, County Judge Eleazar Cano, Sheriff Ronny Dodson, Treasurer Julie Morton, and Tourism Council Executive Director Robert Alvarez.
The Senate welcomed its guests.
GUEST PRESENTED
Senator Fallon was recognized and introduced to the Senate Nino Bacerott of Mission.
The Senate welcomed its guest.
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 16
The President Pro Tempore laid before the Senate the following resolution:
WHEREAS, Section 17, Article III, Texas Constitution, provides that neither house of the legislature may adjourn for more than three days without the consent of the other house; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the 86th Legislature of the State of Texas, That each house grant the other permission to adjourn for more than three days during the period beginning on Wednesday, February 13, 2019, and ending on Tuesday, February 19, 2019.
WHITMIRE
SCR 16 was read.
On motion of Senator Whitmire and by unanimous consent, the resolution was considered immediately and was adopted by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
AUTHOR WITHDRAWN
The following letter was received by the Secretary of the Senate:
THE SENATE OF TEXAS
Lois W. Kolkhorst
State Senator
District 18
February 11, 2019
Mrs. Patsy Spaw
Secretary of the Senate
Room 2E.22, Texas State Capitol
Secretary Spaw,
Please accept this letter as a request to remove my name as author to S.B. 733 by Senator Charles Perry, which was added in error. Should you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call me or my staff members, Chris Steinbach or Ross Giesinger.
Sincerely,
/s/Lois W. Kolkhorst
State Senator
SENATE BILL 684 WITHDRAWN
The following letter was received by the Secretary of the Senate:
THE SENATE OF TEXAS
Peter P. Flores
State Senator
District 19
February 8, 2019
Ms. Patsy Spaw
Secretary of the Senate
Room 2E.22
Texas State Capitol
Dear Ms. Spaw,
Please accept this letter as one of request to pull down my S.B. 684 which was filed in error on February 6, 2019.
Should you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me or my legislative director, Jennifer Coffee.
Sincerely,
/s/Peter P. Flores
Senator Peter Flores
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 458
On motion of Senator Huffman, Senator Perry will be shown as Co-author of SB 458.
CO-AUTHORS OF SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 24
On motion of Senator Kolkhorst, Senators Fallon and Powell will be shown as Co-authors of SJR 24.
RESOLUTIONS OF RECOGNITION
The following resolutions were adopted by the Senate:
Memorial Resolutions
SR 164 by Zaffirini, Honoring the lives of those who died in the Sutherland Springs tragic event.
SR 177 by Buckingham, In memory of Frank Seffrood.
SR 181 by Watson, In memory of Carol Jean Patterson Niemann.
SR 182 by Watson, In memory of Wayne H. Holtzman.
Congratulatory Resolutions
SR 146 by Taylor, Congratulating Jasmine N. Boudreaux on earning her high school diploma.
SR 147 by Taylor, Congratulating Alexandra Quinn Gorman on earning her high school diploma.
SR 148 by Taylor, Congratulating Benjamin Joel Ruley on earning his high school diploma.
SR 149 by Taylor, Congratulating Sean Patrick Scott Hunter McIntire on earning his high school diploma.
SR 150 by Taylor, Congratulating Hannah Williams on earning her high school diploma.
SR 151 by Taylor, Congratulating Glory Starr Talley-Shiflet on earning her high school diploma.
SR 152 by Taylor, Congratulating Louis Fredrich Tiemann on earning his high school diploma.
SR 153 by Taylor, Congratulating Zachary Scott Ruley on earning his high school diploma.
SR 154 by Taylor, Congratulating Olivia Ann Lerma on earning her high school diploma.
SR 155 by Taylor, Congratulating Regan Heath on earning her high school diploma.
SR 156 by Taylor, Congratulating Emily Frances Bullman on earning her high school diploma.
SR 157 by Taylor, Congratulating Emalee Ellen Faycosh on earning her high school diploma.
SR 158 by Taylor, Congratulating Ian Wayne Brooks on earning his high school diploma.
SR 159 by Taylor, Congratulating Madison Ann Beyer on earning her high school diploma.
SR 160 by Taylor, Congratulating Annalise C. Baldridge on earning her high school diploma.
SR 161 by Taylor, Congratulating Hope Evangeline Talley-Shiflet on earning her high school diploma.
SR 162 by Watson, Recognizing Glenyss Lynelle Longstreet on the occasion of her retirement.
SR 166 by Lucio, Recognizing the Literacy Center of Harlingen on the occasion of its 2019 Celebrity Roast.
SR 167 by Schwertner, Recognizing Bell Cleaners on the occasion of its 30th anniversary.
SR 169 by Perry, Recognizing Daniel Taylor for his contributions to West Texas.
SR 172 by Hinojosa, Recognizing John Dallas Reed on the occasion of his retirement.
SR 173 by Hinojosa and Zaffirini, Recognizing Judy Hawley for her induction into the Texas Transportation Hall of Honor.
SR 174 by Hinojosa, Recognizing Landry Gilpin for receiving the Mr. Texas Football Player of the Year Award.
SR 178 by Buckingham, Recognizing B. R. "Skipper" Wallace for his service to Lampasas County.
SR 180 by Watson, Recognizing Raymund A. Paredes for his 15-year tenure as Commissioner of Higher Education.
Official Designation Resolutions
SR 132 by Hall, Recognizing February 12, 2019, as Fannin County Day.
SR 163 by Zaffirini, Recognizing July 21, 2020, as First Lady Frances Cox Henderson Bicentennial Day.
SR 165 by Lucio, Recognizing February 4 through 8, 2019, as National School Counselor Week in Texas.
SR 170 by Hughes, Recognizing February 19, 2019, as Panola County Day.
SR 171 by Nelson and Paxton, Recognizing February 12, 2019, as Frisco Day.
ADJOURNMENT
On motion of Senator Whitmire, the Senate at 3:28 p.m. adjourned until 11:00 a.m. tomorrow.
APPENDIX
RESOLUTIONS ENROLLED
February 7, 2019
SR 136, SR 139, SR 140, SR 141, SR 143