SENATE JOURNAL

SEVENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE — THIRD CALLED SESSION

AUSTIN, TEXAS

PROCEEDINGS

SECOND DAY

(Continued)

(Thursday, April 20, 2006)

AFTER RECESS

The Senate met at 11:00 a.m. and was called to order by the President.

SENATORS ANNOUNCED PRESENT

Senators Fraser, Harris, and Wentworth, who had previously been recorded as "Absent-excused," were announced "Present."

PHYSICIAN OF THE DAY

Senator Armbrister was recognized and presented Dr. Harold High of Cuero as the Physician of the Day.

The Senate welcomed Dr. High and thanked him for his participation in the Physician of the Day program sponsored by the Texas Academy of Family Physicians.

SENATE RESOLUTION 6

Senator Zaffirini offered the following resolution:

WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to recognize for the fifth year the outstanding contributions of the Texas Exes to their alma mater and to welcome the Mexican and Spanish students who are enrolled at The University of Texas at Austin; and

WHEREAS, Students from Mexico have studied at The University of Texas at Austin since 1940; the university and Mexico have historic ties due to shared academic endeavors, and the university's Graduate School of Business has developed joint degree programs with Mexican institutions; and

WHEREAS, In 1991, the Texas Legislature established a tuition assistance program to encourage students from Mexico with limited financial resources to study in our state, thus making Texas a responsive educational partner to Mexico; there are now 286 students from Mexico enrolled at the university, including 154 undergraduates and 132 graduate and professional degree candidates; and

WHEREAS, Universities in Spain and The University of Texas have had ongoing relationships since before the 1980s; there are 42 students from Spain enrolled at The University of Texas, including 18 undergraduates and 24 graduate and

WHEREAS, The generosity of the Texas Exes and the Laredo National Bank/BBVA Group and their active participation in the university's community attest to their commitment to the university, and the school's distinguished record of educating Mexican and Spanish students is indicative of the successful collaboration between Texas and Mexico and Texas and Spain; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 79th Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby commend the Texas Exes, the Laredo National Bank/BBVA Group, and the Mexican and Spanish students at The University of Texas at Austin for their special and unique contributions to the school and to our state; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.

SR 6 was again read.

The resolution was previously adopted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006.

GUESTS PRESENTED

Senator Zaffirini was recognized and introduced to the Senate Darrell Windham, President-elect, Texas Exes; Jerry Wilcox, Director, The University of Texas International Office; Sonia Frias of Spain, Ph.D. candidate, Department of Sociology; David Argente, Mexican Student Association; and Noah Garcia, Laredo National Bank/BBVA Group.

The Senate welcomed its guests.

MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE

HOUSE CHAMBER

Austin, Texas

April 20, 2006

The Honorable President of the Senate

Senate Chamber

Austin, Texas

Mr. President:

I am directed by the House to inform the Senate that the House has taken the following action:

THE HOUSE HAS PASSED THE FOLLOWING MEASURES:

HCR 13, Congratulating Coach Mack Brown and The University of Texas Longhorn football team on winning the 2005 National Championship.

Respectfully,

/s/Robert Haney, Chief Clerk

House of Representatives

32 79th Legislature — 3rd Called Session 2nd Day (Cont.)

RESOLUTIONS SIGNED

The President announced the signing of the following enrolled resolutions in the presence of the Senate:iiHCR 11, HCR 16.

SENATE BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS ON FIRST READING

The following bills and resolutions were introduced, read first time, and referred to the committees indicated:

SB 17 by Barrientos

Relating to increasing the minimum amount of the local option residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation by a taxing unit.

To Committee on Finance.

SB 18 by Hinojosa, West

Relating to the system benefit fund and to eligibility for and enrollment for benefits under the fund.

To Committee on Business and Commerce.

SJR 8 by Janek

Proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the governing body of a political subdivision to establish for purposes of ad valorem taxation by the political subdivision a limit on the maximum average annual percentage increase in the appraised value of residence homesteads in the political subdivision.

To Committee on Finance.

SJR 9 by Barrientos

Proposing a constitutional amendment to increase the minimum amount of the local option residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation by a political subdivision.

To Committee on Finance.

SJR 10 by Shapiro

Proposing a constitutional amendment dedicating certain increases in state tax revenue to public education.

To Committee on Finance.

GUEST PRESENTED

Senator Wentworth was recognized and introduced to the Senate General Tom Schwartz.

The Senate welcomed General Schwartz.

RESOLUTIONS OF RECOGNITION

The following resolutions were adopted by the Senate:

Congratulatory Resolutions

SRi10iby Ellis,iCongratulating Kevin and Shannon Daniels on the birth of their daughter, Keiwan Makay Daniels.

SRi11iby Ellis,iRecognizing Margaret "Maggie" Balaco for her outstanding work in the office of Representative Rick Noriega.

Thursday, April 20, 2006 SENATE JOURNAL 33

SRi12iby Ellis,iRecognizing Jessica Varner for her outstanding work in the office of Houston City Council Member Ronald C. Green.

SRi13iby Ellis,iRecognizing Shakeb Syed for his outstanding work in the office of Houston City Council Member Peter Brown.

SRi14iby Ellis,iRecognizing Jenean Pretorius for her outstanding work in the office of Houston City Council Member Ada Edwards.

SRi15iby Ellis,iRecognizing Elizabeth "Lisi" Owen for her outstanding work in the office of Houston City Council Member Sue Lovell.

SRi16iby Ellis,iRecognizing Tanya Makany for her outstanding work in the office of Houston City Council Member Adrian Garcia.

SRi17iby Ellis,iRecognizing Terrance Livingston for his outstanding work in the office of Senator Rodney Ellis.

SRi18iby Ellis,iRecognizing Daniel Lazarine for his outstanding work in the office of Representative Dora Olivo.

SRi19iby Ellis,iRecognizing E. Joyce Iyamu for her outstanding work in the office of Senator Rodney Ellis.

SRi20iby Ellis,iRecognizing Krystal Hardeman for her outstanding work in the office of Harris County Commissioner El Franco Lee.

SRi21iby Ellis,iRecognizing Jerry Greenspan for his outstanding work in the office of Mayor Pro Tem Carol Alvarado of Houston.

SRi22iby Ellis,iRecognizing Blake Green for his outstanding work in the office of Representative Hubert Vo.

SRi23iby Ellis,iRecognizing Estella Gonzalez for outstanding work in the office of Representative Ana E. Hernandez.

SRi24iby Ellis,iRecognizing Camille Lasin Foster for her outstanding work in the office of Representative Garnet Coleman.

SRi25iby Ellis,iCommending David Tallman Nguyen of Houston for achieving of the rank of Eagle Scout.

SRi27iby Williams,iRecognizing the class of 1956 of Stephen F. Austin High School on the occasion of its 50-year reunion.

SRi28iby Barrientos,iRecognizing the Wrangler Hat Company for its support of Tejano and Conjunto music in Texas.

SRi29iby Brimer,iRecognizing Irene Louise "Mitzie" Norman on the occasion of her 80th birthday.

SRi30iby Madla,iCommending Daryl Skinner for his accomplishments as principal of the Monahans Alternative Education Center.

SRi31iby Ellis,iRecognizing Lise Olsen of Houston for being named the Headliners Star Reporter of the Year by the Texas Associated Press.

34 79th Legislature — 3rd Called Session 2nd Day (Cont.)

SRi32iby Janek,iRecognizing the friendship that exists between the governments of Hungary and the United States.

SRi33iby Barrientos,iRecognizing the Center for Mexican American Studies at The University of Texas at Austin for presenting Los Grandes de la Música Tejana.

SRi34iby Barrientos,iRecognizing the residents of the Saint John's neighborhood in Austin on the occasion of their Unity March and Parade.

HCRi15i(Eltife),iCongratulating the Arp High School 2005-2006 boys' basketball team for winning the UIL 2A State Championship.

Official Designation Resolution

SRi26iby Janek,iRecognizing May 22-29, 2006, as National Beach Safety Week in Galveston.

ADJOURNMENT

On motion of Senator Whitmire, the Senate at 11:30 a.m. adjourned until 2:00ip.m. Monday, April 24, 2006.

Thursday, April 20, 2006 SENATE JOURNAL 35