Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HR3 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	89R10656 ESC/HLB/TS
2	2	By: Geren H.R. No. 3
3	3
4	4
5	5
6	6
7	7	R E S O L U T I O N
8	8	BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the State of
9	9	Texas, That the following is adopted as the housekeeping resolution
10	10	for the House of Representatives of the 89th [88th] Legislature:
11	11	HOUSEKEEPING RESOLUTION FOR
12	12	THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
13	13	OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE
14	14	TABLE OF CONTENTS
15	15	ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS 4
16	16	SECTION 1.01. PURPOSE 4
17	17	SECTION 1.02. PRECEDENCE 5
18	18	ARTICLE 2. SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE 5
19	19	SECTION 2.01. SPEAKER'S GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES 5
20	20	SECTION 2.02. SPEAKER'S APARTMENT AND OFFICES 5
21	21	SECTION 2.03. INTERSTATE OR FEDERAL-STATE ASSOCIATIONS;
22	22	TRAINING SEMINARS 6
23	23	SECTION 2.04. DEANS 7
24	24	ARTICLE 3. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEE ON
25	25	HOUSE ADMINISTRATION 7
26	26	SECTION 3.01. CONTRACTS 7
27	27	SECTION 3.02. HOUSE AND COMMITTEE OPERATING BUDGETS 7
28	28	SECTION 3.03. OPERATING POLICIES 8
29	29	SECTION 3.04. HOUSE POLICY MANUAL 8
30	30	SECTION 3.05. HOUSE PROPERTY, SUPPLIES, ACCOUNTING 8
31	31	SECTION 3.06. USE OF HOUSE CHAMBER AND FACILITIES; ASSIGNMENT
32	32	OF DESKS, OFFICES, AND PARKING SPACES 9
33	33	SECTION 3.07. RECORDS OF THE HOUSE; PRINTING; JOURNALS;
34	34	COPIES OF LEGISLATIVE DOCUMENTS10
35	35	SECTION 3.08. HONORARY CERTIFICATES11
36	36	SECTION 3.09. COMPOSITE PHOTOGRAPH12
37	37	SECTION 3.10. POLICIES REGARDING TEMPORARY ACTING
38	38	MEMBERS12
39	39	SECTION 3.11. DISPLAY OF "IN GOD WE TRUST" IN HOUSE13
40	40	SECTION 3.12. HOUSE RECYCLING PROGRAM13
41	41	SECTION 3.13. JOINT COMMITTEE HEARING NOTICES ON WEBSITE13
42	42	SECTION 3.14. ACCESS TO HOUSE OFFICES13
43	43	SECTION 3.15. DPS PANIC BUTTONS13
44	44	SECTION 3.16. USE OF HOUSE AUDIO OR VIDEO RESOURCES14
45	45	ARTICLE 4. EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYMENT POLICIES14
46	46	SECTION 4.01. DEFINITION14
47	47	SECTION 4.02. OFFICERS AND SUPERVISORY ADMINISTRATIVE
48	48	EMPLOYEES OF THE HOUSE14
49	49	SECTION 4.03. OTHER CENTRAL HOUSE PERSONNEL16
50	50	SECTION 4.04. EMPLOYEES OF INDIVIDUAL MEMBER16
51	51	SECTION 4.05. COMMITTEE STAFF; AUTHORITY TO REQUEST
52	52	ASSISTANCE17
53	53	SECTION 4.06. WORK SCHEDULE; HOURS OF HOUSE OPERATIONS17
54	54	SECTION 4.07. COMPENSATION17
55	55	SECTION 4.08. DUTIES19
56	56	SECTION 4.09. APPEARANCE BEFORE COMMITTEES19
57	57	SECTION 4.10. CHAMBER ACCESS19
58	58	SECTION 4.11. VOTING19
59	59	SECTION 4.12. VOTING RECORDS19
60	60	SECTION 4.13. CAMPAIGN FOR SPEAKER19
61	61	SECTION 4.14. POLITICAL INFLUENCE19
62	62	SECTION 4.15. OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT, EXTRA COMPENSATION, OR
63	63	GIFTS20
64	64	SECTION 4.16. DISCHARGE20
65	65	SECTION 4.17. DURATION OF EMPLOYMENT21
66	66	SECTION 4.18. EMPLOYMENT BY MORE THAN ONE MEMBER OR
67	67	COMMITTEE21
68	68	SECTION 4.19. POSITION TITLES AND CLASSIFICATIONS21
69	69	ARTICLE 5. ACCOUNTING22
70	70	SECTION 5.01. FUNDING OF OFFICE OPERATIONS22
71	71	SECTION 5.02. OPERATING ACCOUNTS22
72	72	SECTION 5.03. CREDIT FOR NEWLY ELECTED MEMBERS23
73	73	SECTION 5.04. MONTHLY CREDIT23
74	74	SECTION 5.045. DETERMINATION OF OPERATING ACCOUNT BALANCE24
75	75	SECTION 5.05. ACCOUNT CLOSING25
76	76	SECTION 5.06. EXPENDITURES CHARGED WHEN ENCUMBERED26
77	77	SECTION 5.07. TRAVEL FROM AUSTIN DURING SESSION NOT
78	78	CHARGED TO OPERATING ACCOUNT26
79	79	SECTION 5.08. TRAVEL OUTSIDE TEXAS26
80	80	SECTION 5.09. APPROVAL OF EXPENDITURES26
81	81	SECTION 5.10. USE OF FUNDS FOR INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS
82	82	PROHIBITED27
83	83	SECTION 5.11. USE OF HOUSE RESOURCES FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES
84	84	PROHIBITED27
85	85	ARTICLE 6. CAUCUSES27
86	86	SECTION 6.01. DEFINITION27
87	87	SECTION 6.02. USE OF HOUSE FUNDS, EMPLOYEES, EQUIPMENT, AND
88	88	FACILITIES28
89	89	SECTION 6.03. CONTRIBUTIONS29
90	90	SECTION 6.04. MEMBERSHIP AND OFFICER LISTS29
91	91	SECTION 6.05. REPORT TO ETHICS COMMISSION29
92	92	ARTICLE 7. HOUSE RESEARCH ORGANIZATION29
93	93	SECTION 7.01. ESTABLISHMENT29
94	94	SECTION 7.02. STEERING COMMITTEE30
95	95	SECTION 7.03. BUDGET30
96	96	ARTICLE 8. SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR INTERIM30
97	97	SECTION 8.01. INTERIM COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES30
98	98	SECTION 8.02. POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEE ON HOUSE
99	99	ADMINISTRATION DURING INTERIM31
100	100	ARTICLE 9. APPROPRIATE WORKPLACE CONDUCT32
101	101	SECTION 9.01. PURPOSE32
102	102	SECTION 9.02. TRAINING32
103	103	SECTION 9.03. COMPLAINTS; FILING, INVESTIGATION, AND
104	104	RESOLUTION34
105	105	ARTICLE 10. COMMITTEE GIFTS37
106	106	SECTION 10.01. COMMITTEE GIFTS37
107	107	ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
108	108	SECTION 1.01. PURPOSE. This resolution is adopted by the
109	109	members of the House of Representatives of the 89th [88th]
110	110	Legislature to provide for the efficient and orderly operation of
111	111	the house under the supervision of the speaker and the Committee on
112	112	House Administration.
113	113	SECTION 1.02. PRECEDENCE. The provisions of this
114	114	resolution take precedence over the provisions of any resolution
115	115	not passed in full compliance with the rules of the house and,
116	116	except as otherwise noted herein, shall be in effect during the full
117	117	term of the 89th [88th] Legislature whether in session or
118	118	adjournment.
119	119	ARTICLE 2. SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
120	120	SECTION 2.01. SPEAKER'S GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. The
121	121	speaker may make any expenditures or transfers and perform any
122	122	function deemed necessary for the effective and efficient operation
123	123	of the house of representatives.
124	124	SECTION 2.02. SPEAKER'S APARTMENT AND OFFICES. (a) The
125	125	speaker's apartment and offices shall be set aside for the use of
126	126	the speaker, the speaker's family, and house members, as the
127	127	speaker may designate, throughout the speaker's term of office.
128	128	(b) The Committee on House Administration may make the
129	129	necessary expenditures to operate and properly equip and service
130	130	the speaker's apartment and offices and may employ such help as may
131	131	be necessary to properly maintain and care for the apartment and
132	132	offices.
133	133	(c) The speaker and the speaker's family may occupy the
134	134	speaker's apartment during the speaker's term of office, utilizing
135	135	the services of employees of the house and others on a temporary
136	136	basis, if and as needed.
137	137	(d) The speaker may obtain through the Committee on House
138	138	Administration the necessary supplies and services to operate the
139	139	speaker's office and may also have paid through that committee
140	140	necessary telephone charges.
141	141	SECTION 2.03. INTERSTATE OR FEDERAL-STATE ASSOCIATIONS;
142	142	TRAINING SEMINARS. (a) The speaker may attend any meetings of or
143	143	sponsored by the Council of State Governments and any meetings on
144	144	problems of federal-state relations and interstate relations and
145	145	cooperation, and any other governmental meeting in or outside the
146	146	state.
147	147	(b) The speaker may appoint members of the house, staff
148	148	members, and other employees of the house to accompany or represent
149	149	the speaker at these meetings or to attend in-service training
150	150	courses sponsored by the Council of State Governments or the
151	151	National Conference of State Legislatures or similar training
152	152	courses, conferences, or seminars as the speaker may determine.
153	153	(c) Members of the house attending meetings under this
154	154	section while the legislature is in session may be reimbursed for
155	155	actual and necessary expenses. Members of the house attending
156	156	meetings under this section while the legislature is not in session
157	157	and staff members and other employees of the house attending
158	158	meetings at any time under this section may be reimbursed for either
159	159	actual and necessary expenses or receive a per diem not to exceed
160	160	that provided by law for state officials or state employees. In
161	161	addition, members, staff, and other employees attending meetings
162	162	under this section may be reimbursed for mileage or other
163	163	transportation expenses at the same rate as provided by law for
164	164	state officials or state employees together with registration fees
165	165	and tuition. To receive payment under this subsection, sworn
166	166	expense accounts must be filed with and approved by the chair of the
167	167	Committee on House Administration or an officer of the house
168	168	designated in writing by the Committee on House Administration.
169	169	Prior written approval of the chair of the Committee on House
170	170	Administration to attend any such meetings, conferences, seminars,
171	171	or training courses is a prerequisite for reimbursement for travel
172	172	and other related expenses.
173	173	(d) Reimbursement for expenses incurred by a member, staff
174	174	member, or employee of the house in an appointive capacity
175	175	resulting from an appointment made by anyone other than the speaker
176	176	shall be made only in the event that the appointment and expenses to
177	177	be incurred have been previously approved in writing by the
178	178	Committee on House Administration.
179	179	(e) The speaker may expend money for memberships in
180	180	interstate associations of legislators considered necessary to
181	181	discharge properly the duties and responsibilities of the office of
182	182	speaker.
183	183	SECTION 2.04. DEANS. The speaker shall recognize as deans
184	184	both the male member and the female member having the greatest
185	185	seniority based on cumulative years of service in the house.
186	186	ARTICLE 3. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE
187	187	COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION
188	188	SECTION 3.01. CONTRACTS. The Committee on House
189	189	Administration shall approve all contracts necessary for the
190	190	effective operation of the divisions of the house and its
191	191	committees.
192	192	SECTION 3.02. HOUSE AND COMMITTEE OPERATING BUDGETS. The
193	193	Committee on House Administration shall consider and adopt
194	194	operating budgets that cover both session and interim periods for
195	195	the divisions of the house and all committees appointed pursuant to
196	196	the resolution adopting the rules of the house or appointed by the
197	197	speaker pursuant to any other resolution. A budget adopted by the
198	198	Committee on House Administration must be adopted in a public
199	199	hearing. Each requested operating budget and each operating budget
200	200	proposed for adoption must be posted on the Internet website of the
201	201	committee in advance of the hearing.
202	202	SECTION 3.03. OPERATING POLICIES. The Committee on House
203	203	Administration shall effectuate policies and determine guidelines
204	204	for the operation of the divisions and committees of the house.
205	205	SECTION 3.04. HOUSE POLICY MANUAL. The Committee on House
206	206	Administration shall prepare and distribute to all members, within
207	207	60 days after the convening of the regular session, policy
208	208	statements to include, but not be limited to, policies pertaining
209	209	to members as a class.
210	210	SECTION 3.05. HOUSE PROPERTY, SUPPLIES, ACCOUNTING. The
211	211	Committee on House Administration shall:
212	212	(1) provide and maintain for the use of the speaker,
213	213	members, employees, divisions, and committees of the house such
214	214	stationery, stamps, office equipment, furniture, fixtures,
215	215	supplies, and telephone and other services as may be necessary;
216	216	(2) keep an itemized account of the quantity and cost
217	217	of every kind of material received, and the source from which it was
218	218	received;
219	219	(3) maintain an annual operating account for each
220	220	member, division, and committee authorized by the Committee on
221	221	House Administration to make expenditures and charge each operating
222	222	account with daily expenditures, withdrawals from inventory, and
223	223	interdepartmental services;
224	224	(4) furnish a monthly statement for the expenditures
225	225	of each member, division, and committee of the house; and
226	226	(5) adopt any rules, regulations, and policies
227	227	necessary to effectively provide and account for the
228	228	above-mentioned services.
229	229	SECTION 3.06. USE OF HOUSE CHAMBER AND FACILITIES;
230	230	ASSIGNMENT OF DESKS, OFFICES, AND PARKING SPACES. (a) The
231	231	Committee on House Administration shall:
232	232	(1) be in charge of and provide for the protection,
233	233	maintenance, and use of the hall of the house, all committee rooms,
234	234	offices of members and house departments, the speaker's office and
235	235	apartment, and other space under the jurisdiction of the house;
236	236	(2) make permanent assignments of desks and offices to
237	237	members of the house;
238	238	(3) adopt and enforce a plan for the parking of motor
239	239	vehicles on the portion of the Capitol grounds under house
240	240	jurisdiction;
241	241	(4) be in charge of and provide for the protection,
242	242	maintenance, and use of the furniture, fixtures, equipment, and
243	243	records of the house;
244	244	(5) purchase, remodel, repair, restore, or replace any
245	245	furniture, fixtures, equipment, and other furnishings to maintain
246	246	the dignity and appearance of space occupied by the house;
247	247	(6) in consultation with the State Preservation Board,
248	248	identify and establish a space that provides privacy, security, a
249	249	water faucet, and a power outlet, within or near the hall of the
250	250	house for use for breastfeeding or breast pumping by house members
251	251	and employees of the house or media representatives entitled to the
252	252	privileges of the floor when the house is in session; and
253	253	(7) determine the hours the hall of the house shall be
254	254	open to visitors.
255	255	(b) Any member who is not a member-elect of the 90th [89th]
256	256	Legislature shall vacate the member's office space before December
257	257	1, 2026 [2024]. If the office is not vacated on that date, the
258	258	Committee on House Administration shall immediately remove the
259	259	member's personal effects and store them in an appropriate place in
260	260	order that the member-elect to whom the office space is assigned may
261	261	move in. The Committee on House Administration shall ensure that
262	262	each member-elect of the 90th [89th] Legislature who was not a
263	263	member of the 89th [88th] Legislature is permitted to move into and
264	264	begin using the member-elect's office space at least 72 hours
265	265	before the time the 90th [89th] Legislature is scheduled to
266	266	convene.
267	267	SECTION 3.07. RECORDS OF THE HOUSE; PRINTING; JOURNALS;
268	268	COPIES OF LEGISLATIVE DOCUMENTS. (a) The Committee on House
269	269	Administration shall:
270	270	(1) have completed and preserved the official records
271	271	of the house;
272	272	(2) have charge of and approve the operation and
273	273	maintenance of the printing and duplicating facilities of the
274	274	house, provided, however, that the use of the house printing and
275	275	duplicating facilities is restricted to agencies of the legislative
276	276	branch and any other operation thereof is strictly prohibited
277	277	unless previously authorized in writing by the Committee on House
278	278	Administration or an officer of the house designated in writing by
279	279	the speaker;
280	280	(3) determine the number of copies of the daily House
281	281	Journal to be printed and have jurisdiction over the mailing and
282	282	distribution of the daily journal; and
283	283	(4) determine the number of copies of the House
284	284	Journal that will be furnished to each member for distribution by
285	285	the member.
286	286	(b) The employee in charge of the printing facilities must
287	287	keep at least one copy of all items printed or duplicated and a copy
288	288	of the work order authorizing such printing.
289	289	(c) Copies of bills, resolutions, and attachments thereto
290	290	shall be made available free of charge to members of the house who
291	291	call at the bill distribution office and request them, and the cost
292	292	of these copies shall be paid from funds appropriated for that
293	293	purpose by the legislature. If the Committee on House
294	294	Administration finds gross abuse of this privilege, it may
295	295	establish a policy regarding such distribution.
296	296	SECTION 3.08. HONORARY CERTIFICATES. The Committee on
297	297	House Administration shall provide for the use of members
298	298	appropriate certificates to commend, congratulate, and
299	299	memorialize. Such certificates shall be printed with a signature
300	300	line for the name of the presenting member and adequate space for
301	301	insertion of the name of the individual or organization to be
302	302	honored.
303	303	SECTION 3.09. COMPOSITE PHOTOGRAPH. (a) The Committee on
304	304	House Administration shall select a suitable photographer to take
305	305	individual photographs of each member. The photographer shall
306	306	prepare a composite photograph of the members of the house composed
307	307	of the individual photographs of each member arranged on a panel, of
308	308	the same size as used in previous sessions, in such manner as to
309	309	approximate the location of each member's desk on the house floor.
310	310	The member's name and the county of residence shall be printed under
311	311	the member's photograph, and the composite shall be framed and hung
312	312	in the hall of the house during the regular session.
313	313	(b) The photographs for the composite panel shall be
314	314	provided without cost to the members, and the expense of the
315	315	composite panel shall be paid from the expense fund of the house.
316	316	(c) The Committee on House Administration shall establish,
317	317	with concurrence of the photographer, a price to charge members for
318	318	any prints of photographs they wish to purchase.
319	319	SECTION 3.10. POLICIES REGARDING TEMPORARY ACTING MEMBERS.
320	320	If a person is serving as a temporary acting member of the house
321	321	under Section 72, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, in the place of a
322	322	house member on active military duty, the Committee on House
323	323	Administration, with the approval of the speaker and in
324	324	consultation with the temporary acting member and, if available,
325	325	the member on military duty, may adopt policies regarding a
326	326	temporary acting member that the committee considers necessary for
327	327	the efficient administration and performance of the duties of the
328	328	house consistent with this resolution, the rules of the house, and
329	329	the Texas Constitution.
330	330	SECTION 3.11. DISPLAY OF "IN GOD WE TRUST" IN HOUSE. The
331	331	Committee on House Administration shall direct the State
332	332	Preservation Board to maintain the permanent display of the motto
333	333	"In God We Trust" on the face of the portico located over the
334	334	speaker's podium.
335	335	SECTION 3.12. HOUSE RECYCLING PROGRAM. The Committee on
336	336	House Administration, in coordination with the State Preservation
337	337	Board, shall implement a program for recycling paper, plastic, and
338	338	other recyclable materials from house offices.
339	339	SECTION 3.13. JOINT COMMITTEE HEARING NOTICES ON WEBSITE.
340	340	The Committee on House Administration shall provide for the posting
341	341	of all notices for hearings of joint committees of the house and
342	342	senate on the house website regardless of whether the notice is
343	343	posted on the senate website.
344	344	SECTION 3.14. ACCESS TO HOUSE OFFICES. A house member and
345	345	the member's staff may control access by the public to the member's
346	346	office and may exclude visitors from the office at their
347	347	discretion. If a person refuses to leave the member's office when
348	348	requested, the member may request assistance from the Department of
349	349	Public Safety.
350	350	SECTION 3.15. DPS PANIC BUTTONS. The Committee on House
351	351	Administration shall work with the Department of Public Safety to
352	352	ensure that each house office may request a panic button that the
353	353	house member and the member's staff may use to alert the department
354	354	to an emergency in the office. The member may reimburse the
355	355	Committee on House Administration for the cost of the panic button
356	356	equipment in monthly installments over the fiscal year.
357	357	SECTION 3.16. USE OF HOUSE AUDIO OR VIDEO RESOURCES. The
358	358	Committee on House Administration shall adopt a policy that allows
359	359	members the use of house audio or visual resources. Use of house
360	360	audio or visual resources may only be prohibited for the following
361	361	reasons:
362	362	(1) the use is otherwise prohibited by law;
363	363	(2) the use maligns the reputation of an individual;
364	364	or
365	365	(3) the use is for political advertising, as defined
366	366	by Section 251.001, Election Code.
367	367	ARTICLE 4. EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYMENT POLICIES
368	368	SECTION 4.01. DEFINITION. Unless expressly provided
369	369	otherwise, in this article "employee" means any person compensated
370	370	from funds appropriated to the house. The term includes persons for
371	371	whom the employing authority is the speaker, the Committee on House
372	372	Administration, an individual member, or a committee.
373	373	SECTION 4.02. OFFICERS AND SUPERVISORY ADMINISTRATIVE
374	374	EMPLOYEES OF THE HOUSE. (a) Officers of the house authorized to be
375	375	appointed under this section shall be appointed by and serve at the
376	376	pleasure of the speaker. Employees of the house responsible for
377	377	supervising the departments and divisions that support the
378	378	operation of the house shall also be appointed by and serve at the
379	379	pleasure of the speaker.
380	380	(a-1) The following are the officers of the house that shall
381	381	be appointed by the speaker under this section:
382	382	(1) Chief Clerk;
383	383	(2) Journal Clerk;
384	384	(3) Reading Clerks;
385	385	(4) Sergeant-at-Arms;
386	386	(5) Doorkeeper;
387	387	(6) Chaplain;
388	388	(7) Voting Clerk;
389	389	(8) Committee Coordinator;
390	390	(9) Parliamentarians (not more than two individuals);
391	391	and
392	392	(10) Executive Director, House Business Office.
393	393	(a-2) In addition to the officers listed in Subsection (a-1)
394	394	of this section, the speaker may also appoint a chief assistant to
395	395	any officer listed in Subsection (a-1) of this section. An
396	396	assistant appointed under this subsection is also an officer of the
397	397	house who serves at the pleasure of the speaker.
398	398	(a-3) In addition to the appointments authorized under
399	399	Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) of this section, the speaker is
400	400	authorized to appoint an officer who is an attorney licensed to
401	401	practice law in this state to provide legal assistance to, and
402	402	representation of, the house. On written authorization by the
403	403	speaker, the officer may initiate or enter an appearance, or retain
404	404	counsel to initiate or enter an appearance, in any proceeding
405	405	before any court as necessary to ensure the institutional position
406	406	of the house (including a committee, officer, or employee of the
407	407	house in the committee, officer, or employee's official capacity
408	408	only) is sufficiently safeguarded. The officer appointed under
409	409	this subsection is the only individual authorized to initiate or
410	410	enter an appearance in any litigation, including litigation under
411	411	Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government Code, on behalf of the house
412	412	or a committee, officer, or employee of the house in the committee,
413	413	officer, or employee's official capacity only.
414	414	(b) The speaker shall have the right to discharge any
415	415	officer or supervisory administrative employee when the best
416	416	interest of the house of representatives would be served by so
417	417	doing.
418	418	(c) The authority to appoint and discharge officers and
419	419	supervisory administrative employees may be delegated to the
420	420	Committee on House Administration to the extent and for the length
421	421	of time the speaker determines.
422	422	(d) In the event of the absence, resignation, or death of
423	423	any officer or supervisory administrative employee the speaker may
424	424	designate a person to take charge of and attend to all the duties of
425	425	the office affected until the officer or employee returns or until a
426	426	successor is chosen.
427	427	SECTION 4.03. OTHER CENTRAL HOUSE PERSONNEL. (a) The
428	428	Committee on House Administration shall employ all personnel
429	429	necessary for the operation of the house other than:
430	430	(1) those appointed under Section 4.02; or
431	431	(2) employees of an individual member or committee.
432	432	(b) For purposes of this article, the Committee on House
433	433	Administration is the employing authority for all house employees
434	434	other than those for whom the employing authority is the speaker, an
435	435	individual member, or a committee.
436	436	SECTION 4.04. EMPLOYEES OF INDIVIDUAL MEMBER. A member may
437	437	employ, with funds from the member's operating budget, such staff
438	438	as the member deems necessary.
439	439	SECTION 4.05. COMMITTEE STAFF; AUTHORITY TO REQUEST
440	440	ASSISTANCE. (a) The Committee on House Administration shall
441	441	provide funds for the adequate staffing of all standing committees
442	442	of the house and all other committees appointed by the speaker.
443	443	(b) Select committees, interim study committees, standing
444	444	committees, or subcommittees appointed pursuant to the resolution
445	445	adopting the rules of the house or appointed by the speaker pursuant
446	446	to any other resolution may employ any person, firm, or
447	447	corporation, subject to budget limitations. Those committees or
448	448	subcommittees may ask for the assistance of any of the employees,
449	449	agencies, departments, or branches of the state government.
450	450	SECTION 4.06. WORK SCHEDULE; HOURS OF HOUSE OPERATIONS.
451	451	(a) An employee shall be on duty on the days and hours determined by
452	452	the employing authority.
453	453	(b) All offices of the departments and divisions that
454	454	support the operations of the house shall be open on days and hours
455	455	determined by the Committee on House Administration or the speaker
456	456	and other hours that the house or its committees are in session.
457	457	SECTION 4.07. COMPENSATION. (a) Officers and supervisory
458	458	administrative employees of the house shall receive the
459	459	compensation that the speaker or Committee on House Administration
460	460	determines.
461	461	(b) The Committee on House Administration shall fix the
462	462	compensation of house personnel employed under Section 4.03. A
463	463	person employed under that section who is absent without leave
464	464	shall not receive compensation for the time missed.
465	465	(c) The salaries of employees of individual members,
466	466	committees, and the house shall begin when they are instructed to
467	467	start work by their respective employing authority.
468	468	(d) Except as provided by Subsections (e) and (f) of this
469	469	section, an employee of an individual member, a committee employee,
470	470	or any person, firm, or corporation employed by a committee or
471	471	subcommittee may not be paid a salary in excess of $6,780 for any
472	472	one month.
473	473	(e) A member may exempt one or two employees [employee] of
474	474	the individual member and, if the member is a chair of a standing or
475	475	select committee, one employee of the standing or select committee
476	476	the member chairs from the salary cap imposed by Subsection (d) of
477	477	this section. Each calendar year the member shall file with the
478	478	Committee on House Administration a statement designating the
479	479	exempt employee or employees, as appropriate. During a calendar
480	480	year after an exempt employee has been designated, the member may
481	481	exempt a different employee from the salary cap only if the employee
482	482	previously designated as exempt for the calendar year is no longer
483	483	employed by the member or committee, as appropriate. An [The]
484	484	exempt employee may not receive compensation from the operating
485	485	account of any other committee or member.
486	486	(f) The Committee on House Administration may increase the
487	487	amount of the salary cap imposed by Subsection (d) of this section
488	488	to account for any increase in salary provided to all state
489	489	employees during the biennium that begins during the term of the
490	490	legislature to which this resolution applies.
491	491	SECTION 4.08. DUTIES. An employee shall perform all duties
492	492	directed by the employing authority.
493	493	SECTION 4.09. APPEARANCE BEFORE COMMITTEES. An employee
494	494	may appear before a standing or select committee on a measure when
495	495	granted permission by majority vote of the committee.
496	496	SECTION 4.10. CHAMBER ACCESS. (a) An employee may not
497	497	enter the house chamber when the house is in session except when
498	498	performing official duties and specifically authorized by the
499	499	Committee on House Administration.
500	500	(b) An employee may not enter the area on the floor of the
501	501	house enclosed by the railing when the house is in session except
502	502	when specifically authorized by the Committee on House
503	503	Administration.
504	504	SECTION 4.11. VOTING. An employee may not cast a vote for a
505	505	member on the voting machine or otherwise.
506	506	SECTION 4.12. VOTING RECORDS. An employee may not compile
507	507	or release any information concerning the voting record of any
508	508	member of the house for any session of the legislature except when a
509	509	member requests information about that member's personal voting
510	510	record or when the information is for the journal or other official
511	511	records.
512	512	SECTION 4.13. CAMPAIGN FOR SPEAKER. An employee may not
513	513	campaign or assist in the campaign of any candidate for speaker.
514	514	SECTION 4.14. POLITICAL INFLUENCE. An employee may not
515	515	attempt to, or aid anyone in an attempt to, influence any member of
516	516	the house in favor of or against any measure pending before the
517	517	legislature, either directly or indirectly, except when answering
518	518	questions or giving information at the request of a member of the
519	519	house.
520	520	SECTION 4.15. OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT, EXTRA COMPENSATION, OR
521	521	GIFTS. An employee may not receive, directly or indirectly, any
522	522	compensation, by gift or otherwise, from any other source, unless
523	523	specifically authorized by the employing authority.
524	524	SECTION 4.16. DISCHARGE. (a) The employing authority of an
525	525	employee shall have primary responsibility for overseeing and
526	526	discharging the employee. An employee is subject to immediate
527	527	discharge by the employing authority for violation of any section
528	528	of this article or any other applicable rule.
529	529	(b) An individual member or chair of a committee employing
530	530	an employee who violates any applicable section of this article or
531	531	any rule shall be advised of the violation by the chair of the
532	532	Committee on House Administration, and the employing authority
533	533	shall take appropriate action with regard to the employee in
534	534	question.
535	535	(c) In addition to being subject to immediate discharge by
536	536	the employing authority under Subsection (a) of this section, an
537	537	employee is subject to discharge by the chair of the Committee on
538	538	House Administration, with the approval of the committee, if:
539	539	(1) the employee is not needed and, if the employee is
540	540	employed in an individual member's office or by a committee, the
541	541	member or committee chair has resigned, is deceased, or is
542	542	incapacitated; or
543	543	(2) the employee is guilty of gross misconduct.
544	544	(d) The Committee on House Administration may authorize the
545	545	chair of the Committee on House Administration to conduct an
546	546	investigation into allegations of gross misconduct. The chair may,
547	547	with the approval of the committee, discharge or otherwise
548	548	discipline an employee of an individual member or committee if the
549	549	Committee on House Administration finds that the employee has
550	550	engaged in gross misconduct.
551	551	SECTION 4.17. DURATION OF EMPLOYMENT. The period of
552	552	employment of all employees shall be determined by the employing
553	553	authority, except that employees of all committees and of
554	554	individual members who are not members-elect of the next
555	555	legislature shall be terminated not later than noon on the day of
556	556	the convening of the next regular session.
557	557	SECTION 4.18. EMPLOYMENT BY MORE THAN ONE MEMBER OR
558	558	COMMITTEE. (a) Members may join in the employment of a research
559	559	assistant or assistants to be paid jointly from their operating
560	560	budgets. Unless expressly authorized by the provisions of this
561	561	resolution, the members who join together to sponsor such research
562	562	shall not constitute a committee, task force, or group to operate in
563	563	any official or quasi-official manner not specifically authorized
564	564	under the Rules of the House of Representatives.
565	565	(b) No person, firm, or corporation may be employed by more
566	566	than two committees or subcommittees.
567	567	SECTION 4.19. POSITION TITLES AND CLASSIFICATIONS. The job
568	568	title for each position shall be determined by the employing
569	569	authority. The employing authority and the house business office
570	570	shall classify each job title for accounting purposes according to
571	571	the following position classifications, unless otherwise
572	572	determined by the Committee on House Administration:
573	573	(a) Member Employees
574	574	1. Chief of Staff
575	575	2. General Counsel
576	576	3. Legislative Director
577	577	4. Legislative Assistant
578	578	5. Administrative Assistant
579	579	6. Special Project Coordinator
580	580	7. Intern
581	581	(b) Committee Employees
582	582	1. Committee General Counsel
583	583	2. Chief Committee Clerk
584	584	3. Committee Clerk
585	585	(c) Research Employees
586	586	1. Research Director
587	587	2. Research Assistant
588	588	3. Policy Analyst
589	589	ARTICLE 5. ACCOUNTING
590	590	SECTION 5.01. FUNDING OF OFFICE OPERATIONS. (a) Each
591	591	member of the house shall be allocated funds for staff, office
592	592	supplies, office equipment, postage, printing, telephone, travel,
593	593	and such other reasonable and necessary office expenses as may be
594	594	determined by the Committee on House Administration.
595	595	(b) The manner in which funds are allocated, and the amounts
596	596	thereof, are as provided by this article.
597	597	SECTION 5.02. OPERATING ACCOUNTS. (a) Each member who
598	598	served in the 88th [87th] Legislature shall have the following
599	599	operating accounts for the 89th [88th] Legislature:
600	600	(1) a Fiscal Year 25 [23] Operating Account (September
601	601	1, 2024 [2022], through August 31, 2025 [2023]);
602	602	(2) a Fiscal Year 26 [24] Operating Account (September
603	603	1, 2025 [2023], through August 31, 2026 [2024]); and
604	604	(3) a Fiscal Year 27 [25] Operating Account (September
605	605	1, 2026 [2024], through January 12, 2027 [14, 2025]).
606	606	(b) Each member who did not serve in the 88th [87th]
607	607	Legislature shall have the same operating accounts for the 89th
608	608	[88th] Legislature as a returning member under Subsection (a) of
609	609	this section except that the duration of the Fiscal Year 25 [23]
610	610	Operating Account is from January 14, 2025 [10, 2023], through
611	611	August 31, 2025 [2023].
612	612	(c) For each member who served in the 88th [87th]
613	613	Legislature, it shall not be necessary to close the member's Fiscal
614	614	Year 25 [23] Operating Account when the 89th [88th] Legislature
615	615	convenes.
616	616	SECTION 5.03. CREDIT FOR NEWLY ELECTED MEMBERS. Each
617	617	member who did not serve in the 88th [87th] Legislature may have
618	618	credited to the member's Fiscal Year 25 [23] Operating Account the
619	619	amount of $2,000.
620	620	SECTION 5.04. MONTHLY CREDIT. (a) Each member's operating
621	621	account shall be credited with $20,250 [$19,250] for each month
622	622	that falls wholly or partly during the regular legislative session
623	623	or a special legislative session. In any other month, each member's
624	624	operating account shall be credited with $18,500 [$17,500].
625	625	(b) The Committee on House Administration may provide to the
626	626	deans and the speaker pro tempore of the house additional funds as
627	627	may be determined to be necessary for the duties of those offices to
628	628	be fulfilled.
629	629	(c) The Committee on House Administration may increase the
630	630	amount credited each month to each member's operating account in an
631	631	amount to allow for an increase in:
632	632	(1) the salary cap as provided by Section 4.07(f); or
633	633	(2) longevity pay as authorized by legislation.
634	634	SECTION 5.045. DETERMINATION OF OPERATING ACCOUNT BALANCE.
635	635	(a) On the third business day of each calendar month, the House
636	636	Business Office shall determine the available, unobligated balance
637	637	at the end of the preceding calendar month for each member's
638	638	operating account and each committee operating account. If the
639	639	House Business Office determines that a member's operating account
640	640	has a negative balance at the end of the preceding calendar month,
641	641	the office shall provide notice to the member and the member shall
642	642	deposit funds in the account equal to the negative balance not later
643	643	than the 10th business day after the date the member receives notice
644	644	of the deficit from the House Business Office; provided, however,
645	645	that if a member deposits funds in the member's operating account to
646	646	cover a negative balance under this subsection and the member later
647	647	has a positive balance in the member's operating account at the end
648	648	of a calendar month in the same fiscal year in which the member
649	649	deposited the funds to cover the negative balance, the member may
650	650	use the excess money in the member's operating account at that time
651	651	to reimburse the member in an amount not to exceed the amount the
652	652	member earlier deposited to cover the negative balance.
653	653	(b) A committee operating account may not operate at a
654	654	deficit.
655	655	(c) If a member is not a member-elect of the 90th [89th]
656	656	Legislature, the member's operating account may not operate at a
657	657	deficit after November 30, 2026 [2024].
658	658	SECTION 5.05. ACCOUNT CLOSING. (a) Each member's Fiscal
659	659	Year 25 [23] Operating Account shall be closed as of August 31, 2025
660	660	[2023].
661	661	(b) Each member may carry forward and have credited to the
662	662	member's Fiscal Year 26 [24] Operating Account the unexpended
663	663	balance of the member's Fiscal Year 25 [23] Operating Account, not
664	664	to exceed $25,000 [$20,000]. If the member is the chair of a
665	665	committee, the member may transfer and have credited to that
666	666	committee's operating account all or part of that unexpended
667	667	balance, not to exceed $25,000 [$20,000], and may have the
668	668	remainder of that amount credited to the member's Fiscal Year 26
669	669	[24] Operating Account.
670	670	(c) Each member's Fiscal Year 26 [24] Operating Account
671	671	shall be closed as of August 31, 2026 [2024].
672	672	(d) Each member may carry forward and have credited to the
673	673	member's Fiscal Year 27 [25] Operating Account the unexpended
674	674	balance of the member's Fiscal Year 26 [24] Operating Account, not
675	675	to exceed $25,000 [$20,000]. If the member is the chair of a
676	676	committee, the member may transfer and have credited to that
677	677	committee's operating account all or part of that unexpended
678	678	balance, not to exceed $25,000 [$20,000], and may have the
679	679	remainder of that amount credited to the member's Fiscal Year 27
680	680	[25] Operating Account.
681	681	(e) A member who is the chair of a committee may not transfer
682	682	and have credited to that member's operating account any portion of
683	683	the unexpended balance of the committee's operating account.
684	684	SECTION 5.06. EXPENDITURES CHARGED WHEN ENCUMBERED. All
685	685	expenditures shall be charged to the period in which they are
686	686	encumbered.
687	687	SECTION 5.07. TRAVEL FROM AUSTIN DURING SESSION NOT CHARGED
688	688	TO OPERATING ACCOUNT. While the legislature is in session, the
689	689	travel expenses of members for one trip each week between Austin and
690	690	their districts and return shall not be charged against the
691	691	members' operating accounts but shall be paid from funds
692	692	appropriated for that purpose by the legislature.
693	693	SECTION 5.08. TRAVEL OUTSIDE TEXAS. A member is entitled to
694	694	be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred while
695	695	traveling outside Texas in the performance of legislative duties
696	696	and responsibilities. If the reimbursement is for travel inside
697	697	the conterminous United States, reimbursement is limited to twice
698	698	the amount that would be reimbursed to state employees for the same
699	699	travel under the comptroller's guidelines and rates governing
700	700	travel by state employees.
701	701	SECTION 5.09. APPROVAL OF EXPENDITURES. (a) No allowance
702	702	included in this resolution shall be expended except for actual
703	703	salaries or actual expenses of the house, its members, departments,
704	704	committees, and employees and for such other expenses as are
705	705	authorized by the Committee on House Administration.
706	706	(b) The Committee on House Administration may not authorize
707	707	any expenditures of funds for personal or political campaign
708	708	reasons.
709	709	(c) All expenditures authorized by this resolution shall be
710	710	paid from funds appropriated for the use of the house of
711	711	representatives by vouchers or other forms approved by the speaker
712	712	of the house and the Committee on House Administration.
713	713	SECTION 5.10. USE OF FUNDS FOR INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS
714	714	PROHIBITED. No public funds appropriated to the house or expended
715	715	by any house member, committee, or office may be spent or promised
716	716	to settle in whole or part a legal claim brought or threatened to be
717	717	brought against the house or a member, committee, office, or
718	718	employee of the house unless the settlement is made with the
719	719	participation and approval of the attorney general and notice of
720	720	any settlement is promptly given to the public.
721	721	SECTION 5.11. USE OF HOUSE RESOURCES FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES
722	722	PROHIBITED. Pursuant to Section 51, Article III, Texas
723	723	Constitution, house resources may be used only for a public
724	724	purpose. A house member, committee, officer, or employee may not
725	725	use or direct the use of any house resources to further any
726	726	political purpose. In this section, "house resources" includes
727	727	appropriated funds, property, services, personnel, or any other
728	728	thing of value belonging to the government that comes into the
729	729	custody, possession, or control of a house member, committee,
730	730	officer, or employee by virtue of public office or employment.
731	731	ARTICLE 6. CAUCUSES
732	732	SECTION 6.01. DEFINITION. In this article, "caucus" means
733	733	an organization that is composed exclusively of members of the
734	734	legislature, that elects or appoints officers and recognizes
735	735	identified legislators as members of the organization, and that
736	736	exists for research and other support of policy development and
737	737	interests that the membership holds in common. An organization
738	738	whose only nonlegislator members are the lieutenant governor or the
739	739	governor remains a "caucus" for purposes of this section.
740	740	SECTION 6.02. USE OF HOUSE FUNDS, EMPLOYEES, EQUIPMENT, AND
741	741	FACILITIES. (a) Except as expressly authorized by this section,
742	742	funds appropriated to the house may not be expended in support of a
743	743	caucus, employees compensated from funds appropriated to the house
744	744	may not perform caucus activities, and state-owned equipment may
745	745	not be used in the performance of caucus activities.
746	746	(b) An individual member of the house may authorize the use
747	747	of state equipment assigned to the member's office and the
748	748	performance of caucus activities by an employee of the member only
749	749	if:
750	750	(1) the member determines that the activities support
751	751	the member's official duties;
752	752	(2) the caucus does not endorse or support a candidate
753	753	for public office; and
754	754	(3) the caucus does not accept contributions from
755	755	nonmembers that are in violation of Section 253.0341, Election
756	756	Code.
757	757	(c) A caucus may use the meeting rooms of the Capitol and
758	758	Capitol extension to conduct meetings of the caucus membership, to
759	759	host public forums on matters of interest to the caucus, or to
760	760	facilitate the work of the caucus or a caucus employee.
761	761	(d) An individual member may house, in the state office
762	762	space assigned to the member, caucus employees or equipment owned
763	763	by a caucus. A member may retain in the member's office a
764	764	telephone, facsimile machine, or computer owned by the caucus for
765	765	purposes of the member's communication with the caucus or caucus
766	766	employees.
767	767	(e) From space under the jurisdiction of the house, the
768	768	Committee on House Administration may assign:
769	769	(1) one office space and one parking space for use by
770	770	the Texas Republican Legislative Caucus; and
771	771	(2) one office space and one parking space for use by
772	772	the House Democratic Caucus.
773	773	SECTION 6.03. CONTRIBUTIONS. (a) A person acting on behalf
774	774	of a caucus may not knowingly accept a contribution in violation of
775	775	Section 253.0341, Election Code.
776	776	(b) A person acting on behalf of a caucus may not knowingly
777	777	accept a contribution, and shall refuse a contribution that is
778	778	received, in the Capitol.
779	779	SECTION 6.04. MEMBERSHIP AND OFFICER LISTS. Each caucus
780	780	shall provide to the chief clerk, on a regular basis, a list of its
781	781	current membership and officers.
782	782	SECTION 6.05. REPORT TO ETHICS COMMISSION. Each caucus
783	783	shall file a report of contributions and expenditures with the
784	784	Texas Ethics Commission as required by Section 254.0311, Election
785	785	Code.
786	786	ARTICLE 7. HOUSE RESEARCH ORGANIZATION
787	787	SECTION 7.01. ESTABLISHMENT. The Committee on House
788	788	Administration shall provide operating funds for a house research
789	789	organization that will be an administrative department of the house
790	790	and may for that purpose adopt policies and procedures relating to
791	791	the administrative operation of that organization.
792	792	SECTION 7.02. STEERING COMMITTEE. The functions and duties
793	793	performed by the house research organization shall be governed by a
794	794	15-member steering committee composed of house members serving
795	795	staggered four-year terms, who are subject to approval of the house
796	796	membership.
797	797	SECTION 7.03. BUDGET. The house research organization
798	798	shall have an operating account and in compliance with the terms of
799	799	its establishment shall operate under a budget approved by the
800	800	steering committee and the Committee on House Administration.
801	801	ARTICLE 8. SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR INTERIM
802	802	SECTION 8.01. INTERIM COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES. (a) Pursuant
803	803	to the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1961 (Subchapter B,
804	804	Chapter 301, Government Code), standing committees of the house
805	805	established by the rules of the house may hold meetings while the
806	806	legislature is not in session.
807	807	(b) The speaker may grant authority to select committees,
808	808	interim study committees, subcommittees, or standing committees of
809	809	the house to hold meetings while the legislature is not in session
810	810	as the speaker considers necessary and desirable to conduct the
811	811	business of the house and to assist the speaker in conducting the
812	812	business of the house, under a pattern of operation and
813	813	restrictions determined by the rules of the house.
814	814	(c) The committee members and employees may either be
815	815	reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses or receive a per diem
816	816	not to exceed that provided by law for state officials or state
817	817	employees, along with mileage or other transportation expenses at
818	818	the same rate as provided by law for state officials or state
819	819	employees when conducting such business and attending those
820	820	meetings when approved by the Committee on House Administration.
821	821	SECTION 8.02. POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEE ON HOUSE
822	822	ADMINISTRATION DURING INTERIM. (a) When the legislature is not in
823	823	session, the Committee on House Administration may act as provided
824	824	by this section.
825	825	(b) The committee may call meetings for the transaction of
826	826	necessary business, and the committee members shall be reimbursed
827	827	for expenses incurred by them when attending such meetings or when
828	828	in performance of their duties as members of the Committee on House
829	829	Administration, the reimbursement to be either actual and necessary
830	830	expenses or a per diem not to exceed that provided by law for state
831	831	officials or state employees, along with mileage or other
832	832	transportation expenses at the same rate as provided by law for
833	833	state officials or state employees.
834	834	(c) The committee may reimburse authorized members and
835	835	employees for expenses incurred by them when traveling in the
836	836	performance of their legislative duties and responsibilities
837	837	within their respective districts or within any county in which any
838	838	part of their districts lie or from their districts to the State
839	839	Capitol, the reimbursement to be either actual and necessary
840	840	expenses or a per diem not to exceed that provided by law for state
841	841	officials or state employees, along with mileage or other
842	842	transportation expenses at the same rate as provided by law for
843	843	state officials or state employees.
844	844	(d) The committee may pay for all other reasonable and
845	845	necessary expenses, including operation of each member's district
846	846	office, incurred by the members of the house of representatives.
847	847	The expenses shall be paid from funds appropriated for that
848	848	purpose, or any other funds appropriated for the use of the house of
849	849	representatives, on vouchers or other forms approved by the chair
850	850	of the Committee on House Administration, in accordance with
851	851	regulations governing such expenditures.
852	852	(e) The committee may assign or reassign parking places in
853	853	the best interest of the house under such terms and conditions as
854	854	the committee deems necessary.
855	855	ARTICLE 9. APPROPRIATE WORKPLACE CONDUCT
856	856	SECTION 9.01. PURPOSE. (a) The house finds that early
857	857	intervention is often the most effective way to resolve incidents
858	858	of inappropriate behavior and ensure appropriate workplace
859	859	conduct.
860	860	(b) The house encourages the prompt reporting of concerns
861	861	and complaints, as appropriate, so that constructive action can be
862	862	taken before the offensive conduct continues, escalates, or affects
863	863	others, and to ensure that a timely and thorough investigation can
864	864	occur if necessary.
865	865	(c) This article is adopted to further early intervention
866	866	and remediation of complaints and implements the house rules.
867	867	SECTION 9.02. TRAINING. (a) Each member, officer, and
868	868	employee is required to complete an interactive training program
869	869	related to preventing and resolving violations of the house rules,
870	870	this resolution, and house policy related to appropriate workplace
871	871	conduct that is approved every two years by the Committee on House
872	872	Administration. This training may be combined with training on
873	873	other employment-related topics such as employment discrimination
874	874	and workplace violence.
875	875	(b) The training must include specific information related
876	876	to the process for reporting violations of a house rule, this
877	877	resolution, and house policy related to appropriate workplace
878	878	conduct, for utilizing informal methods of resolving those
879	879	violations, and for filing formal complaints with the house or
880	880	another agency designated by law to receive those complaints.
881	881	(c) The training required by this section must be completed
882	882	not later than the 30th day after:
883	883	(1) the member qualifies;
884	884	(2) the officer is appointed; or
885	885	(3) the employee starts employment.
886	886	(d) A member, officer, or employee is required to complete a
887	887	subsequent approved interactive training program not later than
888	888	each biennial anniversary of the date the individual was initially
889	889	required to complete the training under Subsection (c) of this
890	890	section.
891	891	(e) The Committee on House Administration shall designate
892	892	an officer or supervisory administrative employee to keep accurate
893	893	records of each individual required to complete an approved
894	894	training program. The officer or employee shall make those records
895	895	available to the public.
896	896	SECTION 9.03. COMPLAINTS; FILING, INVESTIGATION, AND
897	897	RESOLUTION. (a) An individual claiming to be aggrieved by a
898	898	violation of the house rules, this resolution, or house policy
899	899	related to appropriate workplace conduct may file a complaint with:
900	900	(1) the chair of the house general investigating
901	901	committee established under Section 301.017, Government Code, if
902	902	the individual whose complained-of conduct is an individual other
903	903	than the chair, the chair's employee, or an individual related to
904	904	the chair or the chair's employee within the third degree by
905	905	consanguinity or within the second degree by affinity as determined
906	906	under Chapter 573, Government Code; or
907	907	(2) the vice chair of the committee, if the individual
908	908	whose complained-of conduct is the chair of the committee, the
909	909	chair's employee, or an individual related to the chair or the
910	910	chair's employee within the third degree by consanguinity or within
911	911	the second degree by affinity as determined under Chapter 573,
912	912	Government Code.
913	913	(b) Any complaint must be substantially similar in form to
914	914	the requirements of Sections 21.201(b) and (c), Labor Code.
915	915	(c) Upon receipt of a complaint that meets the requirements
916	916	of Subsection (b) of this section, the receiving official may, with
917	917	the agreement of the parties, endeavor to address the alleged
918	918	violation by informal, voluntary, and confidential methods of
919	919	conference and conciliation.
920	920	(d) During the pendency of a complaint, the committee may
921	921	take any appropriate action to reduce the likelihood of a
922	922	complainant and respondent being in regular contact with each
923	923	other.
924	924	(e) The committee shall conduct an investigation of a
925	925	complaint, determine whether reasonable cause exists to believe
926	926	that the respondent violated a house rule, this resolution, or
927	927	house policy, and attempt to resolve the complaint through informal
928	928	or formal methods, as provided by committee rule. The committee's
929	929	rules must provide for a process substantially similar to the
930	930	process provided for the administrative review of complaints under
931	931	Subchapter E, Chapter 21, Labor Code, where applicable, and must
932	932	include a due process hearing by the committee before a report is
933	933	prepared under Subsection (h) of this section.
934	934	(f) If the respondent is a member of the house, the
935	935	committee's investigation must be conducted by a competent
936	936	individual who is not an officer, employee, or annuitant of state
937	937	government. The prohibition under this subsection does not apply to
938	938	a retired or former judge subject to assignment under Subchapter C,
939	939	Chapter 74, Government Code.
940	940	(g) The individual employed or compensated by the committee
941	941	under Subsection (f) of this section shall only perform the
942	942	investigative functions of determining facts and reporting those
943	943	facts to the committee and shall not perform any other functions
944	944	for, or provide other services to, the committee in connection with
945	945	a complaint.
946	946	(h) If the committee cannot resolve the complaint, the
947	947	committee shall determine whether the respondent violated a house
948	948	rule, this resolution, or house policy as alleged in a complaint and
949	949	shall prepare a report containing:
950	950	(1) the committee's findings of fact and conclusions
951	951	of law to support its final determination; and
952	952	(2) if the committee finds that the respondent
953	953	violated a house rule, this resolution, or house policy, a
954	954	recommendation for any discipline or remedial action, in proportion
955	955	to the seriousness of the conduct, necessary to prevent the
956	956	violation from occurring again.
957	957	(i) No committee report shall be made unless ordered by
958	958	two-thirds of the membership of the committee. If a committee
959	959	report is ordered, any member of the committee dissenting from the
960	960	views of the majority may file a minority report, which is not
961	961	subject to House Rule 4, Section 28. The minority report shall be
962	962	included with the majority report at each distribution. If the
963	963	committee is unable to agree on a recommendation for action or has
964	964	an insufficient number of votes to adopt the report prepared by the
965	965	committee, it shall submit a statement of this fact as its report.
966	966	The committee shall deliver a copy of its report to the complainant
967	967	and respondent and, if the respondent is:
968	968	(1) a member of the house, to the speaker and the chief
969	969	clerk;
970	970	(2) an officer of the house, to the speaker; and
971	971	(3) an employee of the house, to the employee's
972	972	employing authority as set out in this resolution.
973	973	(j) All proceedings on a complaint are completely
974	974	confidential, and information related to those proceedings may not
975	975	be released by any person unless authorized by committee rule or by
976	976	the house. Notices of committee hearings, minutes, and witness
977	977	lists required under the house rules shall be prepared as directed
978	978	by the Committee on House Administration to ensure that no
979	979	information is provided that would reasonably lead to the
980	980	identification of a complainant, respondent, or witness. If an
981	981	individual releases information made confidential by this section
982	982	without authorization, that individual is subject to sanction by
983	983	the house as authorized by Section 15, Article III, Texas
984	984	Constitution, or other law. Any report of the house general
985	985	investigating committee under this section is confidential until it
986	986	is ordered printed by the house or ordered released by the committee
987	987	if the house is not in session.
988	988	(k) To the extent of any conflict between this section and
989	989	Rule 4 of the House Rules, this section prevails.
990	990	ARTICLE 10. COMMITTEE GIFTS
991	991	SECTION 10.01. COMMITTEE GIFTS. (a) Subject to the
992	992	limitation in Subsection (b) of this section, a member of the house
993	993	may not offer, confer, or agree to confer to a committee member one
994	994	or more gifts per year with a total value of more than the amount of
995	995	the per diem set by the Texas Ethics Commission pursuant to Section
996	996	24a(e), Article III, Texas Constitution.
997	997	(b) If two or more members of the house join together to
998	998	offer, confer, or agree to confer to a committee chair or vice chair
999	999	one or more gifts per year, the total value of the gifts may not
1000	1000	exceed three times the amount of the per diem described in
1001	1001	Subsection (a) of this section.