H.R. No. 3

	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 is adopted as the housekeeping resolution
	for the House of Representatives of the 84th [83rd] Legislature:
	HOUSEKEEPING RESOLUTION FOR
	THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
	OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE
	TABLE OF CONTENTS
	ARTICLE 1.  GENERAL PROVISIONS 4
	SECTION 1.01.  PURPOSE 4
	SECTION 1.02.  PRECEDENCE 4
	ARTICLE 2.  SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE 4
	SECTION 2.01.  SPEAKER'S GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES 4
	SECTION 2.02.  SPEAKER'S APARTMENT AND OFFICES 5
	SECTION 2.03.  INTERSTATE OR FEDERAL-STATE ASSOCIATIONS;
	TRAINING SEMINARS 5
	ARTICLE 3.  GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEE ON
	HOUSE ADMINISTRATION 7
	SECTION 3.01.  CONTRACTS 7
	SECTION 3.02.  HOUSE AND COMMITTEE OPERATING BUDGETS 7
	SECTION 3.03.  OPERATING POLICIES 7
	SECTION 3.04.  HOUSE POLICY MANUAL 7
	SECTION 3.05.  HOUSE PROPERTY, SUPPLIES, ACCOUNTING 8
	SECTION 3.06.  USE OF HOUSE CHAMBER AND FACILITIES; ASSIGNMENT
	OF DESKS, OFFICES, AND PARKING SPACES 8
	SECTION 3.07.  RECORDS OF THE HOUSE; PRINTING; JOURNALS;
	COPIES OF LEGISLATIVE DOCUMENTS 9
	SECTION 3.08.  HONORARY CERTIFICATES 11
	SECTION 3.09.  COMPOSITE PHOTOGRAPH 11
	SECTION 3.10.  POLICIES REGARDING TEMPORARY ACTING
	MEMBERS 11
	SECTION 3.11.  DISPLAY OF "IN GOD WE TRUST" IN HOUSE 12
	SECTION 3.12.  HOUSE RECYCLING PROGRAM 12
	SECTION 3.13.  JOINT COMMITTEE HEARING NOTICES ON WEBSITE 13
	SECTION 3.14.  ACCESS TO HOUSE OFFICES 13
	SECTION 3.15.  DPS PANIC BUTTONS 13
	ARTICLE 4.  EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYMENT POLICIES 13
	SECTION 4.01.  DEFINITION 13
	SECTION 4.02.  OFFICERS AND SUPERVISORY ADMINISTRATIVE
	EMPLOYEES OF THE HOUSE 13
	SECTION 4.03.  OTHER CENTRAL HOUSE PERSONNEL 14
	SECTION 4.04.  EMPLOYEES OF INDIVIDUAL MEMBER 14
	SECTION 4.05.  COMMITTEE STAFF; AUTHORITY TO REQUEST
	ASSISTANCE 15
	SECTION 4.06.  WORK SCHEDULE; HOURS OF HOUSE OPERATIONS 15
	SECTION 4.07.  COMPENSATION 15
	SECTION 4.08.  DUTIES 16
	SECTION 4.09.  APPEARANCE BEFORE COMMITTEES 17
	SECTION 4.10.  CHAMBER ACCESS 17
	SECTION 4.11.  VOTING 17
	SECTION 4.12.  VOTING RECORDS 17
	SECTION 4.13.  CAMPAIGN FOR SPEAKER 17
	SECTION 4.14.  POLITICAL INFLUENCE 17
	SECTION 4.15.  OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT, EXTRA COMPENSATION, OR
	GIFTS 18
	SECTION 4.16.  DISCHARGE 18
	SECTION 4.17.  DURATION OF EMPLOYMENT 19
	SECTION 4.18.  EMPLOYMENT BY MORE THAN ONE MEMBER OR
	COMMITTEE 19
	SECTION 4.19.  POSITION TITLES AND CLASSIFICATIONS 19
	ARTICLE 5.  ACCOUNTING 20
	SECTION 5.01.  FUNDING OF OFFICE OPERATIONS 20
	SECTION 5.02.  OPERATING ACCOUNTS 20
	SECTION 5.03.  CREDIT FOR NEWLY ELECTED MEMBERS 21
	SECTION 5.04.
	MONTHLY CREDIT 21
	SECTION 5.045. DETERMINATION OF OPERATING ACCOUNT BALANCE 22
	SECTION 5.05.  ACCOUNT CLOSING 23
	SECTION 5.06.  EXPENDITURES CHARGED WHEN ENCUMBERED 24
	SECTION 5.07.  TRAVEL TO AUSTIN DURING SESSION NOT CHARGED TO
	OPERATING ACCOUNT 24
	SECTION 5.08.  TRAVEL OUTSIDE TEXAS 24
	SECTION 5.09.  APPROVAL OF EXPENDITURES 24
	SECTION 5.10.  USE OF FUNDS FOR INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS
	PROHIBITED 25
	ARTICLE 6.  CAUCUSES 25
	SECTION 6.01.  DEFINITION 25
	SECTION 6.02.  USE OF HOUSE FUNDS, EMPLOYEES, EQUIPMENT, AND
	FACILITIES 25
	SECTION 6.03.  CONTRIBUTIONS 26
	SECTION 6.04.  MEMBERSHIP AND OFFICER LISTS 27
	SECTION 6.05.  REPORT TO ETHICS COMMISSION 27
	ARTICLE 7.  HOUSE RESEARCH ORGANIZATION 27
	SECTION 7.01.  ESTABLISHMENT 27
	SECTION 7.02.  STEERING COMMITTEE 27
	SECTION 7.03.  BUDGET 27
	ARTICLE 8.  SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR INTERIM 28
	SECTION 8.01.  INTERIM COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES 28
	SECTION 8.02.  POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEE ON HOUSE
	ADMINISTRATION DURING INTERIM 28
	ARTICLE 1.  GENERAL PROVISIONS
	SECTION 1.01.  PURPOSE.  This resolution is adopted by the
	members of the House of Representatives of the 84th [83rd]
	Legislature to provide for the efficient and orderly operation of
	the house under the supervision of the speaker and the Committee on
	House Administration.
	SECTION 1.02.  PRECEDENCE.  The provisions of this
	resolution take precedence over the provisions of any resolution
	not passed in full compliance with the rules of the house and,
	except as otherwise noted herein, shall be in effect during the full
	term of the 84th [83rd] Legislature whether in session or
	adjournment.
	ARTICLE 2.  SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
	SECTION 2.01.  SPEAKER'S GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES.  The
	speaker may make any expenditures or transfers and perform any
	function deemed necessary for the effective and efficient operation
	of the house of representatives.
	SECTION 2.02.  SPEAKER'S APARTMENT AND OFFICES.  (a) The
	speaker's apartment and offices shall be set aside for the use of
	the speaker, the speaker's family, and house members, as the
	speaker may designate, throughout the speaker's term of office.
	(b)  The Committee on House Administration may make the
	necessary expenditures to operate and properly equip and service
	the speaker's apartment and offices and may employ such help as may
	be necessary to properly maintain and care for the apartment and
	offices.
	(c)  The speaker and the speaker's family may occupy the
	speaker's apartment during the speaker's term of office, utilizing
	the services of employees of the house and others on a temporary
	basis, if and as needed.
	(d)  The speaker may obtain through the Committee on House
	Administration the necessary supplies and services to operate the
	speaker's office and may also have paid through that committee
	necessary [local and long distance] telephone charges.
	SECTION 2.03.  INTERSTATE OR FEDERAL-STATE ASSOCIATIONS;
	TRAINING SEMINARS. (a) The speaker may attend any meetings of or
	sponsored by the Council of State Governments and any meetings on
	problems of federal-state relations and interstate relations and
	cooperation, and any other governmental meeting in or outside the
	state.
	(b)  The speaker may appoint members of the house, staff
	members, and other employees of the house to accompany or represent
	the speaker at these meetings or to attend in-service training
	courses sponsored by the Council of State Governments or the
	National Conference of State Legislatures or similar training
	courses, conferences, or seminars as the speaker may determine.
	(c)  Members of the house attending meetings under this
	section while the legislature is in session may be reimbursed for
	actual and necessary expenses. Members of the house attending
	meetings under this section while the legislature is not in session
	and staff members and other employees of the house attending
	meetings at any time under this section may be reimbursed for either
	actual and necessary expenses or receive a per diem not to exceed
	that provided by law for state officials or state employees. In
	addition, members, staff, and other employees attending meetings
	under this section may be reimbursed for mileage or other
	transportation expenses at the same rate as provided by law for
	state officials or state employees together with registration fees
	and tuition. To receive payment under this subsection, sworn
	expense accounts must be filed with and approved by the chair of the
	Committee on House Administration or an officer of the house
	designated in writing by the Committee on House Administration.
	Prior written approval of the chair of the Committee on House
	Administration to attend any such meetings, conferences, seminars,
	or training courses is a prerequisite for reimbursement for travel
	and other related expenses.
	(d)  Reimbursement for expenses incurred by a member, staff
	member, or employee of the house in an appointive capacity
	resulting from an appointment made by anyone other than the speaker
	shall be made only in the event that the appointment and expenses to
	be incurred have been previously approved in writing by the
	Committee on House Administration.
	(e)  The speaker may expend money for memberships in
	interstate associations of legislators considered necessary to
	discharge properly the duties and responsibilities of the office of
	speaker.
	ARTICLE 3.  GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE
	COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION
	SECTION 3.01.  CONTRACTS.  The Committee on House
	Administration shall approve all contracts necessary for the
	effective operation of the divisions of the house and its
	committees.
	SECTION 3.02.  HOUSE AND COMMITTEE OPERATING BUDGETS.  The
	Committee on House Administration shall consider and adopt
	operating budgets that cover both session and interim periods for
	the divisions of the house and all committees appointed pursuant to
	the resolution adopting the rules of the house or appointed by the
	speaker pursuant to any other resolution.  A budget adopted by the
	Committee on House Administration must be adopted in a public
	hearing.  Each requested operating budget and each operating budget
	proposed for adoption must be posted on the Internet website of the
	committee in advance of the hearing.
	SECTION 3.03.  OPERATING POLICIES.  The Committee on House
	Administration shall effectuate policies and determine guidelines
	for the operation of the divisions and committees of the house.
	SECTION 3.04.  HOUSE POLICY MANUAL.  The Committee on House
	Administration shall prepare and distribute to all members, within
	60 days after the convening of the regular session, policy
	statements to include, but not be limited to, policies pertaining
	to members as a class.
	SECTION 3.05.  HOUSE PROPERTY, SUPPLIES, ACCOUNTING. The
	Committee on House Administration shall:
	(1)  provide and maintain for the use of the speaker,
	members, employees, divisions, and committees of the house such
	stationery, stamps, office equipment, furniture, fixtures,
	supplies, and telephone and other services as may be necessary;
	(2)  keep an itemized account of the quantity and cost
	of every kind of material received, and the source from which it was
	received;
	(3)  maintain an annual operating account for each
	member, division, and committee authorized by the Committee on
	House Administration to make expenditures and charge each operating
	account with daily expenditures, withdrawals from inventory, and
	interdepartmental services;
	(4)  furnish a monthly statement for the expenditures
	of each member, division, and committee of the house; and
	(5)  adopt any rules, regulations, and policies
	necessary to effectively provide and account for the
	above-mentioned services.
	SECTION 3.06.  USE OF HOUSE CHAMBER AND FACILITIES;
	ASSIGNMENT OF DESKS, OFFICES, AND PARKING SPACES.  (a) The
	Committee on House Administration shall:
	(1)  be in charge of and provide for the protection,
	maintenance, and use of the hall of the house, all committee rooms,
	offices of members and house departments, the speaker's office and
	apartment, and other space under the jurisdiction of the house;
	(2)  make permanent assignments of desks and offices to
	members of the house;
	(3)  adopt and enforce a plan for the parking of motor
	vehicles on the portion of the Capitol grounds under house
	jurisdiction;
	(4)  be in charge of and provide for the protection,
	maintenance, and use of the furniture, fixtures, equipment, and
	records of the house;
	(5)  purchase, remodel, repair, restore, or replace any
	furniture, fixtures, equipment, and other furnishings to maintain
	the dignity and appearance of space occupied by the house; and
	(6)  determine the hours the hall of the house shall be
	open to visitors.
	(b)  Any member who is not a member-elect of the 85th [84th]
	Legislature shall vacate the member's office space before December
	1, 2016 [2014]. If the office is not vacated on that date, the
	Committee on House Administration shall immediately remove the
	member's personal effects and store them in an appropriate place in
	order that the member-elect to whom the office space is assigned may
	move in.  The Committee on House Administration shall ensure that
	each member-elect of the 85th [84th] Legislature who was not a
	member of the 84th [83rd] Legislature is permitted to move into and
	begin using the member-elect's office space at least 72 hours
	before the time the 85th [84th] Legislature is scheduled to
	convene.
	SECTION 3.07.  RECORDS OF THE HOUSE; PRINTING; JOURNALS;
	COPIES OF LEGISLATIVE DOCUMENTS.  (a) The Committee on House
	Administration shall:
	(1)  have completed and preserved the official records
	of the house;
	(2)  have charge of and approve the operation and
	maintenance of the printing and duplicating facilities of the
	house, provided, however, that the use of the house printing and
	duplicating facilities is restricted to agencies of the legislative
	branch and any other operation thereof is strictly prohibited
	unless previously authorized in writing by the Committee on House
	Administration or an officer of the house designated in writing by
	the speaker;
	(3)  determine the number of copies of the daily House
	Journal to be printed and have jurisdiction over the mailing and
	distribution of the daily journal; and
	(4)  determine the number of copies of the House
	Journal that will be furnished to each member for distribution by
	the member.
	(b)  The employee in charge of the printing facilities must
	keep at least one copy of all items printed or duplicated and a copy
	of the work order authorizing such printing.
	(c)  Copies of bills, resolutions, and attachments thereto
	shall be made available free of charge to members of the house who
	call at the bill distribution office and request them, and the cost
	of these copies shall be paid from funds appropriated for that
	purpose by the legislature. If the Committee on House
	Administration finds gross abuse of this privilege, it may
	establish a policy regarding such distribution.
	SECTION 3.08.  HONORARY CERTIFICATES.  The Committee on
	House Administration shall provide for the use of members
	appropriate certificates to commend, congratulate, and
	memorialize. Such certificates shall be printed with a signature
	line for the name of the presenting member and adequate space for
	insertion of the name of the individual or organization to be
	honored.
	SECTION 3.09.  COMPOSITE PHOTOGRAPH.  (a) The Committee on
	House Administration shall select a suitable photographer to take
	individual photographs of each member. The photographer shall
	prepare a composite photograph of the members of the house composed
	of the individual photographs of each member arranged on a panel, of
	the same size as used in previous sessions, in such manner as to
	approximate the location of each member's desk on the house floor.
	The member's name and the county of residence shall be printed under
	the member's photograph, and the composite shall be framed and hung
	in the hall of the house during the regular session.
	(b)  The photographs for the composite panel shall be
	provided without cost to the members, and the expense of the
	composite panel shall be paid from the expense fund of the house.
	(c)  The Committee on House Administration shall establish,
	with concurrence of the photographer, a price to charge members for
	any prints of photographs they wish to purchase.
	SECTION 3.10.  POLICIES REGARDING TEMPORARY ACTING MEMBERS.
	If a person is serving as a temporary acting member of the house
	under Section 72, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, in the place of a
	house member on active military duty, the Committee on House
	Administration, with the approval of the speaker and in
	consultation with the temporary acting member and, if available,
	the member on military duty, may adopt policies regarding a
	temporary acting member that the committee considers necessary for
	the efficient administration and performance of the duties of the
	house consistent with this resolution, the rules of the house, and
	the Texas Constitution.
	SECTION 3.11.  DISPLAY OF "IN GOD WE TRUST" IN HOUSE.  (a)
	The Committee on House Administration shall display the motto "In
	God We Trust" on the electronic message screen at the front of the
	hall of the house.
	(b)  The motto shall be large enough to be read throughout
	the hall.
	(c)  The motto shall be displayed at all times that the
	electronic message screen is not being used to conduct legislative
	business during a session of the house and shall be at least as
	prominent as any other information displayed on the electronic
	message screen.
	(d)  The Committee on House Administration shall convey to
	the State Preservation Board the desire of the house of
	representatives to maintain the permanent display of the motto on
	the face of the portico located over the speaker's podium.
	SECTION 3.12.  HOUSE RECYCLING PROGRAM. The Committee on
	House Administration, in coordination with the State Preservation
	Board, shall implement a program for recycling paper, plastic, and
	other recyclable materials from house offices.
	SECTION 3.13.  JOINT COMMITTEE HEARING NOTICES ON WEBSITE.
	The Committee on House Administration shall provide for the posting
	of all notices for hearings of joint committees of the house and
	senate on the house website regardless of whether the notice is
	posted on the senate website.
	SECTION 3.14.  ACCESS TO HOUSE OFFICES. A house member and
	the member's staff may control access by the public to the member's
	office and may exclude visitors from the office at their
	discretion. If a person refuses to leave the member's office when
	requested, the member may request assistance from the Department of
	Public Safety.
	SECTION 3.15.  DPS PANIC BUTTONS. The Committee on House
	Administration shall work with the Department of Public Safety to
	ensure that each house office may request a panic button that the
	house member and the member's staff may use to alert the department
	to an emergency in the office. The member may reimburse the
	Committee on House Administration for the cost of the panic button
	equipment in monthly installments over the fiscal year.
	ARTICLE 4.  EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYMENT POLICIES
	SECTION 4.01.  DEFINITION.  Unless expressly provided
	otherwise, in this article "employee" means any person compensated
	from funds appropriated to the house. The term includes persons for
	whom the employing authority is the speaker, the Committee on House
	Administration, an individual member, or a committee.
	SECTION 4.02.  OFFICERS AND SUPERVISORY ADMINISTRATIVE
	EMPLOYEES OF THE HOUSE.  (a) The officers of the house and the
	employees of the house responsible for supervising the departments
	and divisions that support the operation of the house shall be
	appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the speaker.
	(b)  The speaker shall have the right to discharge any
	officer or supervisory administrative employee when the best
	interest of the house of representatives would be served by so
	doing.
	(c)  The authority to appoint and discharge officers and
	supervisory administrative employees may be delegated to the
	Committee on House Administration to the extent and for the length
	of time the speaker determines.
	(d)  In the event of the absence, resignation, or death of
	any officer or supervisory administrative employee the speaker may
	designate a person to take charge of and attend to all the duties of
	the office affected until the officer or employee returns or until a
	successor is chosen.
	SECTION 4.03.  OTHER CENTRAL HOUSE PERSONNEL.  (a) The
	Committee on House Administration shall employ all personnel
	necessary for the operation of the house other than:
	(1)  those appointed under Section 4.02; or
	(2)  employees of an individual member or committee.
	(b)  For purposes of this article, the Committee on House
	Administration is the employing authority for all house employees
	other than those for whom the employing authority is the speaker, an
	individual member, or a committee.
	SECTION 4.04.  EMPLOYEES OF INDIVIDUAL MEMBER.  A member may
	employ, with funds from the member's operating budget, such staff
	as the member deems necessary.
	SECTION 4.05.  COMMITTEE STAFF; AUTHORITY TO REQUEST
	ASSISTANCE.  (a) The Committee on House Administration shall
	provide funds for the adequate staffing of all standing committees
	of the house and all other committees appointed by the speaker.
	(b)  Select committees, interim study committees, standing
	committees, or subcommittees appointed pursuant to the resolution
	adopting the rules of the house or appointed by the speaker pursuant
	to any other resolution may employ any person, firm, or
	corporation, subject to budget limitations. Those committees or
	subcommittees may ask for the assistance of any of the employees,
	agencies, departments, or branches of the state government.
	SECTION 4.06.  WORK SCHEDULE; HOURS OF HOUSE OPERATIONS.
	(a) An employee shall be on duty on the days and hours determined by
	the employing authority.
	(b)  All offices of the departments and divisions that
	support the operations of the house shall be open on days and hours
	determined by the Committee on House Administration or the speaker
	and other hours that the house or its committees are in session.
	SECTION 4.07.  COMPENSATION. (a) Officers and supervisory
	administrative employees of the house shall receive the
	compensation that the speaker or Committee on House Administration
	determines.
	(b)  The Committee on House Administration shall fix the
	compensation of house personnel employed under Section 4.03. A
	person employed under that section who is absent without leave
	shall not receive compensation for the time missed.
	(c)  The salaries of employees of individual members,
	committees, and the house shall begin when they are instructed to
	start work by their respective employing authority.
	(d)  Except as provided by Subsections (e) and (f) of this
	section, an employee of an individual member, a committee
	employee, or any person, firm, or corporation employed by a
	committee or subcommittee may not be paid a salary in excess of
	$5,151 [$5,000] for any one month.
	(e)  A member may exempt one employee of the individual
	member and, if the member is a chair of a standing or select
	committee, one employee of the standing or select committee the
	member chairs from the salary cap imposed by Subsection (d) of this
	section. Each calendar year the member shall file with the
	Committee on House Administration a statement designating the
	exempt employee or employees, as appropriate. During a calendar
	year after an exempt employee has been designated, the member may
	exempt a different employee from the salary cap only if the employee
	previously designated as exempt for the calendar year is no longer
	employed by the member or committee, as appropriate.  The exempt
	employee may not receive compensation from the operating account of
	any other committee or member.
	(f)  The Committee on House Administration may increase the
	amount of the salary cap imposed by Subsection (d) of this section
	to account for any increase in salary provided to all state
	employees during the biennium that begins during the term of the
	legislature to which this resolution applies.
	SECTION 4.08.  DUTIES.  An employee shall perform all duties
	directed by the employing authority.
	SECTION 4.09.  APPEARANCE BEFORE COMMITTEES.  An employee
	may appear before a standing or select committee on a measure when
	granted permission by majority vote of the committee.
	SECTION 4.10.  CHAMBER ACCESS.  (a) An employee may not
	enter the house chamber when the house is in session except when
	performing official duties and specifically authorized by the
	Committee on House Administration.
	(b)  An employee may not enter the area on the floor of the
	house enclosed by the railing when the house is in session except
	when specifically authorized by the Committee on House
	Administration.
	SECTION 4.11.  VOTING.  An employee may not cast a vote for a
	member on the voting machine or otherwise.
	SECTION 4.12.  VOTING RECORDS.  An employee may not compile
	or release any information concerning the voting record of any
	member of the house for any session of the legislature except when a
	member requests information about that member's personal voting
	record or when the information is for the journal or other official
	records.
	SECTION 4.13.  CAMPAIGN FOR SPEAKER.  An employee may not
	campaign or assist in the campaign of any candidate for speaker.
	SECTION 4.14.  POLITICAL INFLUENCE.  An employee may not
	attempt to, or aid anyone in an attempt to, influence any member of
	the house in favor of or against any measure pending before the
	legislature, either directly or indirectly, except when answering
	questions or giving information at the request of a member of the
	house.
	SECTION 4.15.  OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT, EXTRA COMPENSATION, OR
	GIFTS.  An employee may not receive, directly or indirectly, any
	compensation, by gift or otherwise, from any other source, unless
	specifically authorized by the employing authority.
	SECTION 4.16.  DISCHARGE.  (a) The employing authority of an
	employee shall have primary responsibility for overseeing and
	discharging the employee.  An employee is subject to immediate
	discharge by the employing authority for violation of any section
	of this article or any other applicable rule.
	(b)  An individual member or chair of a committee employing
	an employee who violates any applicable section of this article or
	any rule shall be advised of the violation by the chair of the
	Committee on House Administration, and the employing authority
	shall take appropriate action with regard to the employee in
	question.
	(c)  In addition to being subject to immediate discharge by
	the employing authority under Subsection (a) of this section, an
	employee is subject to discharge by the chair of the Committee on
	House Administration, with the approval of the committee, if:
	(1)  the employee is not needed and, if the employee is
	employed in an individual member's office or by a committee, the
	member or committee chair has resigned, is deceased, or is
	incapacitated; or
	(2)  the employee is guilty of gross misconduct.
	(d)  The Committee on House Administration may authorize the
	chair of the Committee on House Administration to conduct an
	investigation into allegations of gross misconduct.  The chair may,
	with the approval of the committee, discharge or otherwise
	discipline an employee of an individual member or committee if the
	Committee on House Administration finds that the employee has
	engaged in gross misconduct.
	SECTION 4.17.  DURATION OF EMPLOYMENT.  The period of
	employment of all employees shall be determined by the employing
	authority, except that employees of all committees and of
	individual members who are not members-elect of the next
	legislature shall be terminated not later than noon on the day of
	the convening of the next regular session.
	SECTION 4.18.  EMPLOYMENT BY MORE THAN ONE MEMBER OR
	COMMITTEE.  (a) Members may join in the employment of a research
	assistant or assistants to be paid jointly from their operating
	budgets. Unless expressly authorized by the provisions of this
	resolution, the members who join together to sponsor such research
	shall not constitute a committee, task force, or group to operate in
	any official or quasi-official manner not specifically authorized
	under the Rules of the House of Representatives.
	(b)  No person, firm, or corporation may be employed by more
	than two committees or subcommittees.
	SECTION 4.19.  POSITION TITLES AND CLASSIFICATIONS. The job
	title for each position shall be determined by the employing
	authority. The employing authority and the house business office
	shall classify each job title for accounting purposes according to
	the following position classifications, unless otherwise
	determined by the Committee on House Administration:
	(a)  Member Employees
	1.  Chief of Staff
	2.  General Counsel
	3.  Legislative Director
	4.  Legislative Assistant
	5.  Administrative Assistant
	6.  Special Project Coordinator
	7.  Intern
	(b)  Committee Employees
	1.  Committee General Counsel
	2.  Chief Committee Clerk
	3.  Committee Clerk
	(c)  Research Employees
	1.  Research Director
	2.  Research Assistant
	3.  Policy Analyst
	ARTICLE 5.  ACCOUNTING
	SECTION 5.01.  FUNDING OF OFFICE OPERATIONS.  (a) Each
	member of the house shall be allocated funds for staff, office
	supplies, office equipment, postage, printing, telephone, travel,
	and such other reasonable and necessary office expenses as may be
	determined by the Committee on House Administration.
	(b)  The manner in which funds are allocated, and the amounts
	thereof, are as provided by this article.
	SECTION 5.02.  OPERATING ACCOUNTS. (a) Each member who
	served in the 83rd [82nd] Legislature shall have the following
	operating accounts for the 84th [83rd] Legislature:
	(1)  a Fiscal Year 15 [13] Operating Account (September
	1, 2014 [2012], through August 31, 2015 [2013]);
	(2)  a Fiscal Year 16 [14] Operating Account (September
	1, 2015 [2013], through August 31, 2016 [2014]); and
	(3)  a Fiscal Year 17 [15] Operating Account (September
	1, 2016 [2014], through January 10, 2017 [13, 2015]).
	(b)  Each member who did not serve in the 83rd [82nd]
	Legislature shall have the same operating accounts for the 84th
	[83rd] Legislature as a returning member under Subsection (a) of
	this section except that the duration of the Fiscal Year 15 [13]
	Operating Account is from January 13, 2015 [8, 2013], through
	August 31, 2015 [2013].
	(c)  For each member who served in the 83rd [82nd]
	Legislature, it shall not be necessary to close the member's Fiscal
	Year 15 [13] Operating Account when the 84th [83rd] Legislature
	convenes.
	SECTION 5.03.  CREDIT FOR NEWLY ELECTED MEMBERS. Each
	member who did not serve in the 83rd [82nd] Legislature may have
	credited to the member's Fiscal Year 15 [13] Operating Account the
	amount of $2,000.
	SECTION 5.04.  MONTHLY CREDIT.  (a) Each member's operating
	account shall be credited with $14,250 [$13,250] for each month
	that falls wholly or partly during the regular legislative session
	or a special legislative session. In any other month, each member's
	operating account shall be credited with $13,500 [$11,925].
	(b)  The Committee on House Administration may provide to the
	dean and the speaker pro tempore of the house additional funds as
	may be determined to be necessary for the duties of those offices to
	be fulfilled.
	(c)  The Committee on House Administration may increase the
	amount credited each month to each member's operating account in an
	amount to allow for an increase in:
	(1)  the salary cap as provided by Section 4.07(f); or
	(2)  longevity pay as authorized by legislation.
	SECTION 5.045.  DETERMINATION OF OPERATING ACCOUNT BALANCE.
	(a)  On the third business day of each calendar month, the House
	Business Office shall determine the available, unobligated balance
	at the end of the preceding calendar month for each member's
	operating account and each committee operating account.  If the
	House Business Office determines that a member's operating account
	has a negative balance at the end of the preceding calendar month,
	the office shall provide notice to the member and the member shall
	deposit funds in the account equal to the negative balance not later
	than the 10th business day after the date the member receives notice
	of the deficit from the House Business Office; provided, however,
	that if a member deposits funds in the member's operating account to
	cover a negative balance under this subsection and the member later
	has a positive balance in the member's operating account at the end
	of a calendar month in the same fiscal year in which the member
	deposited the funds to cover the negative balance, the member may
	use the excess money in the member's operating account at that time
	to reimburse the member in an amount not to exceed the amount the
	member earlier deposited to cover the negative balance.
	(b)  A committee operating account may not operate at a
	deficit.
	(c)  If a member is not a member-elect of the 85th [84th]
	Legislature, the member's operating account may not operate at a
	deficit after November 30, 2016 [2014].
	SECTION 5.05.  ACCOUNT CLOSING. (a) Each member's Fiscal
	Year 15 [13] Operating Account shall be closed as of August 31, 2015
	[2013].
	(b)  Each member may carry forward and have credited to the
	member's Fiscal Year 16 [14] Operating Account the unexpended
	balance of the member's Fiscal Year 15 [13] Operating Account, not
	to exceed $20,000. If the member is the chair of a committee, the
	member may transfer and have credited to that committee's operating
	account all or part of that unexpended balance, not to exceed
	$20,000, and may have the remainder of that amount credited to the
	member's Fiscal Year 16 [14] Operating Account.
	(c)  Each member's Fiscal Year 16 [14] Operating Account
	shall be closed as of August 31, 2016 [2014].
	(d)  Each member may carry forward and have credited to the
	member's Fiscal Year 17 [15] Operating Account the unexpended
	balance of the member's Fiscal Year 16 [14] Operating Account, not
	to exceed $20,000. If the member is the chair of a committee, the
	member may transfer and have credited to that committee's operating
	account all or part of that unexpended balance, not to exceed
	$20,000, and may have the remainder of that amount credited to the
	member's Fiscal Year 17 [15] Operating Account.
	(e)  A member who is the chair of a committee may not transfer
	and have credited to that member's operating account any portion of
	the unexpended balance of the committee's operating account.
	SECTION 5.06.  EXPENDITURES CHARGED WHEN ENCUMBERED.  All
	expenditures shall be charged to the period in which they are
	encumbered.
	SECTION 5.07.  TRAVEL TO AUSTIN DURING SESSION NOT CHARGED
	TO OPERATING ACCOUNT.  While the legislature is in session, the
	travel expenses of members for one trip each week between Austin and
	their districts and return shall not be charged against the
	members' operating accounts but shall be paid from funds
	appropriated for that purpose by the legislature.
	SECTION 5.08.  TRAVEL OUTSIDE TEXAS.  A member is entitled to
	be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred while
	traveling outside Texas in the performance of legislative duties
	and responsibilities.  If the reimbursement is for travel inside
	the conterminous United States, reimbursement is limited to twice
	the amount that would be reimbursed to state employees for the same
	travel under the comptroller's guidelines and rates governing
	travel by state employees.
	SECTION 5.09.  APPROVAL OF EXPENDITURES.  (a) No allowance
	included in this resolution shall be expended except for actual
	salaries or actual expenses of the house, its members, departments,
	committees, and employees and for such other expenses as are
	authorized by the Committee on House Administration.
	(b)  The Committee on House Administration may not authorize
	any expenditures of funds for personal or political campaign
	reasons.
	(c)  All expenditures authorized by this resolution shall be
	paid from funds appropriated for the use of the house of
	representatives by vouchers or other forms approved by the speaker
	of the house and the Committee on House Administration.
	SECTION 5.10.  USE OF FUNDS FOR INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS
	PROHIBITED. No public funds appropriated to the house or expended
	by any house member, committee, or office may be spent or promised
	to settle in whole or part a legal claim brought or threatened to be
	brought against the house or a member, committee, office, or
	employee of the house unless the settlement is made with the
	participation and approval of the attorney general and notice of
	any settlement is promptly given to the public.
	ARTICLE 6.  CAUCUSES
	SECTION 6.01.  DEFINITION.  In this article, "caucus" means
	an organization that is composed exclusively of members of the
	legislature, that elects or appoints officers and recognizes
	identified legislators as members of the organization, and that
	exists for research and other support of policy development and
	interests that the membership holds in common.  An organization
	whose only nonlegislator members are the lieutenant governor or the
	governor remains a "caucus" for purposes of this section.
	SECTION 6.02.  USE OF HOUSE FUNDS, EMPLOYEES, EQUIPMENT, AND
	FACILITIES. (a) Except as expressly authorized by this section,
	funds appropriated to the house may not be expended in support of a
	caucus, employees compensated from funds appropriated to the house
	may not perform caucus activities, and state-owned equipment may
	not be used in the performance of caucus activities.
	(b)  An individual member of the house may authorize the use
	of state equipment assigned to the member's office and the
	performance of caucus activities by an employee of the member only
	if:
	(1)  the member determines that the activities support
	the member's official duties;
	(2)  the caucus does not endorse or support a candidate
	for public office; and
	(3)  the caucus does not accept contributions from
	nonmembers that are in violation of Section 253.0341, Election
	Code.
	(c)  A caucus may use the meeting rooms of the Capitol and
	Capitol extension to conduct meetings of the caucus membership, to
	host public forums on matters of interest to the caucus, or to
	facilitate the work of the caucus or a caucus employee.
	(d)  An individual member may house, in the state office
	space assigned to the member, caucus employees or equipment owned
	by a caucus. A member may retain in the member's office a
	telephone, facsimile machine, or computer owned by the caucus for
	purposes of the member's communication with the caucus or caucus
	employees.
	(e)  From space under the jurisdiction of the house, the
	Committee on House Administration may assign:
	(1)  one office space and one parking space for use by
	the Texas Republican Legislative Caucus; and
	(2)  one office space and one parking space for use by
	the House Democratic Caucus.
	SECTION 6.03.  CONTRIBUTIONS.  (a) A person acting on behalf
	of a caucus may not knowingly accept a contribution in violation of
	Section 253.0341, Election Code.
	(b)  A person acting on behalf of a caucus may not knowingly
	accept a contribution, and shall refuse a contribution that is
	received, in the Capitol.
	SECTION 6.04.  MEMBERSHIP AND OFFICER LISTS. Each caucus
	shall provide to the chief clerk, on a regular basis, a list of its
	current membership and officers.
	SECTION 6.05.  REPORT TO ETHICS COMMISSION.  Each caucus
	shall file a report of contributions and expenditures with the
	Texas Ethics Commission as required by Section 254.0311, Election
	Code.
	ARTICLE 7.  HOUSE RESEARCH ORGANIZATION
	SECTION 7.01.  ESTABLISHMENT.  The Committee on House
	Administration shall provide operating funds for a house research
	organization that will be an administrative department of the house
	and may for that purpose adopt policies and procedures relating to
	the administrative operation of that organization.
	SECTION 7.02.  STEERING COMMITTEE.  The functions and duties
	performed by the house research organization shall be governed by a
	15-member steering committee composed of house members serving
	staggered four-year terms, who are subject to approval of the house
	membership.
	SECTION 7.03.  BUDGET.  The house research organization
	shall have an operating account and in compliance with the terms of
	its establishment shall operate under a budget approved by the
	steering committee and the Committee on House Administration.
	ARTICLE 8.  SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR INTERIM
	SECTION 8.01.  INTERIM COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES.  (a) Pursuant
	to the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1961 (Subchapter B,
	Chapter 301, Government Code), standing committees of the house
	established by the rules of the house may hold meetings while the
	legislature is not in session.
	(b)  The speaker may grant authority to select committees,
	interim study committees, subcommittees, or standing committees of
	the house to hold meetings while the legislature is not in session
	as the speaker considers necessary and desirable to conduct the
	business of the house and to assist the speaker in conducting the
	business of the house, under a pattern of operation and
	restrictions determined by the rules of the house.
	(c)  The committee members and employees may either be
	reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses or receive a per diem
	not to exceed that provided by law for state officials or state
	employees, along with mileage or other transportation expenses at
	the same rate as provided by law for state officials or state
	employees when conducting such business and attending those
	meetings when approved by the Committee on House Administration.
	SECTION 8.02.  POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEE ON HOUSE
	ADMINISTRATION DURING INTERIM.  (a) When the legislature is not in
	session, the Committee on House Administration may act as provided
	by this section.
	(b)  The committee may call meetings for the transaction of
	necessary business, and the committee members shall be reimbursed
	for expenses incurred by them when attending such meetings or when
	in performance of their duties as members of the Committee on House
	Administration, the reimbursement to be either actual and necessary
	expenses or a per diem not to exceed that provided by law for state
	officials or state employees, along with mileage or other
	transportation expenses at the same rate as provided by law for
	state officials or state employees.
	(c)  The committee may reimburse authorized members and
	employees for expenses incurred by them when traveling in the
	performance of their legislative duties and responsibilities
	within their respective districts or within any county in which any
	part of their districts lie or from their districts to the State
	Capitol, the reimbursement to be either actual and necessary
	expenses or a per diem not to exceed that provided by law for state
	officials or state employees, along with mileage or other
	transportation expenses at the same rate as provided by law for
	state officials or state employees.
	(d)  The committee may pay for all other reasonable and
	necessary expenses, including operation of each member's district
	office, incurred by the members of the house of representatives.
	The expenses shall be paid from funds appropriated for that
	purpose, or any other funds appropriated for the use of the house of
	representatives, on vouchers or other forms approved by the chair
	of the Committee on House Administration, in accordance with
	regulations governing such expenditures.
	(e)  The committee may assign or reassign parking places in
	the best interest of the house under such terms and conditions as
	the committee deems necessary.
	Geren
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 3 was adopted by the House on January
	14, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 137, Nays 5, 1 present, not
	voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House