LT. GOVERNOR DEWHURST: The Senate will come to order and the secretary will call the roll.

PATSY SPAW: Birdwell, Carona, Davis, Deuell, Duncan, Ellis, Eltife, Estes, Fraser, Gallegos, Harris, Hegar, Hinojosa, Huffman, Jackson, Lucio, Nelson, Nichols, Ogden, Patrick, Rodriguez, Seliger, Shapiro, Uresti, Van de Putte, Watson, Wentworth, West, Whitmire, Williams, Zaffirini.

LT. GOVERNOR DEWHURST: Thank you, Madam Secretary. Members, a quorum is present. Would all those please rise on the floor and in the gallery. Please rise this morning for the invocation to be delivered by Reverend Alex Lupa, First United Methodist Church of East Bernard.

PASTOR: Let us pray. Eternal and almighty Creator, we acknowledge You as the giver of every good and perfect gift. You are our solid rock and our foundation. You are most with wisdom, strength and discernment. You've blessed us with much and entrusted us as Your stewards with the treasures of this great state. Today bless our lawmakers. Illuminate their lives to keep them on the right path. Help them to make the right decisions. Give them patience in shouldering the heavy burdens that they bear. Bless their families and constituents back home. Make them faithful stewards of not only the land but potential graces and of every man, woman and child. Bless this time that these senators come together to perform the work at hand. Fill their minds with wisdom and their hearts with compassion as together they create this state for today and for future generations. Fill them with courage as You show them your unfailing love and give them with an attitude of openness to receive Your grace and truth. We pray this in Your sacred name. Amen.

LT. GOVERNOR DEWHURST: Pastor Lupa, thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. Thank you so much. Thank you. Members, Senator Whitmire moves to suspend for the readings of yesterday's journal. Is there objection from any member? Chair hears no objection. So ordered. Chair recognizes Senator Nichols to introduce the doctor of the day.

SENATOR NICHOLS: Thank you, Mr. President and members. I've got a double treat today. A father/son team. I would like to introduce Dr. Thomas Cherry, who's whose serving as our doctor of the day today. Dr. Cherry served as a doctor of the day in 2009. He is here willing to serve at the Texas Capitol again. Dr. Cherry is a graduate of the Texas Tech Medical School, did his residency in Trinity Lutheran family practice in Kansas City, Missouri. He currently practices at the Trinity Clinic in Chandler, Texas. He is a member of both the Texas and American Academy of Family Physicians, Texas Medical Association, Henderson County Medical Association. His son, Joseph, is our page today. He's over here. So members -- thank you very much for serving, please join me in welcoming Dr. Cherry and his son Joseph.

SENATOR OGDEN: Mr. Doorkeeper.

MR. DOORKEEPER: Mr. President, there is a message from the House.

SENATOR OGDEN: Admit the messenger.

MESSENGER: Mr. President, I'm directed by the House to inform the Senate the House has taken the following action: The House has passed the following measures. HCR56 Munoz, Jr. designating April 9th, 2011, as LZRGB Welcome Home South Texas Vietnam Veterans Day, Respectfully, Robert Cheney, clerk.

SENATOR OGDEN: Chair lays out the following resolution by Harris. The secretary will read the resolution.

PATSY SPAW: Senate Resolution 448 commending Maria Zuniga on advancing to the national finals of the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest. By Harris.

SENATOR OGDEN: Chair recognizes Senator Harris on the resolution.

SENATOR HARRIS: Thank you, Mr. President. Members, it's a real honor for me today to introduce to you Maria Zuniga. Now, Maria has been a contestant in Poetry Out Loud which is a national competition to encourage high school students to learn about great poetry, learn memorization, perform competition, and this in turn helps develop their speaking skills. Now, Maria has already won region, she has won state and she is now on her way to the national finals where there will only be 53 students competing against each other from the 50 states and from District of Columbia and so on. We have the head of the department for the arts here with us today and Maria's family, her mother and father here with her. Members, please help me welcome Maria to the floor of the Texas Senate.

SENATOR OGDEN: Is there objection to the adoption of Senate Resolution 448? The Chair hears none, the resolution is adopted. Chair lays out the following resolution by Deuell. The secretary will read the resolution.

PATSY SPAW: Senate Resolution 175 declaring March 8th, 2011, as Fannin County Day at the State Capitol. By Deuell.

SENATOR OGDEN: Chair recognizes Senator Deuell on the resolution.

SENATOR DEUELL: Thank you, Mr. President, members. It's my honor to welcome a special group of constituents and friends from Fannin County here to celebrate Fannin County Day. Fannin County's history goes back to the very roots of Texas. First settled shortly after the Texas independence from the Mexico. Both Fannin County and its seat the city of Bonham are named after brave Texans who lost their lives in the revolution. Today Fannin County encompasses nearly 900 miles of fertile land for farming, ranching, as well as hiking, camping and fishing. Among its products Fannin County is proud to include Sam Rayburn, the longest serving speaker of the U.S. House whose legacy lives on in the Sam Rayburn library and museum in Bonham. Some people remember in the early 60's when Mr. Rayburn was speaker, the speaker of the Texas House was actually from Fannin County. Jimmy Turman, so that was a unique situation. I think unduplicated in the history of this country. I'm happy that delegates from Fannin County are joining us today. They're in the west gallery and would you. Please help me welcome them to the Texas Senate. I move adoption.

SENATOR OGDEN: Is there objection to the adoption of Senate Resolution 175? Chair hears none, resolution's adopted. Chair lays out the following resolution by Lucio. The secretary will read the resolution.

PATSY SPAW: Senate Resolution 471 declaring Wednesday March 9th, 2011, as Mid Valley Day at the State Capitol. By Lucio.

SENATOR OGDEN: Chair recognizes Senator Lucio on the resolution.

SENATOR LUCIO: Thank you, Mr. President and members. Today I proudly present to you Senate Resolution 471 in recognition of Mid Valley Day at the Capitol. Located in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley, the Mid Valley region serves as the center for agribusiness and bridging connection to Mexico, our southern neighbor. The Mid Valley region compromises of towns of Alamo, Donna, (inaudible), Progresso, Progresso Lakes, San Juan, and Weslaco. All of which are thriving communities that's continued to serve our great state both economically and in spirit. Today we are joined by some of the region's finest leaders. The Honorable Mayor Rudy Villareal from the city of Alamo. If you could step forward, Mayor. Hidalgo executive commissioner Hector Tito Palacios, Westlaco City Commissioner Lupe (inaudible), and from South Texas ISD school board president Homer Garcia, and Dr. Fernando Castillo, Progresso ISD superintendent. Let us extend our thanks to these outstanding Texas citizens who have served the Mid Valley region so well and send them our best wishes for an enjoyable stay here in Austin. Join with me in saluting them. At this time, I would ask that the delegation from the Mid Valley seated in the gallery in the north gallery to please rise and be recognized. Members, join me, again, in welcoming all these outstanding citizens from the Mid Valley. I move adoption of Senate Resolution 471.

SENATOR OGDEN: Is there objection to the adoption of Senate Resolution 471? The Chair hears none, the resolution is adopted. The Chair recognizes Senator Nelson for an introduction.

SENATOR NELSON: Thank you, Mr. President and members. I am proud to join with Senator Harris to welcome a special group of visitors who are with us in the gallery today from my hometown. They are participating in Leadership Flower Mound, an excellent program sponsored by the chamber of commerce. The town of Flower Mound is named for an actual spot in north Texas where wildflowers are known to sprout after the brushfires of dry summer months. It is a thriving community of 70,000 citizens in southern Denton County and a wonderful place to live and work and raise a family, I'd like to ask the Leadership Flower Mound group to please stand. And, members, please help me welcome them to the Texas Senate. Thank you, Mr. President.

SENATOR HARRIS: Members, I too would like to join Senator Nelson in wishing Leadership Flower Mound congratulations on being here today, but also to point out to you how special and unique a group they are. They train the citizens, their people who should be future leaders, to lead and to bring them within the leadership realm. Now, Senator Nelson mentioned to you that she lives in Flower Mound, but I'd like to mention to you that in Senate 9, my district, I have 97 percent of the people in Flower Mound. And Senator Nelson, I very much appreciate you on letting me participate today. Thank you. I move adoption.

SENATOR OGDEN: Chair lays out the following resolution by Harris. The secretary will read the resolution.

PATSY SPAW: Senate Resolution 391 commending the Hebron High School girls volleyball team for winning the University Interscholastic League Class 5A State Championship. By Harris.

SENATOR OGDEN: Chair recognizes Senator Harris on the resolution.

SENATOR HARRIS: Thank you, Mr. President. Members, it's a real honor for me today to bring before you on the floor Andy Barton, Rachel Buckley, Brittany Stamples, Tiffany Baker and Kay King. I am -- now, they play for the Hebron State volleyball team. Now, this last year or this year -- excuse me, they were No. 2 in their league. They went on to the state finals and they not only won the state finals but they were so dominant that not a single other team was able to score even a set on them. Yeah, and the team now ranks No. 1 in the state of Texas and nationally it ranks No. 4. In addition, the Hawks were named the Volleyball Tour of Champions presented by the National Guard. One of only five teams out of 17,000. Now, the Hawks dedicated their season to Scott Calgill, a dedicated Hebron sportscaster who was diagnosed with stage four leukemia. After the tournament, Scott was declared cancer free and his name appears on the championship state rings. Tiffany Baker was named this year's national volleyball player of the year and will join Rachel Buckley in playing in the Allstar Game this summer. The coaches, players -- now would the other members of the Hebron team please stand up? I want to congratulate this outstanding team. I move adoption, Mr. President.

SENATOR OGDEN: Senator Harris, thank you for this resolution. Is there any objection to the adoption of Senate Resolution 391? The Chair hears none, the resolution is adopted. The Chair lays out the following resolution by Jackson. Secretary will read the resolution.

PATSY SPAW: Senate Resolution 449 declaring Wednesday March 9th, 2011, as Texas Chemicals Day at the state Capitol. By Jackson.

SENATOR OGDEN: Chair recognizes Senator Jackson on the resolution.

SENATOR JACKSON: Thank you, Mr. President, members. Today is Chemicals Day at the State Capitol. They're a grand group of people from a lot of different parts from the state but a lot from my district that are sure here. Members from both the Texas Chemical Council and the Association of Chemical Industries of Texas as part of Chemicals Day 2011. This industry employs 70,000 direct people in the state of Texas and more than a half a million people indirectly. Texas is the nation's largest chemical producer and their exports account for $31 billion, about 20 percent of the total exports of state. These products have a significant impact on our state economy but are also a vital part of daily life. Chemicals produced in the state of Texas are used in the manufacture of countless household items such as clothing, building materials, lightbulbs, automobiles and airplanes, Senator Seliger. Members, please help me in joining, saying welcome to our members of the Texas Chemical Industry that are here with us today. Thank you. I move adoption, Mr. Chair.

SENATOR OGDEN: Is there objection to the adoption of Senate Resolution 449? The Chair hears none, the resolution is adopted. The Chair lays out the following resolution by Whitmire. The secretary will read the resolution.

PATSY SPAW: Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 24 granting the legislature to adjourn for more than three days during the period beginning on Wednesday March 8th and ending on Monday March 14th by Whitmire.

SENATOR OGDEN: Chair recognizes Senator Whitmire on the resolution.

SENATOR WHITMIRE: I move adoption of Senate Concurrent Resolution 24.

SENATOR OGDEN: Members, the question is on the adoption of Senate Concurrent Resolution 24. Is there any objection? Chair recognizes Senator Harris on the resolution.

SENATOR HARRIS: Thank you, Mr. President. I move to suspend the 24 hour posting rule in accordance with Senate Rule 1110 and 1118 in order for the Senate Committee on Jurisprudence to meet today March 9th, 2011, on immediate adjournment at my desk. Members, the committee will be meeting to take up business left over from yesterday's hearing.

SENATOR OGDEN: Senator Harris, can I back up a minute? We haven't formally adopted the previous resolution so -- the question is on the adoption of Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 24 which allows us to adjourn for three days. Secretary will call the roll.

PATSY SPAW: Birdwell, Carona, Davis, Deuell, Duncan, Ellis, Eltife, Estes, Fraser, Gallegos, Harris, Hegar, Hinojosa, Huffman, Jackson.

SENATOR OGDEN: There being 31 ayes and no nays. The resolution is adopted. Now, Senator Harris you're recognized on a motion.

SENATOR HARRIS: Thank you, Mr. President. I just renewed the motion I just made, and I move for suspension.

SENATOR OGDEN: Members, you've heard the motion. Is there any objection? Chair hears none, the motion is adopted.

SENATOR HARRIS: Members, that meeting will be at my desk on jurisprudence.

SENATOR OGDEN: The following report from the nominations committee. Chair recognizes Senator Deuell to explain the report.

SENATOR DEUELL: Thank you, Mr. President, members. I move to confirm the nominees that are listed on the committee actions report that are placed on your desks. These nominees were taken up at our Monday March 7th meeting.

SENATOR OGDEN: Are there any requests to sever? Senator Deuell moves that the nominees be reported favorably from the nominations committee be confirmed. The secretary will call the roll.

PATSY SPAW: Birdwell, Carona, Davis, Deuell, Duncan, Ellis, Eltife, Estes, Fraser, Harris, Hegar, Hinojosa, Huffman, Jackson, Lucio, Nelson, Nichols.

SENATOR OGDEN: There being 31 ayes and no nays, the nominees are confirmed.

SENATOR DEUELL: Thank you.

SENATOR OGDEN: Members, that concludes the morning call. Members if I can have your attention, we're getting ready to take up one bill today. Senate Bill 912, but I think before we take that bill up -- we got a few things to get together -- so.

LT. GOVERNOR DEWHURST: Members, the Chair recognizes Senator West for a motion to suspend the regular order of business to take up and consider Senate Bill 912, 912.

SENATOR WEST: Thank you very much, Mr. President. Mr. President, I'm going to be moving to suspend the constitutional rule, the regular order of business and to suspend the calender rule to take up Senate Bill 912. Members, Senate Bill 912 is a bill coauthored by myself, Senator Duncan, Shapiro and Davis.

LT. GOVERNOR DEWHURST: Members, I'm going to -- this is an important bill for our schoolteachers, for our school districts. Very important bill for our schoolteachers, our school districts. It's joint authored by Senator West, Senator Davis, Senator Shapiro, and Senator Duncan and if we could please turn our attention to Senator West. Thank you so much.

SENATOR WEST: Thank you so much, Mr. President and members. This particular bill, as the president said, is a very important bill as we deal with the issue, the financial issue in the state of Texas and how it applies to our school district. Currently in law, school districts have to provide notice within 45 days at the end of the school calendar to teachers that they plan on nonrenewing. Within 15 days of receiving that notice, teachers have to make a decision as to whether or not they want to have a hearing on that and there's a time line that is pretty tight. Given the issue concerning where we're going to be with our finances, school districts are under an increasing amount of pressure. In addition to having to give that notice, there's also a mechanism where school districts have to have those hearings before the board. If indeed there are more layoffs, significant layoffs, then we need to make certain that we put in place an infrastructure to allow the school districts and the teachers more latitude. That's what this particular bill does. Instead of the 15 days that's currently required under existing law to give notice of a hearing, what we do is provide latitude up to 30 days for the teacher to give notice requesting a hearing. We also allow the school district instead of having the hearing before the school board, if the school district decides, they can appoint an independent hearing officer. That independent hearing officer must be an attorney that has no relationship between -- with the school district or a school district or with the employee. And so by doing that we have a neutral third party that will look at the facts and circumstances of the situation and make a determination. Now, this particular process went on to be applicable when we have situations where we're having a reduction in staff. And it deals specifically -- we have a board that orders a reduction in staff and it deals specifically with term contracts. I move to suspend --

LT. GOVERNOR DEWHURST: Members, Senator West moves to suspend the Senate rules on intent calendar rule, the 60 day rule in the regular order of business. Senator Shapiro. The Chair recognizes Senator Shapiro on --

SENATOR SHAPIRO: Thank you, Mr. President and members. I just want to reiterate what Senator West said. This is a bill that's been worked on by both parties in agreement with all the stakeholders, the teacher groups as well as the state board, I mean --

LT. GOVERNOR DEWHURST: Were you going to say the State Board of Education?

SENATOR SHAPIRO: I didn't mean the State Board of Education. I meant the State Association of School Boards and the State Association of School Administrators, so this is a compromise that I think everyone at the table agrees with and I just wanted to make sure that everybody understands that the work has been done and hopefully we can get this out to send the message that's necessary at this time.

SENATOR WEST: And Mr. President, if I might, it's so important that we get this out and try to get this through the House, to the governor's desk before --

SENATOR SHAPIRO: As early as possible.

SENATOR WEST: Because in April they have to make those decisions.

SENATOR SHAPIRO: And that's the reason we need four-fifths.

SENATOR WEST: That's the reason we need four-fifths.

SENATOR SHAPIRO: Thank you.

LT. GOVERNOR DEWHURST: Members, you've heard the motion by Senator West to suspend the intent calendar rule, to suspend the 60 day rule on the regular order of business to take up and consider this bill, Senate Bill 912. The secretary will call the roll.

PATSY SPAW: Birdwell, Carona, Davis, Deuell, Duncan, Ellis, Eltife, Estes, Fraser, Gallegos, Harris, Hegar, Hinojosa, Huffman, Jackson, Lucio, Nelson, Nichols, Ogden, Patrick, Rodriguez, Seliger, Shapiro, Uresti, Van de Putte, Watson, Wentworth, west, Whitmire, Williams, Zaffirini.

LT. GOVERNOR DEWHURST: There being 31 ayes and no nays. The rules are suspended. The Chair lays out on second reading Senate Bill 912. The secretary will read the caption.

PATSY SPAW: Senate Bill 912 relating to temporary modification under certain circumstances of procedures authorized for the nonrenewal of public schoolteacher term contracts.

LT. GOVERNOR DEWHURST: Senator Hinojosa, for what purpose do you rise, sir?

SENATOR HINOJOSA: Mr. President, to ask a question of Senator West.

LT. GOVERNOR DEWHURST: Will Senator West yield?

SENATOR WEST: I will.

SENATOR HINOJOSA: Senator West, what is the period of time that we are extending the contracts of the time period on --

SENATOR WEST: We're actually extending it from the current law of 15 days. The current law requires that within 15 days of the teacher getting notice of nonrenewal that they have to request a hearing. We're extending it to 30 days as opposed to the 15. So we're extending it 15 more days.

SENATOR HINOJOSA: And I guess this is because of the uncertainty in terms of the budget that we're working on right now?

SENATOR WEST: That is correct. And Senator Hinojosa, I'm glad that we have a 31 to zero vote. It's important for us to send a message as a body through the lieutenant governor that we consider this an emergency, and we're going to be asking our House counterparts, Senator Shapiro and Duncan and Davis, that they act on it expeditiously so we can get it to the governor's desk because April is when school districts have to make decisions concerning what they're going to be doing as it relates to nonrenewal. So we need to get it to the governor's desk before that, so at least teachers will know that they still have an additional time frame to have a hearing. And it's our hope that during that particular time frame the school districts will have a better appreciation and understanding of where we are as it relates to the budget, Mr. President, in the state and so they can then make decisions accordingly.

SENATOR HINOJOSA: And I guess, I just want to clarify this issue because it may be possible that we're going to have the budget by the end of session, as you well know. And most of the school districts would like to have some indication -- I'm sorry, I guess I'm more concerned about the procedure because you well know we may not have a budget by the end of the session and school districts, they need to have in place of budget by the middle of the summer and I'm concerned in terms of the teacher that might be played off then we have passed a budget that covers --

SENATOR WEST: Exactly. No, I agree with you wholeheartedly and this is -- I would say this is the first of several bills that we're going to be addressing hopefully on a bipartisan basis to hopefully deal with that issue. And I agree with you wholeheartedly that most of the school districts start their year on July 1st and others started like on September 1. And so we went through the time line to kind of look at exactly what the requirements were in terms of when decisions had to be made and the best that we could do, as it relates to this particular piece, was to move the date that teachers have to request a hearing and also to deal with how hearings are held. And the reason that we put in place that provision to have independent hearing officers because if there is, in fact, a significant number of hearings that have to occur, there's a timeframe for that and there needs to be an alternative method to hold those hearings.

SENATOR HINOJOSA: And I guess the hearing process, in extending the time for an appeal, would at least prolong the period of time by which their case, if you will, the appeal will stay pending so it could be reversed.

SENATOR WEST: Well, what ends up happening is in terms of the hearing itself, the parties can agree, can mutually agree to set the hearing off a little longer. So there is a provision in the bill that allows for what is commonly done now in terms of the parties agreeing to set the hearing off.

SENATOR HINOJOSA: Thank you for your explanation.

SENATOR WEST: Sure.

LT. GOVERNOR DEWHURST: Thank you, Senator Hinojosa. The Chair recognizes Senator West for a motion.

SENATOR WEST: Move passage to engrossment.

LT. GOVERNOR DEWHURST: Senator West moves passage to engross of Senate Bill 912. Is there objection from any member? Is there objection from any member? The Chair hears no objection, and Senate Bill 912 passes to engrossment. Chair recognizes Senator West for a motion to suspend the constitutional rule that bills be read on three separate days.

SENATOR WEST: So moved.

LT. GOVERNOR DEWHURST: Members, you've heard the motion by Senator West, the secretary will call the roll.

PATSY SPAW: Birdwell, Carona, Davis, Deuell, Ellis, Eltife, Estes, Fraser, Gallegos, Harris, Hegar, Hinojosa, Huffman, Jackson, Lucio, Nelson, Nichols, Ogden, Patrick, Rodriguez, Seliger, Shapiro, Uresti, Van de Putte, Watson, Wentworth, west, Whitmire, Williams and Zaffirini.

LT. GOVERNOR DEWHURST: There being 31 ayes and no nays, the rule is suspended. Chair lays out on third reading and final passage, Senate Bill 912. The secretary will read the caption.

PATSY SPAW: Senate Bill 912 relating to temporary modification under certain circumstances of procedures authorized for the nonrenewal of public schoolteacher contracts.

LT. GOVERNOR DEWHURST: The Chair recognizes Senator West for a motion.

SENATOR WEST: Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Davis, Duncan and Shapiro, I move final passage of Senate Bill 912.

LT. GOVERNOR DEWHURST: Senator Davis, for what purpose do you rise?

SENATOR DAVIS: As one of the proud joint authors of the bill, I'd like to make a comment if Senator West would yield. I want to make a special comment about Chairwoman Shapiro and her leadership on this issue. Obviously we're in a really critical time. And Governor, you've asked us to work together in a bipartisan way to resolve some of the crises that we're facing. And I think Senator Shapiro has really set the tone for that in dealing with this particular issue, bringing together both sides of the party aisle, bringing together both sides, the teachers and the school districts, to try to work our way through some of the challenges that we're facing. And she's continuing to do that on other issues as well with the school districts and the teachers. And I think it deserves our note and our attention and praise for the leadership that she's shown. Thank you.

LT. GOVERNOR DEWHURST: Thank you, Senator Davis, thank you. Members, Senator West moves for the final passage of Senate Bill 912. The secretary will call the roll.

PATSY SPAW: Birdwell, Carona, Davis, Deuell, Duncan, Ellis, Estes, Fraser, Gallegos, Harris, Hinojosa, Huffman, Jackson, Lucio.

LT. GOVERNOR DEWHURST: There being 31 ayes and no nays. Senate Bill 912 is finally passed. Congratulations. Members, the president's desk is clear. Are there announcements? The Chair recognizes Senator Jackson for an announcement.

SENATOR JACKSON: Members, the Senate Committee on Economic Development will meet 30 minutes upon adjournment of the Senate here in the chamber. Thank you.

LT. GOVERNOR DEWHURST: Thank you, Senator Jackson. Are there additional announcements from any members? Hearing no announcements. The Chair recognizes the Dean of the Senate.

SENATOR FRASER: Governor, Governor, I'm sorry.

LT. GOVERNOR DEWHURST: Senator Fraser is recognized for an announcement.

SENATOR FRASER: Members, the Senate Committee on Natural Resources will be meeting at my desk on adjournment to pass out the two bills we heard yesterday by Senator Uresti, and we will meet at my desk immediately after the session.

LT. GOVERNOR DEWHURST: Thank you, Senator Fraser.

SENATOR FRASER: I'm sorry, Governor, I would move to suspend the posting rule that that meeting was not posted, suspend the posting rule to hear Senator Uresti's bills that were heard yesterday. It's Senate Bill 241 -- 341 and Senate Bill 271.

LT. GOVERNOR DEWHURST: Members, you've heard the motion by Senator Fraser to suspend the Senate posting rules so that he can take up and consider Senate Bills 271 and 341 at his desk following adjournment. Is there objection from any member? Chair hearing no objection from any member and the rules are suspended. Members, I'm going to ask you to take your chairs just for a moment. We're going to adjourn, but we're going to adjourn in memory of one of the constituents of Senator Van de Putte. The Chair recognizes the Dean of the Senate for a highly privileged motion.

DEAN OF THE SENATE: Thank you, Mr. President. And before I adjourn to the body, I would yield to my colleague Senator Van De Putte, ask everyone to give her their full attention.

LT. GOVERNOR DEWHURST: Chair recognizes Senator Van de Putte.

SENATOR VAN DE PUTTE: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. President. Members, today I'd like to adjourn in memory of Airman First Class Cory C. Owens who paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country in Iraq in his last act of devotion. Airman First Class Owens was a beloved son, he was a father, and a husband who will be greatly missed for his compassion and strength. We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Misty and to his daughters Zia and Zo. Both of them are under the age of three. And his mom and dad Chris and Steve Owens. His sisters, Ann Costrabeck and Sandra Owens. We know that every day that we're here on this floor that it is because we live in this wonderful country and this state where representative democracy reigns, and it's because of the price of those who have given their life and service to our country. I move that we adjourn today in honor of Airman First Class Cory C. Owens.

LT. GOVERNOR DEWHURST: Thank you, Senator Van de Putte. Chair recognizes Senator Whitmire.

DEAN OF THE SENATE: Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Senate adjourn until 1:30 p.m. Monday March 14th in memory of Airman First Class Cory C. Owens.

LT. GOVERNOR DEWHURST: Thank you, Dean. Members, you've heard the motion by Senator Whitmire. Is there objection from any member? Chair hears no objection, and the Senate will stand adjourned until 1:30 Monday March 14th in memory of Airman First Class Cory C. Owens. (Adjourned.)