WHEREAS, The 2009 Regular Session of the Sixty-first Legislature is drawing to a close; and
     WHEREAS, It is necessary to provide for the completion of the work of the Senate after its adjournment and during the interim period between the close of the 2009 Regular Session of the Sixty-first Legislature and the convening of the next regular session; and
     WHEREAS, The state is experiencing extreme budget pressures and the Senate desires to promote efficiencies and savings within its own internal budget by maintaining certain travel, salary, hiring, contract, and expenditure controls and limitations throughout the fiscal year;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate Facilities and Operations Committee shall have full authority and direction over the authorization and execution of any contracts or subcontracts that necessitate the expenditure of Senate appropriations, subject to all applicable budget controls and limitations; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Senate Facilities and Operations Committee may, as they deem appropriate, authorize travel for which members and staff may receive therefor their actual necessary expenses, and such per diem as may be authorized by law, subject to all applicable budget controls and limitations, to be paid upon receipt of their vouchers out of funds appropriated for legislative expenses; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate and the Senate Facilities and Operations Committee be, and they hereby are, authorized to retain such employees as they may deem necessary and that said employees be allowed such rate of pay therefor, subject to all applicable budget controls and limitations, as the Secretary of the Senate and the Senate Facilities and Operations Committee shall deem proper; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate be, and he or she hereby is, authorized and directed to make out and execute the necessary vouchers upon which warrants for legislative expenses and expenditures shall be drawn from funds provided therefor; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate and the Facilities and Operations Committee be, and they hereby are, authorized to approve written requests by standing committees to meet during the interim period; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate be, and hereby is, authorized and directed to have printed a copy of the Senate Journals of the 2009 Regular Session of the Sixty-first Legislature; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Rules Committee is authorized to assign subject matters to standing committees for study during the interim, and the Majority Leader is authorized to create special committees as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Senate in an orderly manner and appoint members thereto with the approval of the Facilities and Operations Committee; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate is authorized to express the sympathy of the Senate by sending flowers or memorials in the event of a bereavement in the legislative "family"; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That such use of the Senate facilities is permitted upon such terms as the Secretary of the Senate shall deem proper.