AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- With the opening of the 87th Texas Legislature roughly a week away, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick released a list of COVID-19 protocols that will be in place for the session's opening day.
Monday marked the first day that the Texas Capitol has been open to the public since it closed due to the pandemic.
Among the protocols that are being put into place:
- Guest seating for the opening day ceremony will be allocated by each of the 31 senators. Lt. Gov. Patrick and the senators have decided to limit floor seating to one family member at each senator's desk. There will be no floor seating outside the brass rail or anywhere else on the Senate floor. In year's past, the Senate floor was fully available to use by family and other guests.
- Each senator will be given three tickets for seats in the Senate Gallery for their family and/or constituents. Limiting each senator to three tickets will keep the Senate Gallery floor seating to less than 100 guests and will therefore allow proper distancing.
- Senators have agreed to be tested for COVID-19 when entering the Capitol. Staff members will also be tested.
- Opening day guests of senators will also be tested for COVID-19 prior to entering.
- On opening day, all Senate guests must enter through the Capitol's east entrance, where the testing will be done.
- The ceremony for opening day will be shorter than usual to reduce time spent gathering.
- Most Senate offices will be open by appointment only on opening day and throughout the legislative session.
Additional protocols and rules, particularly for the first 60 days of the session, will be voted on by senators during the first week of the session, Patrick said.
