82R7541 RWG-D By: White H.B. No. 1500 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to allowing the commissioners court of a county to deliberate in a closed meeting regarding business and financial issues related to a contract being negotiated. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 551.0725(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) The commissioners court of a county [with a population of 400,000 or more] may conduct a closed meeting to deliberate business and financial issues relating to a contract being negotiated if, before conducting the closed meeting: (1) the commissioners court votes unanimously that deliberation in an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the position of the commissioners court in negotiations with a third person; and (2) the attorney advising the commissioners court issues a written determination that deliberation in an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the position of the commissioners court in negotiations with a third person. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to a meeting held on or after the effective date of this Act. A meeting held before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the meeting is held, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2011.