H.B. No. 1500
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.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1500 was passed by the House on May 5,
2011, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 2, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1500 was passed by the Senate on May
25, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0
.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor