82R6413 ACP-F
By: Hunter H.B. No. 2977
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to electronic communications during a public meeting;
creating an offense.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 551.143, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read
as follows:
(a) A member or group of members of a governmental body
commits an offense if the member or group of members knowingly:
(1) conspires to circumvent this chapter by meeting in
numbers less than a quorum for the purpose of secret deliberations
in violation of this chapter; or
(2) transmits an electronic communication during a
public meeting.
(c) In this section, "electronic communication" includes an
e-mail, text message, instant message, or posting on an Internet
website.
(d) Subsection (a)(2) does not apply to an electronic
communication that contains only administrative or ministerial
information or that is sent in relation to an emergency situation.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.