Texas 2011 - 82nd Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1906 Compare Versions

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Old	New	Differences
1	1	By: Wentworth S.B. No. 1906
2	2	(Coleman)
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to certain notice requirements for municipalities and
8	8	counties under the open meetings law.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Section 551.0415, Government Code, is amended to
11	11	read as follows:
12	12	Sec. 551.0415. GOVERNING BODY OF MUNICIPALITY OR
13	13	COUNTY: REPORTS ABOUT ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST REGARDING WHICH
14	14	NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN. (a) Notwithstanding Sections 551.041 and
15	15	551.042, a quorum of the governing body of a municipality or county
16	16	may receive from [municipal] staff of the political subdivision and
17	17	a member of the governing body may make a report about items of
18	18	community interest during a meeting of the governing body without
19	19	having given notice of the subject of the report as required by this
20	20	subchapter if no action is taken and, except as provided by Section
21	21	551.042, possible action is not discussed regarding the information
22	22	provided in the report.
23	23	(b) For purposes of Subsection (a), "items of community
24	24	interest" includes:
25	25	(1) expressions of thanks, congratulations, or
26	26	condolence;
27	27	(2) information regarding holiday schedules;
28	28	(3) an honorary or salutary recognition of a public
29	29	official, public employee, or other citizen, except that a
30	30	discussion regarding a change in the status of a person's public
31	31	office or public employment is not an honorary or salutary
32	32	recognition for purposes of this subdivision;
33	33	(4) a reminder about an upcoming event organized or
34	34	sponsored by the governing body;
35	35	(5) information regarding a social, ceremonial, or
36	36	community event organized or sponsored by an entity other than the
37	37	governing body that was attended or is scheduled to be attended by a
38	38	member of the governing body or an official or employee of the
39	39	political subdivision [municipality]; and
40	40	(6) announcements involving an imminent threat to the
41	41	public health and safety of people in the political subdivision
42	42	[municipality] that has arisen after the posting of the agenda.
43	43	SECTION 2. Section 551.050, Government Code, is amended to
44	44	read as follows:
45	45	Sec. 551.050. MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTAL BODY: PLACE OF
46	46	POSTING NOTICE. (a) In this section, "electronic bulletin board"
47	47	means an electronic communication system that includes a
48	48	perpetually illuminated screen on which the governmental body can
49	49	post messages or notices viewable without manipulation by the
50	50	public.
51	51	(b) A municipal governmental body shall post notice of each
52	52	meeting on a physical or electronic bulletin board at a place
53	53	convenient to the public in the city hall.
54	54	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
55	55	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
56	56	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
57	57	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
58	58	Act takes effect September 1, 2011.