LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION Revision 2 May 16, 2013 TO: Honorable Rodney Ellis, Chair, Senate Committee on Open Government FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB2414 by Button (relating to requirements for open meetings held by videoconference call. ), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would amend Chapter 551 of the Government Code regarding open meetings to authorize a member of a governmental body to participate remotely in a meeting by videoconference call and to authorize a governmental body to hold a meeting by videoconference call. The bill would require that a meeting of a governmental body held by videoconference call: provide at least one suitable physical space located in or within a reasonable distance of the geographic jurisdiction, if any, for members of the public to participate in the meeting that is equipped with videoconference equipment, including an audio and video display, camera and microphone; and have present at the physical location the member of the governmental body who is presiding over the meeting. The notice of the meeting to be held by videoconference must specify the physical location made available for public participation. The bill would take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds majority vote in each house. Otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2013. Based on the analyses of several agencies, it is anticipated that costs to implement the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within existing resources. The Facilities Commission estimates there would be a cost associated with implementing the provisions of the bill. It is anticipated that the additional costs could be absorbed within the agency's existing resources. Local Government Impact Fiscal impact to local governments associated with the bill, if any, would be optional, and it assumed videoconferencing would only be implemented if sufficient funds were available. Source Agencies:302 Office of the Attorney General, 303 Facilities Commission, 313 Department of Information Resources, 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 601 Department of Transportation, 696 Department of Criminal Justice, 701 Central Education Agency, 720 The University of Texas System Administration, 809 Preservation Board LBB Staff: UP, EP, LCO, KJo, SD, AG, KKR
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
Revision 2
May 16, 2013
Revision 2
Revision 2
TO: Honorable Rodney Ellis, Chair, Senate Committee on Open Government FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB2414 by Button (relating to requirements for open meetings held by videoconference call. ), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted
TO: Honorable Rodney Ellis, Chair, Senate Committee on Open Government
FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB2414 by Button (relating to requirements for open meetings held by videoconference call. ), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted
Honorable Rodney Ellis, Chair, Senate Committee on Open Government
Honorable Rodney Ellis, Chair, Senate Committee on Open Government
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
HB2414 by Button (relating to requirements for open meetings held by videoconference call. ), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted
HB2414 by Button (relating to requirements for open meetings held by videoconference call. ), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend Chapter 551 of the Government Code regarding open meetings to authorize a member of a governmental body to participate remotely in a meeting by videoconference call and to authorize a governmental body to hold a meeting by videoconference call. The bill would require that a meeting of a governmental body held by videoconference call: provide at least one suitable physical space located in or within a reasonable distance of the geographic jurisdiction, if any, for members of the public to participate in the meeting that is equipped with videoconference equipment, including an audio and video display, camera and microphone; and have present at the physical location the member of the governmental body who is presiding over the meeting. The notice of the meeting to be held by videoconference must specify the physical location made available for public participation. The bill would take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds majority vote in each house. Otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2013. Based on the analyses of several agencies, it is anticipated that costs to implement the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within existing resources. The Facilities Commission estimates there would be a cost associated with implementing the provisions of the bill. It is anticipated that the additional costs could be absorbed within the agency's existing resources.
The bill would amend Chapter 551 of the Government Code regarding open meetings to authorize a member of a governmental body to participate remotely in a meeting by videoconference call and to authorize a governmental body to hold a meeting by videoconference call. The bill would require that a meeting of a governmental body held by videoconference call: provide at least one suitable physical space located in or within a reasonable distance of the geographic jurisdiction, if any, for members of the public to participate in the meeting that is equipped with videoconference equipment, including an audio and video display, camera and microphone; and have present at the physical location the member of the governmental body who is presiding over the meeting. The notice of the meeting to be held by videoconference must specify the physical location made available for public participation. The bill would take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds majority vote in each house. Otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2013. Based on the analyses of several agencies, it is anticipated that costs to implement the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within existing resources. The Facilities Commission estimates there would be a cost associated with implementing the provisions of the bill. It is anticipated that the additional costs could be absorbed within the agency's existing resources.
Local Government Impact
Fiscal impact to local governments associated with the bill, if any, would be optional, and it assumed videoconferencing would only be implemented if sufficient funds were available.
Fiscal impact to local governments associated with the bill, if any, would be optional, and it assumed videoconferencing would only be implemented if sufficient funds were available.
Source Agencies: 302 Office of the Attorney General, 303 Facilities Commission, 313 Department of Information Resources, 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 601 Department of Transportation, 696 Department of Criminal Justice, 701 Central Education Agency, 720 The University of Texas System Administration, 809 Preservation Board
302 Office of the Attorney General, 303 Facilities Commission, 313 Department of Information Resources, 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 601 Department of Transportation, 696 Department of Criminal Justice, 701 Central Education Agency, 720 The University of Texas System Administration, 809 Preservation Board
LBB Staff: UP, EP, LCO, KJo, SD, AG, KKR
UP, EP, LCO, KJo, SD, AG, KKR