By: Williams S.B. No. 293
(In the Senate - Filed January 29, 2013; February 5, 2013,
read first time and referred to Select Committee on Open
Government; February 27, 2013, reported favorably by the following
vote: Yeas 4, Nays 0; February 27, 2013, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the authority of certain water districts to hold
meetings by teleconference or videoconference.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 551, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 551.131 to read as follows:
Sec. 551.131. WATER DISTRICTS. (a) In this section,
"water district" means a river authority, groundwater conservation
district, water control and improvement district, or other district
created under Section 52, Article III, or Section 59, Article XVI,
Texas Constitution.
(b) This section applies only to a water district whose
territory includes land in three or more counties.
(c) A meeting held by telephone conference call or video
conference call authorized by this section may be held only if:
(1) the meeting is a special called meeting and
immediate action is required; and
(2) the convening at one location of a quorum of the
governing body of the applicable water district is difficult or
impossible.
(d) A meeting held by telephone conference call must
otherwise comply with the procedures under Sections 551.125(c),
(d), (e), and (f).
(e) A meeting held by video conference call is subject to
the notice requirements applicable to other meetings. In addition,
a meeting held by video conference call shall:
(1) be visible and audible to the public at the
location specified in the notice of the meeting as the location of
the meeting;
(2) be recorded by audio and video; and
(3) have two-way audio and video communications with
each participant in the meeting during the entire meeting.
SECTION 2. 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, 2013.
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