By: Seliger S.B. No. 1092
(In the Senate - Filed February 24, 2017; March 7, 2017,
read first time and referred to Committee on Higher Education;
April 24, 2017, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 1; April 24, 2017,
sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1092 By: Seliger
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to access to certain meetings and information of private
or independent institutions of higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 61.226, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 61.226. APPLICATION OF LAWS TO RECEIVING INSTITUTIONS.
(a) Any college or university receiving any benefit under the
provisions of this subchapter, either directly or indirectly, shall
be subject to all present or future laws enacted by the legislature.
(b) The governing board of a college or university with
enrolled students who receive tuition equalization grants under
this subchapter in an annual amount of $9 million or more:
(1) must, except as provided by Subdivision (2), open
each meeting of the governing board to the public, broadcast the
meeting on the college's or university's Internet website, and
publish the minutes of the meeting on the college's or university's
Internet website;
(2) may meet in executive session or otherwise conduct
a closed meeting only in the manner provided for a governmental body
by Chapter 551, Government Code;
(3) must publish all governing documents publicly on
the college's or university's Internet website, including any
bylaws, codes of conduct, confidentiality agreements, conflict of
interest policies, or operating procedures;
(4) must make all board committee membership and board
committee charges available to the public; and
(5) may not require members of the governing board to
enter into a nondisclosure agreement to obtain access to
information described by this subsection, including a matter
discussed or considered in an open meeting under Subdivision (1).
(c) Subsection (b) and this subsection expire September 1,
2019.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
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