86R229 SRS-D
By: Zerwas H.B. No. 62
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to certain meetings of a commissioners court during a
disaster or emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 551, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 551.091 to read as follows:
Sec. 551.091. COMMISSIONERS COURTS: DELIBERATION REGARDING
DISASTER OR EMERGENCY. (a) This section applies only to the
commissioners court of a county:
(1) for which the governor has issued an executive
order or proclamation declaring a state of disaster or a state of
emergency; and
(2) in which transportation is dangerous or difficult
as a result of the disaster or emergency.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a
commissioners court to which this section applies may hold an open
or closed meeting, including a telephone conference call, solely to
deliberate about disaster or emergency conditions and related
public safety matters without complying with the requirements of
this chapter, including the requirement to provide notice before
the meeting or to first convene in an open meeting.
(c) To the extent practicable under the circumstances, the
commissioners court should provide reasonable public notice of a
meeting under this section and allow members of the public and the
press to observe the meeting.
(d) The commissioners court:
(1) may not vote or take final action on a matter
during a meeting under this section; and
(2) shall prepare and keep minutes or a recording of a
meeting under this section and make the minutes or recording
available to the public as soon as practicable.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.