87R23429 SGM-F
By: Jetton H.B. No. 3253
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3253:
By: Harris C.S.H.B. No. 3253
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to meetings held by certain conservation and reclamation
districts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 49.064, Water Code, is amended to read as
follows:
Sec. 49.064. MEETINGS. (a) The board shall hold such
regular and special meetings as may be necessary for the proper
conduct of the district's business. Except as otherwise provided
by this section, all [All] meetings shall be conducted in
accordance with the open meetings law, Chapter 551, Government
Code. A meeting of a committee of the board, or a committee
composed of representatives of more than one board, where less than
a quorum of any one board is present is not subject to the
provisions of the open meetings law, Chapter 551, Government Code.
(b) Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, including
Sections 551.125, 551.127, and 551.131 of that code, or any other
law, the board may hold an open or closed meeting by telephone
conference call, videoconference, or other similar
telecommunication method. The board may use a telephone conference
call, videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method
for purposes of establishing a quorum, for voting, or for any other
meeting purpose.
(c) A meeting held by telephone conference call,
videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method is
subject to the notice requirements applicable to other board
meetings.
(d) The notice of a meeting to be held by telephone
conference call, videoconference, or other similar
telecommunication method must include:
(1) a toll-free telephone number or free-of-charge
access information for any audiovisual or audio-only feeds that
members of the public may use to hear and, if applicable, speak at
the meeting; and
(2) instructions for a member of the public on how to
use a remote access method described by Subdivision (1) to speak at
the meeting from a remote location.
(e) If the board prepares an agenda packet or regular
written reports that would have been distributed to members of the
public at a face-to-face meeting, the board shall make the packet
and any reports available electronically.
(f) If the board holds a meeting by telephone conference
call, videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method,
the board shall make a recording of the meeting with clear audio
quality. The board shall make the recording available to the public
for at least one year after the date of the 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, 2021.