LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 87TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION March 10, 2021 TO: Honorable Chris Paddie, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB327 by Howard (Relating to the Internet broadcast or audio recording of certain open meetings.), As Introduced No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would amend Chapter 551 of the Government Code to require certain agencies to broadcast open meetings live over the internet and make an archived broadcast available online for two years. These provisions of the bill would apply to agencies within the executive or legislative branch that receive an annual appropriation of $10 million or more in General Revenue, including transfers, and have 100 or more full-time employees. The bill would require agencies within the executive or legislative branch that do not meet these criteria to make an archived audio recording of an open meeting. The bill would apply only to open meetings that take place on or after September 1, 2023.Many large agencies currently comply with provisions of the bill that require video broadcasting and archiving of open meetings on the internet. It is assumed that most large agencies could implement requirements of the bill within existing resources. Costs associated with implementing provisions of the bill could be significant for smaller agencies. For example, the Texas Medical Board indicates significant costs associated with increasing network bandwidth and contracting with a third-party vendor to implement the provisions of the bill. Local Government ImpactNo fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: b > td > 305 General Land Office, 306 Library & Archives Commission, 307 Secretary of State, 313 Department of Information Resources, 332 Dept Housing-Comm Affairs, 360 Office Adm Hearings, 401 Military Department, 452 Dept of License & Reg, 455 Railroad Commission, 479 State Office of Risk Management, 503 Texas Medical Board, 554 Animal Health Commission, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 608 Department of Motor Vehicles, 808 Historical Commission LBB Staff: b > td > JMc, SMat, SD, BRi
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 87TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
March 10, 2021
TO: Honorable Chris Paddie, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB327 by Howard (Relating to the Internet broadcast or audio recording of certain open meetings.), As Introduced
TO: Honorable Chris Paddie, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs
FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB327 by Howard (Relating to the Internet broadcast or audio recording of certain open meetings.), As Introduced
Honorable Chris Paddie, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs
Honorable Chris Paddie, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
HB327 by Howard (Relating to the Internet broadcast or audio recording of certain open meetings.), As Introduced
HB327 by Howard (Relating to the Internet broadcast or audio recording of certain open meetings.), As Introduced
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 to require certain agencies to broadcast open meetings live over the internet and make an archived broadcast available online for two years. These provisions of the bill would apply to agencies within the executive or legislative branch that receive an annual appropriation of $10 million or more in General Revenue, including transfers, and have 100 or more full-time employees. The bill would require agencies within the executive or legislative branch that do not meet these criteria to make an archived audio recording of an open meeting. The bill would apply only to open meetings that take place on or after September 1, 2023.Many large agencies currently comply with provisions of the bill that require video broadcasting and archiving of open meetings on the internet. It is assumed that most large agencies could implement requirements of the bill within existing resources. Costs associated with implementing provisions of the bill could be significant for smaller agencies. For example, the Texas Medical Board indicates significant costs associated with increasing network bandwidth and contracting with a third-party vendor to implement the provisions of the bill.
Many large agencies currently comply with provisions of the bill that require video broadcasting and archiving of open meetings on the internet. It is assumed that most large agencies could implement requirements of the bill within existing resources. Costs associated with implementing provisions of the bill could be significant for smaller agencies. For example, the Texas Medical Board indicates significant costs associated with increasing network bandwidth and contracting with a third-party vendor to implement the provisions of the bill.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies: b > td > 305 General Land Office, 306 Library & Archives Commission, 307 Secretary of State, 313 Department of Information Resources, 332 Dept Housing-Comm Affairs, 360 Office Adm Hearings, 401 Military Department, 452 Dept of License & Reg, 455 Railroad Commission, 479 State Office of Risk Management, 503 Texas Medical Board, 554 Animal Health Commission, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 608 Department of Motor Vehicles, 808 Historical Commission
305 General Land Office, 306 Library & Archives Commission, 307 Secretary of State, 313 Department of Information Resources, 332 Dept Housing-Comm Affairs, 360 Office Adm Hearings, 401 Military Department, 452 Dept of License & Reg, 455 Railroad Commission, 479 State Office of Risk Management, 503 Texas Medical Board, 554 Animal Health Commission, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 608 Department of Motor Vehicles, 808 Historical Commission
LBB Staff: b > td > JMc, SMat, SD, BRi
JMc, SMat, SD, BRi