89R3588 GP-F
By: Canales H.B. No. 4991
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to open meetings and public information training for
certain public officials and attorneys regarding the open meetings
and public information laws.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 551.005, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
(a-1) An attorney employed or engaged to assist a public
official or governmental body in administering the
responsibilities of the public official or governmental body under
this chapter shall complete the training required by this section.
The attorney must complete the training regarding the
responsibilities of the governmental body and of its officers and
employees under this chapter not later than the 10th day after the
date the attorney is employed or engaged to assist the public
official or governmental body with those responsibilities. An
attorney may not be compensated by a governmental body for the time
required to take and complete the training unless the attorney is an
employee of the governmental body.
SECTION 2. Section 552.012, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (c-1) to read as
follows:
(c) A public official may designate a public information
coordinator to be [to satisfy the training requirements of this
section for the public official if the public information
coordinator is] primarily responsible for administering the
responsibilities of the public official or governmental body under
this chapter. Designation of a public information coordinator
under this subsection does not relieve a public official from the
duty to comply with this section or any other requirement of this
chapter that applies to the public official. The designated public
information coordinator shall complete the training course
regarding the responsibilities of the governmental body with which
the coordinator serves and of its officers and employees under this
chapter not later than the 90th day after the date the coordinator
assumes the person's duties as coordinator.
(c-1) An attorney employed or engaged to assist a public
official, public information coordinator, or governmental body in
administering the responsibilities of the public official, public
information coordinator, or governmental body under this chapter
shall complete the training required by this section. The attorney
must complete the training regarding the responsibilities of the
governmental body and its officers and employees under this chapter
not later than the 10th day after the date the attorney is employed
or engaged to assist the public official, public information
coordinator, or governmental body with those responsibilities. An
attorney may not be compensated by a governmental body for the time
required to take and complete the training unless the attorney is an
employee of the governmental body.
SECTION 3. (a) Each attorney described by Section
551.005(a-1), Government Code, as added by this Act, who assists a
public official or governmental body in administering the
responsibilities of the public official or governmental body under
Chapter 551 of that code on the effective date of this Act must
complete the course of training required by Section 551.005 of that
code on or before October 1, 2025.
(b) Each attorney described by Section 552.012(c-1),
Government Code, as added by this Act, who assists a public
official, public information coordinator, or governmental body in
administering the responsibilities of the public official, public
information coordinator, or governmental body under Chapter 552 of
that code on the effective date of this Act must complete the course
of training required by Section 552.012 of that code on or before
October 1, 2025.
(c) A public official serving on the effective date of this
Act who has not previously completed the training required by
Section 552.012, Government Code, because the public official
previously designated a public information coordinator to complete
the training requirements for the public official must complete the
training required by Section 552.012, Government Code, as amended
by this Act, on or before January 1, 2026.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.