87(R) SB 639 - Introduced version - Bill Text

	87R5552 JON-D
	By:  Men  ndez	S.B.  No.  639

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to remote meetings under the open meetings law.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION  1.    Section 551.125, Government Code, is amended by
	adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
	(g)    Without regard to whether a member of the governmental
	body is participating in a meeting from a remote location by
	telephone conference call, a governmental body may allow a member
	of the public to speak at a meeting from a remote location by
	telephone conference call.
	SECTION  2.    Section 551.127, Government Code, is amended by
	amending Subsections (a-3), (b), (d), (e), and (k) and adding
	Subsection (l) to read as follows:
	(a-3)    A member of a governmental body who participates in a
	meeting by videoconference call shall be considered absent from any
	portion of the meeting during which audio or video communication
	with the member is lost or disconnected. The governmental body may
	continue the meeting only if members in a number sufficient to
	constitute a quorum of the body remain audible and visible to each
	other and, during the open portion of the meeting, to the public
	[remains present at the meeting location or, if applicable,
	continues to participate in a meeting conducted under Subsection
	(c)].
	(b)    A meeting may be held by videoconference call only if
	the member of the governmental body presiding over the meeting is
	physically present at the location specified under Subsection
	(e)(1) [a quorum of the governmental body is physically present at
	one location of the meeting, except as provided by Subsection (c)].
	(d)    A meeting held by videoconference call is subject to the
	notice requirements applicable to other meetings except as
	otherwise provided by Subsection (e) [in addition to the notice
	requirements prescribed by this section].
	(e)    The notice of a meeting to be held by videoconference
	call must:
	(1)    specify as the location of the meeting the
	location where the member of the governmental body presiding over
	the meeting will be physically present;
	(2)    indicate that the meeting will be held by
	videoconference call under this section;
	(3)    list each physical location where members of the
	public may observe or participate in the meeting, including:
	(A)    any location that is open to the public where
	a member of the governmental body intends to participate in the
	meeting; and
	(B)    any facility provided by the governmental
	body for members of the public to observe or speak at the meeting;
	(4)    include access information for both audio-only and
	audiovisual feeds of the meeting; and
	(5)    if applicable, include instructions for a member
	of the public to speak at the meeting from a remote location or
	while physically present at a location described by Subdivision (3)
	[specify as a location of the meeting the location where a quorum of
	the governmental body will be physically present and specify the
	intent to have a quorum present at that location, except that the
	notice of a meeting to be held by videoconference call under
	Subsection (c) must specify as a location of the meeting the
	location where the member of the governmental body presiding over
	the meeting will be physically present and specify the intent to
	have the member of the governmental body presiding over the meeting
	present at that location. The location where the member of the
	governmental body presiding over the meeting is physically present
	shall be open to the public during the open portions of the
	meeting].
	(k)    Without regard to whether a member of the governmental
	body is participating in a meeting from a remote location by
	videoconference call, a governmental body may allow a person to
	speak [member of the public to testify] at a meeting from a remote
	location by videoconference call.
	(l)    The location where the member of the governmental body
	presiding over the meeting is physically present shall be open to
	the public during the open portions of the meeting.
	SECTION  3.    Section 33.256(b), Education Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	(b)    Section  551.125, Government Code, applies to a meeting
	held by conference call under this section[, except that
	Section  551.125(b), Government Code, does not apply].