House Bill No. 5136 amends the Family Code and Government Code to establish new regulations regarding the governing board of children's advocacy centers in Texas. Key changes include the introduction of a maximum service length of 10 years for board members, with specific eligibility criteria outlined for those wishing to serve. Additionally, the bill mandates that meetings of the governing board must adhere to the open meetings law, ensuring transparency and public access to these meetings. The bill also specifies that notice of meetings must be provided either through the county clerk or by posting on the center's website.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies that while the governing board must generally conduct open meetings, they are not required to do so when discussing matters that involve personally identifiable information about clients. This provision aims to protect the privacy of individuals served by the advocacy centers. The bill includes a transitional provision allowing current board members who have served for 10 or more years to continue their service for an additional two years after the bill's effective date. The act will take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if that threshold is not met.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Family Code 264.404, Government Code 551.001 (Government Code 551, Family Code 264)