| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to requirements for open meetings that are broadcast over |
|
|
the Internet or held by telephone conference or videoconference |
|
|
call. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 551, Government Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 551.008 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 551.008. PUBLIC ACCESS TO CERTAIN MEETINGS. (a) This |
|
|
section applies only to an open meeting of a governmental body that: |
|
|
(1) is held wholly or partly by: |
|
|
(A) telephone conference call; or |
|
|
(B) videoconference call; |
|
|
(2) is broadcast live over the Internet; or |
|
|
(3) uses a combination of those methods. |
|
|
(b) The requirements prescribed by this section are in |
|
|
addition to other requirements of law applicable to an open |
|
|
meeting. Except as provided by this section, this section prevails |
|
|
to the extent of a conflict with another provision of law. |
|
|
(c) A governmental body shall ensure that members of the |
|
|
public are able to listen to and, if applicable, speak at an open |
|
|
meeting to which this section applies by telephone. |
|
|
(d) A governmental body that holds an open meeting to which |
|
|
this section applies shall: |
|
|
(1) make the open meeting audible to the public by |
|
|
telephone and at each location described by Subsection (e)(2); |
|
|
(2) if the meeting is broadcast live over the Internet |
|
|
or held wholly or partly by videoconference call, provide public |
|
|
access to both audiovisual and audio-only feeds of the open meeting |
|
|
over the Internet; and |
|
|
(3) if applicable, allow members of the public to |
|
|
address the governmental body as provided by Section 551.007: |
|
|
(A) by telephone; and |
|
|
(B) by videoconference call if the meeting is |
|
|
held wholly or partly by videoconference call. |
|
|
(e) The notice of an open meeting to which this section |
|
|
applies must: |
|
|
(1) comply with the terms of Chapter 551; |
|
|
(2) list each physical location where a member of the |
|
|
public may observe and 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 a member of the public to observe or speak at the meeting; |
|
|
(3) include a toll free telephone number that members |
|
|
of the public may use to hear and, if applicable, speak at the |
|
|
meeting; |
|
|
(4) include access information for any audiovisual or |
|
|
audio-only feeds required by Subsection (d)(2); and |
|
|
(5) include instructions for a member of the public to |
|
|
speak at the meeting: |
|
|
(A) from a remote location; or |
|
|
(B) while physically present at a location |
|
|
described by Subdivision (2). |
|
|
(f) An open meeting to which this section applies shall be |
|
|
recorded. Except as otherwise provided by law, the recording shall |
|
|
be made available to the public not later than 24 hours after the |
|
|
adjourning of the meeting. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 551.041(a), Government Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) A governmental body shall give written notice of the |
|
|
date, hour, place, and subject of each meeting held by the |
|
|
governmental body. Such notice shall include the subjects to be |
|
|
considered in an open meeting and in a closed executive session, |
|
|
indicating whether a subject will be discussed in an open or closed |
|
|
session so that the public is aware of the subjects for public |
|
|
deliberation. |
|
|
SECTION 3. Sections 551.128(b) and (c), Government Code, |
|
|
are amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (b-1) and subject to |
|
|
the requirements of this section, a governmental body may broadcast |
|
|
an open meeting over the Internet. A governmental body shall |
|
|
broadcast an open meeting over the Internet if the physical |
|
|
location of the meeting is not accessible to members of the public |
|
|
or is not large enough to accommodate all persons seeking to attend |
|
|
the meeting in person, including if the location has reduced |
|
|
capacity as the result of a public emergency or disaster. |
|
|
(c) Except as provided by Subsection (b-2), a governmental |
|
|
body that broadcasts a meeting over the Internet shall establish an |
|
|
Internet site and provide free and open access for members of the |
|
|
public to the broadcast from that site. The governmental body shall |
|
|
provide on the Internet site the same notice of the meeting that the |
|
|
governmental body is required to post under Subchapter C. The |
|
|
notice on the Internet must be posted within the time required for |
|
|
posting notice under Subchapter C. |
|
|
SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
|
|
a meeting of a governmental body held on or after the effective date |
|
|
of this Act. |
|
|
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |