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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain meetings of a commissioners court during a |
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disaster or emergency. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 551, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 551.091 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 551.091. COMMISSIONERS COURTS: DELIBERATION |
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REGARDING DISASTER OR EMERGENCY. (a) This section applies only to |
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the commissioners court of a county: |
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(1) for which the governor has issued an executive |
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order or proclamation declaring a state of disaster or a state of |
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emergency; and |
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(2) in which transportation to the meeting location is |
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dangerous or difficult as a result of the disaster or emergency. |
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(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter and |
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subject to Subsection (c), a commissioners court to which this |
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section applies may hold an open or closed meeting, including a |
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telephone conference call, solely to deliberate about disaster or |
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emergency conditions and related public safety matters that require |
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an immediate response without complying with the requirements of |
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this chapter, including the requirement to provide notice before |
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the meeting or to first convene in an open meeting. |
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(c) To the extent practicable under the circumstances, the |
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commissioners court shall provide reasonable public notice of a |
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meeting under this section and if the meeting is an open meeting |
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allow members of the public and the press to observe the meeting. |
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(d) The commissioners court: |
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(1) may not vote or take final action on a matter |
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during a meeting under this section; and |
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(2) shall prepare and keep minutes or a recording of a |
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meeting under this section and make the minutes or recording |
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available to the public as soon as practicable. |
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(e) This section expires September 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |