H.B. No. 2508
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the authority of a governmental body to hold an open or
    1-3  closed meeting by telephone conference call.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 551, Government Code, is
    1-6  amended by adding Section 551.125 to read as follows:
    1-7        Sec. 551.125.  OTHER GOVERNMENTAL BODY.  (a)  Except as
    1-8  otherwise provided by this subchapter, this chapter does not
    1-9  prohibit a governmental body from holding an open or closed meeting
   1-10  by telephone conference call.
   1-11        (b)  A meeting held by telephone conference call may be held
   1-12  only if:
   1-13              (1)  an emergency or public necessity exists within the
   1-14  meaning of Section 551.045 of this chapter; and
   1-15              (2)  the convening at one location of a quorum of the
   1-16  governmental body is difficult or impossible; or
   1-17              (3)  the meeting is held by an advisory board.
   1-18        (c)  The telephone conference call meeting is subject to the
   1-19  notice requirements applicable to other meetings.
   1-20        (d)  The notice of the telephone conference call meeting must
   1-21  specify as the location of the meeting the location where meetings
   1-22  of the governmental body are usually held.
   1-23        (e)  Each part of the telephone conference call meeting that
   1-24  is required to be open to the public shall be audible to the public
    2-1  at the location specified in the notice of the meeting as the
    2-2  location of the meeting and shall be tape-recorded.  The tape
    2-3  recording shall be made available to the public.
    2-4        (f)  The location designated in the notice as the location of
    2-5  the meeting shall provide two-way communication during the entire
    2-6  telephone conference call meeting and the identification of each
    2-7  party to the telephone conference shall be clearly stated prior to
    2-8  speaking.
    2-9        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
   2-10  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   2-11  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-12  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-13  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   2-14  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   2-15  passage, and it is so enacted.