SRC-JRN C.S.S.B. 839 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   C.S.S.B. 839
By: Bivins
State Affairs
4-25-97
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST 

Currently, no state law authorizes a governmental body to hold a meeting
by videoconference call. However, state boards and commissions are allowed
to hold open or closed meetings via telephone conference call under
certain circumstances.  This bill allows a governmental body to hold a
meeting via videoconference. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.S.B. 839 allows a governmental body to hold a meeting via
videoconference under certain circumstances. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the Department of Information Resources
in SECTION 2 (Section 551.126(h), Government Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 551F, Government Code, as follows:

SUBCHAPTER F.  New heading:  MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE CONFERENCE CALL
OR VIDEOCONFERENCE CALL

SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 551F, Government Code, by adding Section
551.126, as follows: 

Sec. 551.126. VIDEOCONFERENCE CALL.  Provides that this chapter does not
prohibit a governmental body from holding an open or closed meeting by
videoconference call, except as otherwise provided by this section.
Authorizes a meeting to be held by videoconference call only if the
convening at one location of a quorum of the governmental body is
difficult or impossible.  Provides that a meeting held by videoconference
call is subject to the notice requirements applicable to other meetings in
addition to the notice requirement prescribed by this section.  Sets forth
the requirements for the notice of meeting. Requires each portion of the
meeting held by videoconference call that is required to be open to the
public to be visible and audible to the public at the location specified
under Subsection (d).  Requires the governmental body to make at least an
audio recording of the meeting and to make the recording available to the
public.  Requires each location specified under Subsection (d) to have
two-way communication with each other location during the entire meeting.
Requires each participant in the videoconference call, while speaking, to
be clearly visible and audible to each other participant and, during the
open portion of the meeting, to the members of the public in attendance at
a location of the meeting.  Requires the Department of Information
Resources, by rule, to specify minimum standards for audio and video
signals at a meeting held by videoconference call.  Requires the quality
of the audio and video signals perceptible at each location of the meeting
to meet or exceed those standards.  Requires the quality of the audio and
video signals perceptible by members of the public at each location of the
meeting to meet certain requirements. 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1997.
 Makes application of this Act prospective. 
 
SECTION 4. Emergency clause.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Makes a change in the relating clause.

SECTION 2.

Amends Section 551.126, Government Code, to authorize a meeting to be held
by videoconference call only if the convening at one location of a quorum
of the governmental body is difficult or impossible.  Requires the notice
of the meeting to specify as a location of the meeting each location where
a member of the governmental body who will participate in the meeting will
be physically present during the meeting.  Requires each of the locations
to be open to the public during the open portions of the meeting.
Requires each location specified under Subsection (d) to have two-way
communication with each other location during the entire meeting.
Requires each participant in the videoconference call, while speaking, to
be clearly visible and audible to each other participant and, during the
open portion of the meeting, to the members of the public in attendance at
a location of the meeting.  Requires the Department of Information
Resources, by rule, to specify minimum standards for audio and video
signals at a meeting held by videoconference call.  Requires the quality
of the audio and video signals perceptible at each location of the meeting
to meet or exceed those standards.  Requires the quality of the audio and
video signals perceptible by members of the public at each location of the
meeting to meet certain requirements. Deletes a proposed requirement that
the presiding officer identify each member participating in the meeting,
on convening the meeting.  Makes nonsubstantive changes.