SRC-TNM S.B. 1850 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1850 By: Armbrister State Affairs 4-23-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, Texas law privatizes numerous government functions. Private companies receiving government money to perform government functions are not required to make those records available to the public. S.B. 1850 would require private companies receiving government money to perform government functions to make those records available to the public and at a reasonable cost. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1850 outlines provisions regarding the requirement of open meetings and public disclosure of information by the governing bodies of entities that are parties to certain contracts with the state. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 552.003, Government Code, to redefine "governmental body" and define "governmental function." Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 2. Amends Section 552.021, Government Code, to set forth provisions regarding the availability of public information. Makes a conforming change. SECTION 3. Amends Section 551.001, Government Code, to redefine "governmental body" and "meeting" when applied to a governmental body as defined in Subdivision (3)(A)-(1) and to define "governmental function." Defines "meeting" when applied to a governmental body as defined by Subdivision (3)(J). Makes conforming changes. SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 1997. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 5. Emergency clause.