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.