By Junell                                       H.B. No. 1919

      75R6853 CAG-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to public comment at public meetings of certain county

 1-3     bodies.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 81, Local Government Code,

 1-6     is amended by adding Section 81.008 to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 81.008. PUBLIC COMMENT.  The commissioners court shall

 1-8     develop and implement policies that provide the public with a

 1-9     reasonable opportunity to appear before the commissioners court at

1-10     a meeting held during each regular term of the court and to speak

1-11     on any issue under the jurisdiction of the court.

1-12           SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 152, Local Government Code,

1-13     is amended by adding Section 152.019 to read as follows:

1-14           Sec. 152.019. PUBLIC COMMENT.  A salary grievance committee

1-15     shall develop and implement policies that provide the public with a

1-16     reasonable opportunity to appear before the committee at each of

1-17     its meetings and to speak on any issue under the jurisdiction of

1-18     the committee.

1-19           SECTION 3.  (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), this

1-20     Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-21           (b)  A commissioners court and a county salary grievance

1-22     committee shall adopt a policy under Section 81.008, Local

1-23     Government Code, or Section 152.019, Local Government Code, as

1-24     amended by this Act, not later than October 1, 1997.

 2-1           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-2     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-3     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-4     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-5     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.