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.