By: Ogden S.B. No. 536 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to restrictions on certain actions involving the executive 1-2 head of a state agency; providing a penalty. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 6, Government Code, is amended 1-5 by adding Chapter 666 to read as follows: 1-6 CHAPTER 666. RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN ACTIONS INVOLVING 1-7 EXECUTIVE HEAD OF STATE AGENCY 1-8 Sec. 666.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: 1-9 (1) "Executive head of a state agency" means the 1-10 director, executive director, commissioner, administrator, chief 1-11 clerk, or other individual who is appointed by the governing body 1-12 of the state agency or by another state officer to act as the chief 1-13 executive or administrative officer of the agency and who is not an 1-14 appointed officer. The term includes the chancellor or 1-15 highest-ranking executive officer of a university system and the 1-16 president of a public senior college or university as defined by 1-17 Section 61.003, Education Code. 1-18 (2) "State agency" means: 1-19 (A) a department, commission, board, office, or 1-20 other agency that: 1-21 (i) is in the executive branch of state 1-22 government; 1-23 (ii) has authority that is not limited to 2-1 a geographical portion of the state; and 2-2 (iii) was created by the Texas 2-3 Constitution or a statute of this state; 2-4 (B) a university system or an institution of 2-5 higher education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, 2-6 other than a public junior college; or 2-7 (C) a special-purpose district or authority 2-8 created under the Texas Constitution or a statute of this state. 2-9 Sec. 666.002. REASSIGNMENT OF EXECUTIVE HEAD OF STATE 2-10 AGENCY. The executive head of a state agency may not be reassigned 2-11 to another position in the agency or at another agency that is also 2-12 controlled by the governing body unless the governing body, in an 2-13 open meeting, votes to approve the proposed reassignment. 2-14 Sec. 666.003. CONTRACTING WITH EXECUTIVE HEAD OF STATE 2-15 AGENCY. A state agency may not enter into a contract with the 2-16 executive head of the state agency, with a person who at any time 2-17 during the four years before the date of the contract was the 2-18 executive head of the state agency, or with a person who employs a 2-19 current or former executive head of a state agency affected by this 2-20 section, unless the governing body: 2-21 (1) votes, in an open meeting, to approve the 2-22 contract; and 2-23 (2) notifies the Legislative Budget Board, not later 2-24 than the fifth day before the date of the vote, of the terms of the 2-25 proposed contract. 3-1 Sec. 666.004. ACTIONS INVOLVING EXECUTIVE HEAD OF STATE 3-2 AGENCY ARE OPEN RECORDS. (a) The terms of the reassignment of an 3-3 executive head of a state agency and the terms of a contract with a 3-4 current or former executive head of a state agency are subject to 3-5 disclosure under Chapter 552 and may not be excepted from 3-6 disclosure under that chapter. 3-7 (b) A record that pertains to the reassignment of an 3-8 executive head of a state agency, the terms of a consulting service 3-9 contract with a current or former executive head of a state agency, 3-10 or an agreement under which a state agency has paid or will pay or 3-11 extend any monetary or other consideration to an executive head of 3-12 a state agency in connection with the settlement, compromise, or 3-13 other resolution of any difference between the state agency or 3-14 governing body and a current or former executive head of the state 3-15 agency may not be withheld from public disclosure. A party that 3-16 attempts to withhold from public disclosure a record under this 3-17 subsection commits an offense. An offense under this subsection is 3-18 a Class A misdemeanor. 3-19 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. 3-20 (b) The changes in law made by this Act apply only to a 3-21 contract, reassignment, settlement, compromise, or other resolution 3-22 that takes place or is entered into on or after the effective date 3-23 of this Act. 3-24 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 3-25 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 4-1 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 4-2 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 4-3 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.