By Bivins S.B. No. 839 75R2734 JRD-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to allowing a governmental body to hold a meeting by 1-3 videoconference call. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter F, Chapter 551, 1-6 Government Code, is amended to read as follows: 1-7 SUBCHAPTER F. MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE CONFERENCE CALL 1-8 OR VIDEOCONFERENCE CALL 1-9 SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 551, Government Code, is 1-10 amended by adding Section 551.126 to read as follows: 1-11 Sec. 551.126. VIDEOCONFERENCE CALL. (a) Except as 1-12 otherwise provided by this section, this chapter does not prohibit 1-13 a governmental body from holding an open or closed meeting by 1-14 videoconference call. 1-15 (b) A meeting held by videoconference call is subject to the 1-16 notice requirements applicable to other meetings in addition to the 1-17 notice requirement prescribed by this section. 1-18 (c) The notice of a meeting to be held by videoconference 1-19 call must specify as the location of the meeting the location where 1-20 meetings of the governmental body are usually held. 1-21 (d) Each part of the meeting held by videoconference call 1-22 that is required to be open to the public shall be visible and 1-23 audible to the public at the location specified in the notice of 1-24 the meeting as the location of the meeting. 2-1 (e) The governmental body shall make at least an audio 2-2 recording of the meeting. The recording shall be made available to 2-3 the public. 2-4 (f) The location specified under Subsection (c) shall have 2-5 two-way audio and video communications with each participant in the 2-6 meeting during the entire meeting. On convening the meeting, the 2-7 presiding officer shall identify each member participating in the 2-8 meeting. 2-9 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and 2-10 applies only to a meeting for which notice is given under Chapter 2-11 551, Government Code, on or after that date. 2-12 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 2-13 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-14 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-15 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-16 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.