HBA-ALS C.S.H.B. 595 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 595 By: Maxey State Affairs 3/17/1999 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, testing committees and other entities that approve the contents of licensing examinations are required to deliberate a test item and information relating to a test item in an open meeting. Therefore, potential test-takers may obtain advance access to test questions. C.S.H.B. 595 allows testing committees and other entities that approve the contents of a licensing examination to deliberate a test item or information relating to a test item in a closed session. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 551, Government Code, by adding Section 551.086, as follows: Sec. 551.086. DELIBERATION REGARDING TEST ITEM. Provides that a governmental body is not required to conduct an open meeting to deliberate a test item or information related to a test item if the governmental body believes it may be included in a test administered by the governmental body to individuals seeking to obtain or renew a license or certificate that is necessary to engage in an activity. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE C.S.H.B. 595 modifies the original bill to specify that this exemption from the Open Meetings Act relates to tests administered to individuals, rather than persons, seeking a license or certificate necessary to engage in an activity. Deletes reference to an "other form of permission" necessary to engage in an activity.