HBA-ALS H.B. 2241 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2241
By: Hupp
State Affairs
4/20/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The purpose of this bill is to provide a method by which state agencies can
inform the public about the agency's work and its effects on residents of
the state.  H.B. 2241 allows state agency officials to travel to various
parts of the state in order to hold town hall meetings to discuss the work
of the agency and how the agency affects the residents of an area. 

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 Chapter 651, Government Code, by adding Section 651.005,
as follows:  

Sec. 651.005.  TOWN HALL MEETINGS.  (a) Defines "state agency" to mean an
office, institution, or other agency in any branch of state government.  

(b)  Authorizes a state officer who governs a state agency, a member of the
governing body of a state agency, and the administrative head of a state
agency to travel to any region of the state for the purpose of holding
meetings in the nature of a town hall meeting to talk to and receive
questions from members of the public about the agency's work and how it
affects residents of that area.  

SECTION 2.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.