SRC-AXB, JBJ S.B. 916 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 916
By: Wentworth
State Affairs
6/30/1999
Enrolled


DIGEST 

Currently, the secretary of state must post a notice of all open meetings
on bulletin boards accessible to the public 24 hours a day.  Bulletin
boards with notices are available outside the secretary of state's office
in the Capitol.  However, at night, because the Capitol is locked, the
official bulletin board is in the lobby of the Rudder State Office Building
where the Department of Public Safety posts a guard.  Additionally,
although the secretary of state posts the official notices on bulletin
boards, state agencies file their open meeting notices with the secretary
of state on-line.   

Making the Internet the official posting site for notices would provide
quicker and wider access to open meetings notices.  A notice will be
available to anyone with Internet access within minutes of the agency's
submission.  The secretary of state would also provide a computer terminal
in the secretary of state's office for the public and could provide copies
of notices to members of the public without Internet access.  S.B. 916
makes the Internet the official site for open meetings notices.  

PURPOSE

As enrolled, S.B. 916 requires the secretary of state to post notices of
open meetings on the Internet. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 551.044(a), Government Code, by requiring the
secretary of state to post certain meetings on the Internet.  Requires the
secretary of state to provide a computer terminal for the public to view
the notices of meetings. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 551.0148(b), Government Code, by requiring the
secretary of state to post the notice on the Internet, rather than on a
bulletin board, and to provide a computer terminal for the public to view
the notice.  Makes a nonsubstantive change. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 551.053(b), Government Code, to make conforming
changes. 

SECTION 4.Effective date: September 1, 1999.
  Makes application of this Act prospective.