By McClendon                                            H.B. No. 35
         77R1149 JD-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the meeting of a governmental body held by
 1-3     videoconference call.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Sections 551.127(b) and (d), Government Code, are
 1-6     amended to read as follows:
 1-7           (b)  A meeting may be held by videoconference call among the
 1-8     members [only if a quorum] of the governmental body.  One or more
 1-9     members of the governmental body participating in the meeting held
1-10     by videoconference call may be [is] physically present at any [one]
1-11     location of the meeting specified under Subsection (d).
1-12           (d)  The notice of a meeting to be held by videoconference
1-13     call must specify as a location of the meeting each [the] location
1-14     where a member [quorum] of the governmental body who will
1-15     participate in the meeting will be physically present [and specify
1-16     the intent to have a quorum present at that location.  In addition,
1-17     the notice of the meeting must specify as a location of the meeting
1-18     each other location where a member of the governmental body who
1-19     will participate in the meeting will be physically present during
1-20     the meeting].  Each location where a member of the governmental
1-21     body participating in the meeting is physically present [of the
1-22     locations] shall be open to the public during the open portions of
1-23     the meeting.
1-24           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.