By West H.B. No. 876 77R2235 MTB-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to a notice given to a legislator before a state agency 1-3 releases information to the news media. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 553, Government Code, is amended by 1-6 adding Subchapter C to read as follows: 1-7 SUBCHAPTER C. NOTICE TO LEGISLATOR ABOUT RELEASE OF INFORMATION 1-8 Sec. 553.041. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "state 1-9 regulatory agency" means a board, commission, department, office, 1-10 or other agency, other than an elected official, that: 1-11 (1) is in the executive branch of state government; 1-12 (2) is created by the constitution or a statute of 1-13 this state; 1-14 (3) has statewide jurisdiction; and 1-15 (4) has authority to grant, deny, renew, suspend, or 1-16 revoke a license, permit, certificate, registration, or other form 1-17 of permission to engage in an occupation, operate a business, or 1-18 engage in another activity. 1-19 Sec. 553.042. NOTICE. (a) Before a state regulatory agency 1-20 releases information to the news media in the form of a press 1-21 release or a press conference that relates to the impact of an 1-22 agency regulatory activity on a specific individual, business, 1-23 governmental entity, or other person in a state legislative 1-24 district, the agency shall make a reasonable attempt to give each 2-1 member of the legislature who represents the district a notice of 2-2 the release of information. 2-3 (b) The executive director of the state regulatory agency 2-4 shall ensure that notice is given as provided by this section. 2-5 (c) The notice may be given by any method, including a 2-6 telephone communication. 2-7 (d) A violation of Subsection (a) subjects a person 2-8 responsible for releasing information to the news media, including 2-9 the executive director of the state regulatory agency, to discharge 2-10 from employment or removal from office. 2-11 (e) Before the discharge from employment or removal from 2-12 office, the governing body of the state regulatory agency shall 2-13 hold a hearing to determine the responsibility for the release of 2-14 information to the news media. 2-15 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.