By Gallego H.B. No. 1056
77R1252 JSA-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the composition and operation of the general
1-3 investigating committee of the House of Representatives and to the
1-4 appearance of members of a governmental body before a legislative
1-5 committee.
1-6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-7 SECTION 1. Section 301.017(c), Government Code, is amended
1-8 to read as follows:
1-9 (c) The house general investigating committee must consist
1-10 of nine [five] house members appointed by the speaker. The speaker
1-11 shall designate a committee member as chairman.
1-12 SECTION 2. Section 301.020, Government Code, is amended by
1-13 adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
1-14 (e) Information in the custody or control of a general
1-15 investigatory committee that, if released, would interfere with or
1-16 compromise an investigation, study, or other legitimate function of
1-17 the committee is confidential and not subject to public disclosure.
1-18 The committee may waive the confidentiality provided by this
1-19 subsection as the committee determines appropriate. The
1-20 confidentiality provided by this subsection is in addition to any
1-21 other confidentiality or privilege provided by law applicable to
1-22 information in the custody or control of the committee.
1-23 SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 551, Government Code, is
1-24 amended by adding Section 551.0465 to read as follows:
2-1 Sec. 551.0465. EXCEPTION TO GENERAL RULE: APPEARANCE OF
2-2 GOVERNMENTAL BODY BEFORE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE. (a) The public
2-3 notice requirements of this chapter do not apply to a governmental
2-4 body when a quorum of the members of the governmental body appear
2-5 as witnesses at a public meeting of a committee of the legislature
2-6 and engage in a public discussion before the committee of an issue
2-7 within the jurisdiction of the governmental body or other public
2-8 business if:
2-9 (1) public notice of the committee meeting is given as
2-10 required by law;
2-11 (2) the public notice states that members of the
2-12 governmental body are to appear as witnesses at the meeting and
2-13 describes the subject or purpose for which the members of the
2-14 governmental body are to testify; and
2-15 (3) the members of the governmental body do not engage
2-16 in a discussion before the committee of any matter not included
2-17 within the public notice.
2-18 (b) The members of a governmental body appearing as
2-19 witnesses before a committee under this section without providing
2-20 public notice of the meeting of the governmental body may not take
2-21 formal action on any matter within the jurisdiction of the
2-22 governmental body.
2-23 SECTION 4. (a) This Act takes effect immediately if it
2-24 receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
2-25 house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
2-26 If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
2-27 effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
3-1 (b) The speaker of the house of representatives shall
3-2 appoint the appropriate number of additional members of the house
3-3 general investigating committee to comply with Section 301.017(c),
3-4 Government Code, as amended by this Act, as soon as practicable
3-5 after the effective date of this Act.