1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the application of the open meetings law to  attendance
 1-3     at a legislative committee or agency meeting by a quorum of another
 1-4     governmental body.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 551, Government Code, is
 1-7     amended by adding Section 551.0035 to read as follows:
 1-8           Sec. 551.0035.  ATTENDANCE BY GOVERNMENTAL BODY AT
 1-9     LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE OR AGENCY MEETING.  (a)  This section applies
1-10     only to the attendance by a quorum of a governmental body at a
1-11     meeting of a committee or agency of the legislature.  This section
1-12     does not apply to attendance at the meeting by members of the
1-13     legislative committee or agency holding the meeting.
1-14           (b)  The attendance by a quorum of a governmental body at a
1-15     meeting of a committee or agency of the legislature is not
1-16     considered to be a meeting of that governmental body if the
1-17     deliberations at the meeting by the members of that governmental
1-18     body consist only of publicly testifying at the meeting, publicly
1-19     commenting at the meeting, and publicly responding at the meeting
1-20     to a question asked by a member of the legislative committee or
1-21     agency.
1-22           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-23     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-24     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
1-25     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
 2-1     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 170 passed the Senate on
         February 7, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0, one
         present, not voting; and that the Senate concurred in House
         amendment on May 17, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0,
         one present, not voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 170 passed the House, with
         amendment, on May 11, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 134,
         Nays 0, one present, not voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                Chief Clerk of the House
         Approved:
         _______________________________
                      Date
         _______________________________
                    Governor