1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to consultations between a governmental body and its
 1-3     attorney.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 551, Government Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 551.129 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 551.129.  CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN GOVERNMENTAL BODY AND
 1-8     ITS ATTORNEY.  (a)  A governmental body may use a telephone
 1-9     conference call, video conference call, or communications over the
1-10     Internet to conduct a public consultation with its attorney in an
1-11     open meeting of the governmental body or a private consultation
1-12     with its attorney in a closed meeting of the governmental body.
1-13           (b)  Each part of a public consultation by a governmental
1-14     body with its attorney in an open meeting of the governmental body
1-15     under Subsection (a) must be audible to the public at the location
1-16     specified in the notice of the meeting as the location of the
1-17     meeting.
1-18           (c)  Subsection (a) does not:
1-19                 (1)  authorize the members of a governmental body to
1-20     conduct a meeting of the governmental body by telephone conference
1-21     call, video conference call, or communications over the Internet;
1-22     or
1-23                 (2)  create an exception to the application of this
1-24     subchapter.
1-25           (d)  Subsection (a) does not apply to a consultation with an
 2-1     attorney who is an employee of the governmental body.
 2-2           (e)  For purposes of Subsection (d), an attorney who receives
 2-3     compensation for legal services performed, from which employment
 2-4     taxes are deducted by the governmental body, is an employee of the
 2-5     governmental body.
 2-6           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
 2-7     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
 2-8     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
 2-9     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-10     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 695 passed the Senate on
         March 20, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0, one
         present, not voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 695 passed the House on
         April 24, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 145, Nays 0, two
         present, not voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                Chief Clerk of the House
         Approved:
         _______________________________
                      Date
         _______________________________
                    Governor