H.B. 63 78(1)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 63
By: Cook, Robby
Government Reform
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Legislative Budget Board consists of ten members. Scheduling a board
meeting or hearing with the members necessary to constitute a quorum can
be difficult and at times, not all members are able to participate in the
hearing or meeting due to its location.  House Bill 63 would allow
Legislative Budget Board members to attend a meeting, at which both the
President and Vice President of the board are physically present, by use
of a telephone conference call, video conference call, or other similar
telecommunication device. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

SECTION 1:  Amends Section 322.003 of the Government Code by adding
Subsections (d) and (e) as follows: 

Subsection (d) allows as an exception to Chapter 551 and other law that if
the chairman and vicechairman of the board are physically present at a
meeting, other members of the board may attend the meeting via telephone
conference call, video conferencing call, or other similar
telecommunication device.  The purpose of the subsection is for
constituting a quorum, voting, or for allowing a member to participate
fully in any meeting of the board.  The option is available regardless of
subject of the meeting or topics addressed by the members. 

Subsection (e) specifies that a meeting held by telephone conference call,
video conferencing call or other telecommunication device:  is subject to
the notice requirements applicable to other meetings, must specify in the
hearing notice the location where the chairman and vice-chairman of the
board will physically be present, must be open to the public at the
specified location and audible to the public, and must provide two-way
audio communication between all members of the board in attendance. 

SECTION 2:  Effective Date.


EFFECTIVE DATE

This Act takes effect November 1, 2003.