H.B. 8 78(2)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 8
By: Swinford
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 8 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 December 1, 2003.