H.B. No. 2004




AN ACT

relating to allowing a commissioners court to deliberate in a 
closed meeting regarding business and financial considerations of a 
contract being negotiated.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 551, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 551.0725 to read as follows:
	Sec. 551.0725.  COMMISSIONERS COURTS: DELIBERATION 
REGARDING CONTRACT BEING NEGOTIATED; CLOSED MEETING.  (a)  The 
commissioners court of a county with a population of 400,000 or more 
may conduct a closed meeting to deliberate business and financial 
issues relating to a contract being negotiated if, before 
conducting the closed meeting:
		(1)  the commissioners court votes unanimously that 
deliberation in an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on 
the position of the commissioners court in negotiations with a 
third person; and
		(2)  the attorney advising the commissioners court 
issues a written determination that deliberation in an open meeting 
would have a detrimental effect on the position of the 
commissioners court in negotiations with a third person.
	(b)  Notwithstanding Section 551.103(a), Government Code, 
the commissioners court must make a tape recording of the 
proceedings of a closed meeting to deliberate the information.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.




______________________________              ______________________________
 
   President of the Senate                               Speaker of the House      

	I certify that H.B. No. 2004 was passed by the House on May 
10, 2003, by the following vote:  Yeas 131, Nays 0, 1 present, not 
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. 
No. 2004 on May 29, 2003, by the following vote:  Yeas 139, Nays 1, 
2 present, not voting.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House   

	
I certify that H.B. No. 2004 was passed by the Senate, with 
amendments, on May 27, 2003, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 
0.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                      Secretary of the Senate   



APPROVED: __________________                                                
 
                Date                                                         




 
         __________________                                              
 
              Governor