By:  Lindsay                                                              S.B. No. 152



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the application of the open meetings law and the public 
information law to meetings and information regarding certain 
response plans of a municipal hospital or hospital district.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 551, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 551.090 to read as follows:
	Sec. 551.090.  CERTAIN DELIBERATIONS OF GOVERNING BOARD OF 
MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL OR HOSPITAL DISTRICT.  This chapter does not 
require the governing board of a municipal hospital or a hospital 
district created under general or special law to conduct an open 
meeting to deliberate the details, or specific occasions for 
implementation, of a plan for responding to a natural, 
technological, or man-made hazard or to an act of terrorism.
	SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 552, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 552.145 to read as follows:
	Sec. 552.145.  EXCEPTION:  CERTAIN RESPONSE PLANS OF 
MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL OR HOSPITAL DISTRICT.  Information is excepted 
from the requirements of Section 552.021 if:
		(1)  the information relates to a plan of a municipal 
hospital or a hospital district for responding to a natural, 
technological, or man-made hazard or to an act of terrorism; and
		(2)  the municipal hospital or hospital district 
believes that disclosure of the information would interfere with 
the implementation of that response plan by the municipal hospital 
or hospital district.
	SECTION 3.  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.