2005S0326-1  02/21/05


By:  Zaffirini                                                    S.B. No. 690


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the required posting by a governmental body of a meeting 
of the governmental body that is continued to the following regular 
business day.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 551, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 551.0411 to read as follows:
	Sec. 551.0411.  NOTICE OF MEETING CONTINUED TO FOLLOWING 
DAY.  (a)  Section 551.041 does not require a governmental body 
that recesses a meeting to the following regular business day to 
post notice of the continued meeting if the action is taken in good 
faith and not to circumvent this chapter.
	(b)  If because of a catastrophe the governmental body is 
prevented from convening the continued meeting on the following 
regular business day, the governmental body may convene the 
continued meeting on the next regular business day without posting 
notice of the continued meeting under Section 551.041.
	(c)  In this section, "catastrophe" means a condition or 
occurrence that interferes physically with the ability of a 
governmental body to conduct a meeting, including:
		(1)  fire, flood, earthquake, hurricane, tornado, or 
wind, rain, or snow storm;
		(2)  labor dispute or strike;                                          
		(3)  power failure, transportation failure, or 
interruption of communication facilities;
		(4)  epidemic; or                                                      
		(5)  riot, civil disturbance, enemy attack, or other 
actual or threatened act of lawlessness or violence.
	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, 2005.