BILL ANALYSIS
By: Zaffirini
Defense Affairs & State-Federal Relations
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
During the aftermath of Hurricane Rita, some communities, such as San Antonio, were prevented from holding hearings to make decisions about the relocation of thousands of evacuees from the greater Houston area.
SB 1499 authorizes a governmental body that is expected to receive a large number of persons from the area of a declared disaster to post public meetings at least two hours prior to the meeting's scheduled time. This bill requires notice of such a meeting or an addendum to an agenda to be given to members of the news media at least one hour prior to the meeting
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
SB 1499 amends Section 551.045, Government Code, to provide that for purposes of Subsection (b)(2), the sudden relocation of a large number of residents from the area of a declared disaster to a governmental body's jurisdiction is considered a reasonably unforeseeable situation for a reasonable period immediately following the relocation. Notice of an emergency meeting or supplemental notice of an emergency item added to the agenda of a meeting to address a situation described by this subsection must be given to members of the news media as provided by Section 551.047 not later than one hour before the meeting.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.