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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the attendance by a quorum of a governmental body at |
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certain events under the open meetings law. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subdivision (4), Section 551.001, Government |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(4) "Meeting" means: |
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(A) a deliberation between a quorum of a |
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governmental body, or between a quorum of a governmental body and |
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another person, during which public business or public policy over |
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which the governmental body has supervision or control is discussed |
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or considered or during which the governmental body takes formal |
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action; or |
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(B) except as otherwise provided by this |
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subdivision, a gathering: |
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(i) that is conducted by the governmental |
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body or for which the governmental body is responsible; |
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(ii) at which a quorum of members of the |
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governmental body is present; |
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(iii) that has been called by the |
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governmental body; and |
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(iv) at which the members receive |
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information from, give information to, ask questions of, or receive |
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questions from any third person, including an employee of the |
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governmental body, about the public business or public policy over |
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which the governmental body has supervision or control. |
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The term does not include the gathering of a quorum of a |
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governmental body at a social function unrelated to the public |
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business that is conducted by the body, or the attendance by a |
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quorum of a governmental body at a regional, state, or national |
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convention or workshop, ceremonial event, or press conference, if |
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formal action is not taken and any discussion of public business is |
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incidental to the social function, convention, [or] workshop, |
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ceremonial event, or press conference. |
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The term includes a session of a governmental body. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |