| TO: | Honorable Robert Duncan, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB402 by Hill (Relating to a criminal violation of the open meetings law committed by a member of an appraisal district board of directors and to a prohibition on certain communications between a member of the board of directors and the chief appraiser of the district; providing penalties.), As Engrossed |
The bill would amend Section 551 of the Government Code to create new misdemeanor offenses for violations of the open meetings law by any member of an appraisal district board of directors.
Offenses would be punishable by a fine and/or confinement in county jail. The bill would set the minimum fine of $500 and a maximum fine of $1,000 for violations and would limit jail confinement to a minimum of two months and a maximum of one year.
The bill would amend Section 6 of the Tax Code to create a new Class C misdemeanor offense for ex parte communications between a chief executive officer or governing board members of taxing units and the chief appraiser or board of directors of an appraisal district outside of an open meeting.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2007. It would apply only to offenses committed on or after that date.
| Source Agencies: | 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, CT, KJG
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