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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the electronic submission of testimony regarding a bill |
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or resolution before a committee or subcommittee of the |
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legislature. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 323, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 323.0146 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 323.0146. ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF COMMITTEE |
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TESTIMONY ON PENDING LEGISLATION. (a) The council shall provide a |
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link to be posted on the public Internet website of the senate and |
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of the house of representatives to allow a person to access an |
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Internet page on which the person may submit electronic testimony |
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regarding a bill or resolution that is pending before a committee or |
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subcommittee of the applicable house of the legislature. |
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(b) The Internet page must require a person submitting |
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electronic testimony to provide the following: |
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(1) the name of the committee or subcommittee that is |
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considering the bill or resolution; |
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(2) the number of the bill or resolution for which the |
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person is providing testimony and whether the person is for, |
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against, or neutral on the measure; |
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(3) the name, address, and telephone number of the |
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person; |
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(4) whether the person is providing testimony on the |
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person's own behalf or on behalf of any other person, organization, |
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business, class of persons, or group; |
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(5) the type of business, profession, or occupation in |
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which the person is engaged, if the person is providing the |
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testimony on the person's own behalf; |
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(6) a secure acknowledgment by the person that the |
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submitted testimony is a sworn statement that is true and correct; |
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and |
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(7) any other information required by the procedural |
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rules of the senate or the house of representatives, as applicable, |
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of a witness testifying in person before a committee. |
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(c) The council shall ensure that electronic testimony may |
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be submitted under this section only when the bill or resolution is |
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pending before the applicable committee or subcommittee, but not |
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later than the time at which a public hearing to consider the |
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measure is posted to begin. |
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(d) The council shall ensure that electronic testimony |
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submitted under this section is immediately forwarded to the |
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committee e-mail address of the clerk of the committee or |
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subcommittee in which the bill or resolution is pending. |
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(e) Electronic testimony submitted under this section shall |
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be considered for all purposes as if it were provided in person by a |
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witness appearing before the committee or subcommittee. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |