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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain notice requirements for municipalities and |
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counties 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. Section 551.0415, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 551.0415. GOVERNING BODY OF MUNICIPALITY OR |
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COUNTY: REPORTS ABOUT ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST REGARDING WHICH |
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NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN. (a) Notwithstanding Sections 551.041 and |
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551.042, a quorum of the governing body of a municipality or county |
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may receive from [municipal] staff of the political subdivision and |
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a member of the governing body may make a report about items of |
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community interest during a meeting of the governing body without |
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having given notice of the subject of the report as required by this |
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subchapter if no action is taken and, except as provided by Section |
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551.042, possible action is not discussed regarding the information |
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provided in the report. |
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(b) For purposes of Subsection (a), "items of community |
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interest" includes: |
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(1) expressions of thanks, congratulations, or |
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condolence; |
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(2) information regarding holiday schedules; |
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(3) an honorary or salutary recognition of a public |
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official, public employee, or other citizen, except that a |
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discussion regarding a change in the status of a person's public |
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office or public employment is not an honorary or salutary |
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recognition for purposes of this subdivision; |
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(4) a reminder about an upcoming event organized or |
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sponsored by the governing body; |
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(5) information regarding a social, ceremonial, or |
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community event organized or sponsored by an entity other than the |
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governing body that was attended or is scheduled to be attended by a |
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member of the governing body or an official or employee of the |
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political subdivision [municipality]; and |
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(6) announcements involving an imminent threat to the |
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public health and safety of people in the political subdivision |
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[municipality] that has arisen after the posting of the agenda. |
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SECTION 2. Section 551.050, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 551.050. MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTAL BODY: PLACE OF |
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POSTING NOTICE. (a) In this section, "electronic bulletin board" |
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means an electronic communication system that includes a |
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perpetually illuminated screen on which the governmental body can |
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post messages or notices viewable without manipulation by the |
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public. |
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(b) A municipal governmental body shall post notice of each |
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meeting on a physical or electronic bulletin board at a place |
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convenient to the public in the city hall. |
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SECTION 3. 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, 2011. |