AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Currently, regional tollway authorities, metropolitan planning organizations, and regional mobility authorities are not required to broadcast their hearings or open meetings live or post audio archives online free of charge.  A person can only gain access to this information by attending the public meetings in person.

 

S.B. 1650 requires regional tollway authorities, metropolitan planning organizations, regional mobility authorities, or the like to broadcast their hearings and open meetings online without a charge to the public.

 

As proposed, S.B. 1650 amends current law relating to Internet broadcasts of open meetings held by governmental bodies, including regional tollway authorities, regional mobility authorities, and metropolitan planning organizations.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 551.128(c), Government Code, to require a governmental body that broadcasts a meeting over the Internet to establish an Internet site and provide access to the broadcast, without charge, from that site.

 

SECTION 2.  Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 366, Transportation Code, by adding Section 366.263, as follows:

 

Sec. 366.263.  INTERNET BROADCAST OF OPEN MEETINGS.  Requires a regional tollway authority (authority), in a manner that complies with Section 551.128(c), Government Code, to broadcast over the Internet live video and audio of each open meeting held by the authority.  Requires the authority, subsequently, to make available through the authority's Internet website archived video and audio for each meeting for which live video and audio was provided under this section.

 

SECTION 3.  Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 370, Transportation Code, by adding Section 370.263, as follows:

 

Sec. 370.263.  INTERNET BROADCAST OF OPEN MEETINGS.  Requires a regional mobility authority (RMA), in a manner that complies with Section 551.128(c), Government Code, to broadcast over the Internet live video and audio of each open meeting held by the RMA.  Requires the RMA, subsequently, to make available through the RMA's Internet website archived video and audio for each meeting for which live video and audio was provided under this section.

 

SECTION 4.  Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 472, Transportation Code, by adding Section 472.036, as follows:

 

Sec. 472.036.  INTERNET BROADCAST OF OPEN MEETINGS.  Requires a metropolitan planning organization (organization), in a manner that complies with Section 551.128(c), Government Code, to broadcast over the Internet live video and audio of each open meeting held by the organization.  Requires the organization, subsequently, to make available through the organization's Internet website archived video and audio for each meeting for which live video and audio was provided under this section.

 

SECTION 5.  Provides that the changes in law made by this Act apply only to an open meeting held on or after the effective date of this Act.

 

SECTION 6.  Effective date: September 1, 2013.