83R6095 AED-D

By: Ritter H.B. No. 1339

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of certain water districts to hold meetings by teleconference or videoconference.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 551, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 551.131 to read as follows:

Sec. 551.131. WATER DISTRICTS. (a) In this section, "water district" means a river authority, groundwater conservation district, water control and improvement district, or other district created under Section 52, Article III, or Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution.

(b) This section applies only to a water district whose territory includes land in three or more counties.

(c) A meeting held by telephone conference call or video conference call authorized by this section may be held only if:

(1) the meeting is a special called meeting and immediate action is required; and

(2) the convening at one location of a quorum of the governing body of the applicable water district is difficult or impossible.

(d) A meeting held by telephone conference call must otherwise comply with the procedures under Sections 551.125(c), (d), (e), and (f).

(e) A meeting held by video conference call is subject to the notice requirements applicable to other meetings. In addition, a meeting held by video conference call shall:

(1) be visible and audible to the public at the location specified in the notice of the meeting as the location of the meeting;

(2) be recorded by audio and video; and

(3) have two-way audio and video communications with each participant in the meeting during the entire meeting.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013.