By: Carona  S.B. No. 176
         (In the Senate - Filed January 15, 2013; January 29, 2013,
  read first time and referred to Committee on Open Government;
  March 4, 2013, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
  Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas  4, Nays 0; March 4, 2013,
  sent to printer.)
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 176 By:  Nelson
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the distribution of certain consultants' reports.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 2254, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 2254.041 to read as follows:
         Sec. 2254.041.  DISTRIBUTION OF CONSULTANT REPORTS. (a)  A
  consulting services contract must include provisions that allow the
  state agency contracting with the consultant and any other state
  agency and the legislature, at the contracting state agency's
  discretion, to distribute the consultant report, if any, and to
  post the report on the agency's Internet website or the website of a
  standing committee of the legislature.
         (b)  This section does not affect the application of Chapter
  552 to a consultant's report.
         SECTION 2.  Section 2254.041, Government Code, as added by
  this Act, applies only to a consulting services contract entered
  into on or after the effective date of this Act. A consulting
  services contract entered into before the effective date of this
  Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the contract is
  entered into, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  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.
 
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