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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of certain water districts to hold |
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meetings by teleconference or videoconference. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 551, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 551.131 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 551.131. WATER DISTRICTS. (a) In this section, |
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"water district" means a river authority, groundwater conservation |
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district, water control and improvement district, or other district |
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created under Section 52, Article III, or Section 59, Article XVI, |
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Texas Constitution. |
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(b) This section applies only to a water district whose |
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territory includes land in three or more counties. |
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(c) A meeting held by telephone conference call or video |
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conference call authorized by this section may be held only if: |
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(1) the meeting is a special called meeting and |
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immediate action is required; and |
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(2) the convening at one location of a quorum of the |
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governing body of the applicable water district is difficult or |
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impossible. |
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(d) A meeting held by telephone conference call must |
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otherwise comply with the procedures under Sections 551.125(c), |
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(d), (e), and (f). |
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(e) A meeting held by video conference call is subject to |
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the notice requirements applicable to other meetings. In addition, |
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a meeting held by video conference call shall: |
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(1) be visible and audible to the public at the |
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location specified in the notice of the meeting as the location of |
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the meeting; |
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(2) be recorded by audio and video; and |
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(3) have two-way audio and video communications with |
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each participant in the meeting during the entire meeting. |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2013. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 293 passed the Senate on |
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March 13, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 293 passed the House on |
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April 25, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 136, Nays 0, two |
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present not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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Approved: |
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______________________________ |
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Date |
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______________________________ |
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Governor |