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AN ACT
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relating to quorums and meetings by teleconference of the Texas |
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Bioenergy Policy Council and the Texas Bioenergy Research |
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Committee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subsection (e), Section 50D.011, Agriculture |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(e) Subject to Section 50D.017, the [The] policy council is |
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subject to Chapters 551 and 2001, Government Code. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 50D, Agriculture Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 50D.016 and 50D.017 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 50D.016. QUORUM. A quorum of the policy council |
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consists of not less than half of the members of the policy council. |
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A member who participates in a meeting by telephone conference |
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call, videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method |
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may be counted to establish a quorum. |
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Sec. 50D.017. MEETING BY TELECONFERENCE. |
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(a) Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, or any other |
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law, the policy council may hold an open or closed meeting by |
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telephone conference call, videoconference, or other similar |
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telecommunication method if: |
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(1) notice is given for the meeting as for other |
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meetings; |
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(2) the notice specifies a location for the meeting at |
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which the public may attend; |
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(3) each part of the meeting that is required to be |
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open to the public is audible to the public at the location |
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specified in the notice of the meeting; and |
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(4) the meeting is recorded by electronic or other |
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means and the recording of each portion of the meeting that is |
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required to be open to the public is made available to the public. |
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(b) A member of the policy council may participate by |
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telephone conference call, videoconference, or other similar |
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telecommunication method in a policy council meeting at which other |
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members are physically present and may vote. |
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SECTION 3. Subsection (e), Section 50D.021, Agriculture |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(e) Subject to Section 50D.026, [The] research committee is |
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subject to Chapters 551 and 2001, Government Code. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter C, Chapter 50D, Agriculture Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 50D.025 and 50D.026 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 50D.025. QUORUM. A quorum of the research committee |
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consists of not less than half of the members of the research |
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committee. A member who participates in a meeting by telephone |
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conference call, videoconference, or other similar |
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telecommunication method may be counted to establish a quorum. |
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Sec. 50D.026. MEETING BY TELECONFERENCE. |
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(a) Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, or any other |
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law, the research committee may hold an open or closed meeting by |
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telephone conference call, videoconference, or other similar |
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telecommunication method if: |
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(1) notice is given for the meeting as for other |
|
meetings; |
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(2) the notice specifies a location for the meeting at |
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which the public may attend; |
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(3) each part of the meeting that is required to be |
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open to the public is audible to the public at the location |
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specified in the notice of the meeting; and |
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(4) the meeting is recorded by electronic or other |
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means and the recording of each portion of the meeting that is |
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required to be open to the public is made available to the public. |
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(b) A member of the research committee may participate by |
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telephone conference call, videoconference, or other similar |
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telecommunication method in a research committee meeting at which |
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other members are physically present and may vote. |
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SECTION 5. 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. 916 passed the Senate on |
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March 27, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 30, 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. 916 passed the House on |
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May 17, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 134, 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 |