LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 9, 2013

TO:
Honorable Rodney Ellis, Chair, Senate Committee on Open Government
 
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB2414 by Button (Relating to requirements for open meetings held by videoconference call.), As Engrossed

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend Chapter 551 of the Government Code regarding open meetings to authorize a member of a governmental body to participate remotely in a meeting by videoconference call and to authorize a governmental body to hold a meeting by videoconference call. The bill would require that a meeting of a governmental body held by videoconference call:  provide at least one suitable physical space located in or within a reasonable distance of the geographic jurisdiction, if any, for members of the public to participate in the meeting that is equipped with videoconference equipment, including an audio and video display, camera and microphone; and have present at the physical location at least one agent of the governmental body to conduct the videoconference broadcast and to facilitate public participation. The notice of the meeting to be held by videoconference must specify the physical location made available for public participation and the internet web address in which the meeting would be broadcast.
 
Based on the analyses of several agencies, it is anticipated that costs to implement the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within existing resources. The Facilities Commission estimates there would be a cost associated with implementing the provisions of the bill. It is anticipated that the additional costs could be absorbed within the agency's existing resources.

Local Government Impact

Fiscal impact to local governments associated with the bill, if any, would be optional, and it assumed videoconferencing would only be implemented if sufficient funds were available.



Source Agencies:
302 Office of the Attorney General, 303 Facilities Commission, 313 Department of Information Resources, 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 601 Department of Transportation, 696 Department of Criminal Justice, 701 Central Education Agency, 720 The University of Texas System Administration, 809 Preservation Board
LBB Staff:
UP, KJo, SD, EP, LCO, AG, KKR