BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 856

By: Sanford

Government Transparency & Operation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that metropolitan planning organizations owe a duty of transparency to the public on what happens in their meetings. In order to provide more transparency, H.B. 856 seeks to ensure that open meetings held by such an organization's policy board are broadcast live over the Internet.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 856 amends the Transportation Code to require a metropolitan planning organization to broadcast over the Internet live video and audio of each open meeting held by the organization's policy board in a manner that complies with provisions of the state open meetings law relating to Internet broadcast of open meetings. The bill requires the organization to make available through the organization's website archived video and audio for each meeting for which live video and audio was provided.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.