AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
H.B. 1934 amends the Agriculture Code to provide that the Beef Promotion and Research Council of Texas (BPRC) may conduct meetings by telephone conference call, subject to notification requirements as described. Open meetings would have real-time audibility requirements and tape recordings would be available afterwards.
H.B. 1934 amends current law relating to the Beef Promotion and Research Council of Texas.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 41.102, Agriculture Code, as follows:
Sec. 41.102. SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF LICENSE. Provides that, in addition to other remedies provided by law, a violation of any provision of Subchapters B-E or H is grounds for suspension or revocation of any license or permit issued by the commissioner of agriculture (commissioner). Makes a nonsubstantive change and makes no further changes to this section.
SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter H, Chapter 41, Agriculture Code, by adding Section 41.1565, as follows:
Sec. 41.1565. MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE CONFERENCE CALL. (a) Authorizes the Beef Promotion and Research Council of Texas (BPRC), or a committee established by BPRC, notwithstanding Chapter 551 (Open Meeting), Government Code, to hold an open or closed meeting by telephone conference call if the convening at one location of a quorum of BPRC or the committee is inconvenient for any member of BPRC or the committee.
(b) Provides that the meeting is subject to the notice requirements applicable to other meetings.
(c) Requires that the notice of the meeting specify as the location of the meeting the location where meetings of BPRC or the committee, as applicable, are usually held.
(d) Requires that each part of the meeting that is required to be open to the public be audible to the public at the location specified in the notice of the meeting as the location of the meeting and the audio to be recorded. Requires that the audio recording be made available to the public.
SECTION 3. Provides that the change in law made by this Act to Section 41.102, Agriculture Code, applies only to conduct that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act. Makes application of this Act prospective.
SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2015.