AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, Texas law does not require live broadcast over the Internet of open conference call meetings of the governing board of an institution of higher education. For members of the public to access an open conference call meeting of a governing board they must be physically present in the board's conference room at the university system office. This requirement places an undue burden on members of the public wishing to access open conference call meetings. What's more, it is also inconsistent with existing law that requires online broadcast of face-to-face board of regents meetings that are open to the public.
S.B. 27 would increase transparency and public access to conference call meetings of the governing board of an institution of higher education by requiring them to be broadcast live over the Internet.
S.B. 27 amends current law relating to the online broadcast of open meetings of institutions of higher education.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 551.121(f), Government Code, as follows:
(f) Requires that each part of the telephone conference call meeting that is required to be open to the public be:
(1) Creates this subdivision from existing text;
(2) broadcast over the Internet in the manner prescribed by Section 551.128 (Internet Broadcast of Open Meeting); and
(3) recorded and made available to the public in an online archive located on the Internet website of the entity holding the meeting.
SECTION 2. Provides that the changes in law made by this Act apply only to a meeting for which notice is posted under Section 551.043 (Time and Accessibility of Notice; General Rule), Government Code, on or after the effective date of this Act. Makes application of this Act prospective.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2015.