By: Hunter (Senate Sponsor - Hancock) H.C.R. No. 96

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 19, 2015; May 20, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on Administration; May 26, 2015, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 26, 2015, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, As in previous sessions, bills have been introduced in both chambers of the 84th Texas Legislature to modify current statutes prescribing how legally required notices are posted and advertised to the general public; and

WHEREAS, Abundant testimony against these measures in past public hearings has cited statistics that public notice placed on the Internet would not reach a large number of Texans, demonstrated problems with archiving Internet notices, raised questions about removing oversight and reducing transparency, and questioned the cost-effectiveness of posting notices on the Internet or through social media; there has also been testimony that publishing public notice on the Internet or through social media would be efficient and cost-effective and would increase audience reach and transparency; and

WHEREAS, It is incumbent on the State of Texas to ensure that public notification about vital information be efficient and effective, and the issue of posting and advertising public notices on the Internet merits further examination; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby request the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives to create a joint interim committee to study the issue of advertising public notices; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the committee's proceedings and operations be governed by such general rules and policies for joint interim committees as the 84th Legislature may adopt.

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