By: Nelson S.B. No. 679

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to public meetings of joint airport boards.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 551.001(3), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(3) "Governmental body" means:

(A) a board, commission, department, committee, or agency within the executive or legislative branch of state government that is directed by one or more elected or appointed members;

(B) a county commissioners court in the state;

(C) a municipal governing body in the state;

(D) a deliberative body that has rulemaking or quasi-judicial power and that is classified as a department, agency, or political subdivision of a county or municipality;

(E) a school district board of trustees;

(F) a county board of school trustees;

(G) a county board of education;

(H) the governing board of a special district created by law;

(I) a local workforce development board created under Section 2308.253;

(J) a nonprofit corporation that is eligible to receive funds under the federal community services block grant program and that is authorized by this state to serve a geographic area of the state; [and]

(K) a nonprofit corporation organized under Chapter 67, Water Code, that provides a water supply or wastewater service, or both, and is exempt from ad valorem taxation under Section 11.30, Tax Code; and

(L) a joint board created under Section 22.074, Transportation Code.

SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 551, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 551.0501 to read as follows:

Sec. 551.0501. JOINT BOARD: PLACE OF POSTING NOTICE. (a) In this section, "electronic bulletin board" means an electronic communication system that includes a perpetually illuminated screen on which the governmental body can post messages or notices viewable without manipulation by the public.

(b) A joint board created under Section 22.074, Transportation Code, shall post notice of each meeting on a physical or electronic bulletin board at a place convenient to the public in the board's administrative offices.

SECTION 3. The heading to Section 551.056, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 551.056. ADDITIONAL POSTING REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES, COUNTIES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICTS, [AND] DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES, AND JOINT BOARDS.

SECTION 4. Section 551.056(b), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) In addition to the other place at which notice is required to be posted by this subchapter, the following governmental bodies and economic development corporations must also concurrently post notice of a meeting on the Internet website of the governmental body or economic development corporation:

(1) a municipality;

(2) a county;

(3) a school district;

(4) the governing body of a junior college or junior college district, including a college or district that has changed its name in accordance with Chapter 130, Education Code;

(5) a development corporation organized under the Development Corporation Act (Subtitle C1, Title 12, Local Government Code); [and]

(6) a regional mobility authority included within the meaning of an "authority" as defined by Section 370.003, Transportation Code; and

(7) a joint board created under Section 22.074, Transportation Code.

SECTION 5. The change in law made by this Act applies only to notice that is required to be posted on or after the effective date of this Act. Notice that is required to be posted prior to the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect at that time, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2015.