BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 523

By: Schofield

Government Transparency & Operation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties assert that boards of trustees for certain school districts may be using a loophole in state open meetings law regarding the recording and online broadcast of certain meetings to avoid publicizing unpopular proceedings. H.B. 523 seeks to require the recording and online availability of any special called meeting or work session in which an elected board of trustees for certain districts votes on any matter or hears public comment or testimony.

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. 523 amends the Government Code to expand the types of meetings for which an elected school district board of trustees for a school district that has a student enrollment of 10,000 or more is required to make a video and audio recording and make it available on the Internet to include each open meeting that is a work session or special called meeting at which the board of trustees votes on any matter or allows public comment or testimony.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.