By: Seliger S.B. No. 1092

(In the Senate - Filed February 24, 2017; March 7, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on Higher Education; April 24, 2017, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 1; April 24, 2017, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1092 By: Seliger

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to access to certain meetings and information of private or independent institutions of higher education.

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

SECTION 1. Section 61.226, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 61.226. APPLICATION OF LAWS TO RECEIVING INSTITUTIONS. (a) Any college or university receiving any benefit under the provisions of this subchapter, either directly or indirectly, shall be subject to all present or future laws enacted by the legislature.

(b) The governing board of a college or university with enrolled students who receive tuition equalization grants under this subchapter in an annual amount of $9 million or more:

(1) must, except as provided by Subdivision (2), open each meeting of the governing board to the public, broadcast the meeting on the college's or university's Internet website, and publish the minutes of the meeting on the college's or university's Internet website;

(2) may meet in executive session or otherwise conduct a closed meeting only in the manner provided for a governmental body by Chapter 551, Government Code;

(3) must publish all governing documents publicly on the college's or university's Internet website, including any bylaws, codes of conduct, confidentiality agreements, conflict of interest policies, or operating procedures;

(4) must make all board committee membership and board committee charges available to the public; and

(5) may not require members of the governing board to enter into a nondisclosure agreement to obtain access to information described by this subsection, including a matter discussed or considered in an open meeting under Subdivision (1).

(c) Subsection (b) and this subsection expire September 1, 2019.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.

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