Honorable Gary Elkins, Chair, House Committee on Government Transparency & Operation
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB630 by Howard (Relating to the Internet broadcast and archiving of open meetings of the Health and Human Services Commission, health and human services agencies, and related advisory entities.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Government Code to require the Health and Human Service Commission (HHSC), Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), Department of State Health Services (DSHS), and certain advisory committees to broadcast open meetings live over the internet and make an archived broadcast available online for two years. The bill would take effect September 1, 2017, but apply only to open meetings that take place on or after September 1, 2023.
HHSC, DFPS, and DSHS currently utilize a webcasting contract to broadcast open meetings live of the internet and archive the broadcasts. It is assumed that the agencies would continue utilizing a webcasting contract and, based on Legislative Budget Board analysis, the duties and responsibilities associated with maintaining the webcasting contract could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
529 Health and Human Services Commission, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of, 537 State Health Services, Department of