|
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to the publication of required notice by a political |
|
subdivision by alternative media and on the Internet. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Chapter 2051, Government Code, is amended by |
|
adding Subchapter E to read as follows: |
|
SUBCHAPTER E. NOTICE BY PUBLICATION IN MEDIA OTHER THAN NEWSPAPER |
|
Sec. 2051.151. NOTICE BY PUBLICATION ON INTERNET. (a) In |
|
addition to any law requiring notice be published by newspaper and |
|
subject to Subsection (b), a political subdivision shall provide |
|
notice: |
|
(1) on an Internet website maintained by the |
|
comptroller; and |
|
(2) on the political subdivision's Internet website. |
|
(b) A political subdivision may request from the |
|
comptroller and the comptroller may grant a waiver from the |
|
requirements of Subsection (a) if the political subdivision |
|
provides sufficient proof that Internet access is limited in the |
|
political subdivision. If the comptroller grants the waiver, the |
|
political subdivision must provide additional notice on a public |
|
agenda board within the political subdivision. |
|
(c) Notice published under this section must be made |
|
available for the period required by law for which the publication |
|
of the notice is required in a newspaper. |
|
Sec. 2051.152. NOTICE BY ALTERNATIVE MEDIA. (a) A |
|
political subdivision may satisfy a requirement in any other law to |
|
provide notice by publication in a newspaper by publishing the |
|
notice by media described by Subsection (b) that the political |
|
subdivision determines has greater circulation than the newspaper |
|
with the greatest circulation in the political subdivision. |
|
(b) The following forms of media are authorized for |
|
providing notice under Subsection (a): |
|
(1) social media; |
|
(2) free newspapers; |
|
(3) school newspapers; |
|
(4) a homeowners' association newsletter or magazine; |
|
(5) utility bills; |
|
(6) direct mailings; and |
|
(7) any other form of media authorized by the |
|
comptroller. |
|
(c) A political subdivision that provides notice using |
|
alternative media under this section shall submit notice to the |
|
comptroller describing the alternative notice method that |
|
includes: |
|
(1) the number of subscribers within the political |
|
subdivision of the newspaper with the greatest circulation in the |
|
political subdivision; |
|
(2) a description of the alternative media used for |
|
the notice; and |
|
(3) the circulation of the alternative media used for |
|
the notice. |
|
Sec. 2051.153. COMPTROLLER ALTERNATIVE NOTICE REPORT. (a) |
|
The comptroller shall prepare a report that identifies and compares |
|
the effectiveness of different methods of notice publication used |
|
by political subdivisions. The report must include all types of |
|
notice that are used under this chapter and laws that require the |
|
publication of a notice in a newspaper. |
|
(b) Not later than December 31 of each even-numbered year, |
|
the comptroller shall submit the report described by Subsection (a) |
|
to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of |
|
representatives. |
|
(c) This section expires January 1, 2023. |
|
Sec. 2051.154. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY. The comptroller may |
|
adopt rules necessary to administer this chapter. |
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |