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By: Canales, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Hughes) |
H.B. No. 2840 |
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(In the Senate - Received from the House May 6, 2019; |
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May 10, 2019, read first time and referred to Committee on Business & |
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Commerce; May 20, 2019, reported favorably by the following vote: |
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Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 20, 2019, sent to printer.) |
| Click here to see the committee vote |
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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the right of a member of the public to address the |
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governing body of a political subdivision at an open meeting of the |
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body. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 551, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 551.007 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 551.007. PUBLIC TESTIMONY. (a) This section applies |
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only to a governmental body described by Sections |
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551.001(3)(B)-(L). |
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(b) A governmental body shall allow each member of the |
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public who desires to address the body regarding an item on an |
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agenda for an open meeting of the body to address the body regarding |
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the item at the meeting before or during the body's consideration of |
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the item. |
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(c) A governmental body may adopt reasonable rules |
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regarding the public's right to address the body under this |
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section, including rules that limit the total amount of time that a |
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member of the public may address the body on a given item. |
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(d) This subsection applies only if a governmental body does |
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not use simultaneous translation equipment in a manner that allows |
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the body to hear the translated public testimony simultaneously. A |
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rule adopted under Subsection (c) that limits the amount of time |
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that a member of the public may address the governmental body must |
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provide that a member of the public who addresses the body through a |
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translator must be given at least twice the amount of time as a |
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member of the public who does not require the assistance of a |
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translator in order to ensure that non-English speakers receive the |
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same opportunity to address the body. |
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(e) A governmental body may not prohibit public criticism of |
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the governmental body, including criticism of any act, omission, |
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policy, procedure, program, or service. This subsection does not |
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apply to public criticism that is otherwise prohibited by law. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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