Honorable Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor, Senate
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1640 by Watson (Relating to the open meetings law.), As Passed 2nd House
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Government Code to modify the circumstances under which a violation of the open meetings law would occur. The bill would also modify the definition of "deliberation" to include written exchanges. The offense modified by the bill would be a misdemeanor.
Local Government Impact
The offense modified by this bill would be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500, confinement in the county jail for not less than one month or more than six months, or both the fine and confinement. Costs associated with enforcement and prosecution could likely be absorbed within existing resources. Revenue gain from fines imposed and collected is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal impact.