87R11344 TYPED
 
  By: Canales H.B. No. 2683
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to requirements for open meetings that are broadcast over
  the Internet or held by telephone conference or videoconference
  call.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 551, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 551.008 to read as follows:
         Sec. 551.008.  PUBLIC ACCESS TO CERTAIN MEETINGS. (a) This
  section applies only to an open meeting of a governmental body that:
               (1)  is held wholly or partly by:
                     (A)  telephone conference call; or
                     (B)  videoconference call;
               (2)  is broadcast live over the Internet; or
               (3)  uses a combination of those methods.
         (b)  The requirements prescribed by this section are in
  addition to other requirements of law applicable to an open
  meeting. Except as provided by this section, this section prevails
  to the extent of a conflict with another provision of law.
         (c)  A governmental body shall ensure that members of the
  public are able to listen to and, if applicable, speak at an open
  meeting to which this section applies by telephone.
         (d)  A governmental body that holds an open meeting to which
  this section applies shall:
               (1)  make the open meeting audible to the public by
  telephone and at each location described by Subsection (e)(2);
               (2)  if the meeting is broadcast live over the Internet
  or held wholly or partly by videoconference call, provide public
  access to both audiovisual and audio-only feeds of the open meeting
  over the Internet; and
               (3)  if applicable, allow members of the public to
  address the governmental body as provided by Section 551.007:
                     (A)  by telephone; and
                     (B)  by videoconference call if the meeting is
  held wholly or partly by videoconference call.
         (e)  The notice of an open meeting to which this section
  applies must:
               (1)  comply with the terms of Chapter 551;
               (2)  list each physical location where a member of the
  public may observe and participate in the meeting, including:
                     (A)  any location that is open to the public where
  a member of the governmental body intends to participate in the
  meeting; and
                     (B)  any facility provided by the governmental
  body for a member of the public to observe or speak at the meeting;
               (3)  include a toll free telephone number that members
  of the public may use to hear and, if applicable, speak at the
  meeting;
               (4)  include access information for any audiovisual or
  audio-only feeds required by Subsection (d)(2); and
               (5)  include instructions for a member of the public to
  speak at the meeting:
                     (A)  from a remote location; or
                     (B)  while physically present at a location
  described by Subdivision (2).
         (f)  An open meeting to which this section applies shall be
  recorded. Except as otherwise provided by law, the recording shall
  be made available to the public not later than 24 hours after the
  adjourning of the meeting.
         SECTION 2.  Section 551.041(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  A governmental body shall give written notice of the
  date, hour, place, and subject of each meeting held by the
  governmental body. Such notice shall include the subjects to be
  considered in an open meeting and in a closed executive session,
  indicating whether a subject will be discussed in an open or closed
  session so that the public is aware of the subjects for public
  deliberation.
         SECTION 3.  Sections 551.128(b) and (c), Government Code,
  are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (b-1) and subject to
  the requirements of this section, a governmental body may broadcast
  an open meeting over the Internet. A governmental body shall
  broadcast an open meeting over the Internet if the physical
  location of the meeting is not accessible to members of the public
  or is not large enough to accommodate all persons seeking to attend
  the meeting in person, including if the location has reduced
  capacity as the result of a public emergency or disaster.
         (c)  Except as provided by Subsection (b-2), a governmental
  body that broadcasts a meeting over the Internet shall establish an
  Internet site and provide free and open access for members of the
  public to the broadcast from that site. The governmental body shall
  provide on the Internet site the same notice of the meeting that the
  governmental body is required to post under Subchapter C. The
  notice on the Internet must be posted within the time required for
  posting notice under Subchapter C.
         SECTION 4.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  a meeting of a governmental body held on or after the effective date
  of this Act.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.