87R23429 SGM-F
 
  By: Jetton H.B. No. 3253
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3253:
 
  By:  Harris C.S.H.B. No. 3253
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to meetings held by certain conservation and reclamation
  districts.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 49.064, Water Code, is amended to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 49.064.  MEETINGS. (a)  The board shall hold such
  regular and special meetings as may be necessary for the proper
  conduct of the district's business. Except as otherwise provided
  by this section, all [All] meetings shall be conducted in
  accordance with the open meetings law, Chapter 551, Government
  Code. A meeting of a committee of the board, or a committee
  composed of representatives of more than one board, where less than
  a quorum of any one board is present is not subject to the
  provisions of the open meetings law, Chapter 551, Government Code.
         (b)  Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, including
  Sections 551.125, 551.127, and 551.131 of that code, or any other
  law, the board may hold an open or closed meeting by telephone
  conference call, videoconference, or other similar
  telecommunication method. The board may use a telephone conference
  call, videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method
  for purposes of establishing a quorum, for voting, or for any other
  meeting purpose.
         (c)  A meeting held by telephone conference call,
  videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method is
  subject to the notice requirements applicable to other board
  meetings.
         (d)  The notice of a meeting to be held by telephone
  conference call, videoconference, or other similar
  telecommunication method must include:
               (1)  a toll-free telephone number or free-of-charge
  access information for any audiovisual or audio-only feeds that
  members of the public may use to hear and, if applicable, speak at
  the meeting; and
               (2)  instructions for a member of the public on how to
  use a remote access method described by Subdivision (1) to speak at
  the meeting from a remote location.
         (e)  If the board prepares an agenda packet or regular
  written reports that would have been distributed to members of the
  public at a face-to-face meeting, the board shall make the packet
  and any reports available electronically.
         (f)  If the board holds a meeting by telephone conference
  call, videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method,
  the board shall make a recording of the meeting with clear audio
  quality.  The board shall make the recording available to the public
  for at least one year after the date of the meeting.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.