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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to open meetings of governmental bodies. |
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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 551.0025 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 551.0025. REQUIREMENTS FOR OPEN MEETING WITH |
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RESTRICTED PUBLIC ACCESS. (a) This section applies only to an open |
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meeting of a governmental body where public access to any open |
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portion of the meeting is limited or restricted. |
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(b) The requirements prescribed by this section are in |
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addition to other requirements of law applicable to an open |
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meeting. This section prevails to the extent of a conflict with |
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another provision of law. |
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(c) A governmental body that holds a meeting to which this |
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section applies shall: |
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(1) broadcast audio and video of all open portions of |
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the meeting live over the Internet and provide a link to the |
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broadcast in the notice of the meeting; or |
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(2) allow members of the public to listen to live audio |
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of all open portions of the meeting by telephone, provide a |
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toll-free telephone number for that purpose, and include the |
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toll-free telephone number in the notice of the meeting. |
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(d) If a governmental body makes an audio and video |
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recording of the open portions of a meeting under Subsection |
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(c)(3), the governmental body shall: |
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(e) If a governmental body holds a meeting to which this |
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section applies and at which members of the public are allowed to |
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address the body, including a meeting to which Section 551.007 |
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applies, the governmental body: |
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(1) shall allow members of the public to address the |
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body by telephone; |
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(2) may allow members of the public to address the body |
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over the Internet; and |
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(3) shall provide in the notice of the meeting a |
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toll-free telephone number and, if applicable, an Internet link for |
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the purposes of Subdivisions (1) and (2). |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |