BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3893

By: Paul

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority was established in 1969 to restore Galveston Bay. Over the years, the legislature expanded the authority's mission to protect the waters of the state, and its name was changed to the Gulf Coast Authority (GCA) to reflect this evolving role.  GCA has supported both municipal and industrial customers and facilitated economic development through its ability to provide safe, reliable, cost-effective, and compliant treatment services. The board of directors of GCA is composed of members from its areas of original jurisdiction, but with extensive population growth and often unpredictable coastal weather situations over the last few decades, it has become challenging for board members to travel the great distance to attend both regular meetings and committee meetings. H.B. 3893 seeks to authorize GCA to meet via telephone conference call, videoconference, or other similar telecommunication for the purposes of establishing a quorum, for voting, or for any other meeting purposes.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3893 amends Chapter 409, Acts of the 61st Legislature, Regular Session, 1969, to authorize the board of directors for the Gulf Coast Authority to hold an open or closed meeting by telephone conference call, videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method and to use such methods for any meeting purpose. The bill subjects a meeting held by such a method to the notice requirements applicable to other board meetings and requires the notice of such a meeting to include the following:

· a toll-free telephone number that members of the public may use to hear and, if applicable, speak at the meeting;

· free-of-charge access information for any audiovisual or audio-only feeds; and

· instructions for a member of the public to speak at the meeting from a remote location.

The bill requires such a meeting to be recorded and made available to the public, with a copy of the recording maintained by the board for at least one year after the date of the hearing, and requires the board to make an agenda packet or other materials available electronically, if applicable. The bill changes the frequency of board meetings from at least once each month to regularly as necessary.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.