89R25053 MP-F
 
  By: Middleton S.B. No. 1504
 
  (Paul)
 
  Substitute the following for S.B. No. 1504:  No.
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to meetings of the board of directors of the Gulf Coast
  Authority.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 2.07, Chapter 409, Acts of the 61st
  Legislature, Regular Session, 1969, is amended by amending
  Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (d), (e), (f), and (g) to read
  as follows:
         (a)  The board shall meet regularly as necessary [at least
  once each month, and may meet at any other time provided in its
  bylaws].
         (d)  Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, Chapter
  49, Water Code, or any other law, the directors of the board may
  hold an open or closed meeting by telephone conference call,
  videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method as
  provided by this section. 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.
         (e)  A meeting of the directors may be held by telephone
  conference call, videoconference, or other similar
  telecommunication method only if: 
               (1)  the director presiding over the meeting is
  physically present at the location of the meeting that is open to
  the public specified in the notice of the meeting during the open
  portions of the meeting; and
               (2)  a video and audio feed of the directors
  participating in the portions of the meeting required to be open
  must be visible and audible to the public at the meeting location.
         (f)  A director who participates in a meeting by telephone
  conference call, videoconference, or other similar
  telecommunication method shall be considered absent from any
  portion of the meeting during which audio or video communication
  with the director is lost or disconnected.
         (g)  A meeting held by telephone conference call,
  videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method is
  subject to the notice requirements applicable to other board
  meetings.
         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, 2025.