Bill Text: TX HB31 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Enrolled

Texas House Bill 31 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Relating to certain requirements applicable to meetings of the governing board of a general academic teaching institution or a state university system.

Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2013-06-14 - Effective immediately [HB31 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-HB31-Enrolled.html



	H.B. No. 31




	AN ACT
	relating to certain requirements applicable to meetings of the
	governing board of a general academic teaching institution or a
	state university system.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 551, Government Code, is
	amended by adding Section 551.1281 to read as follows:
	Sec. 551.1281. GOVERNING BOARD OF GENERAL ACADEMIC TEACHING
	INSTITUTION OR UNIVERSITY SYSTEM: INTERNET POSTING OF MEETING
	MATERIALS AND BROADCAST OF OPEN MEETING. (a) In this section,
	"general academic teaching institution" and "university system"
	have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.
	(b) The governing board of a general academic teaching
	institution or of a university system that includes one or more
	component general academic teaching institutions, for any
	regularly scheduled meeting of the governing board for which notice
	is required under this chapter, shall:
	(1) post as early as practicable in advance of the
	meeting on the Internet website of the institution or university
	system, as applicable, any written agenda and related supplemental
	written materials provided to the governing board members in
	advance of the meeting by the institution or system for the members'
	use during the meeting;
	(2) broadcast the meeting, other than any portions of
	the meeting closed to the public as authorized by law, over the
	Internet in the manner prescribed by Section 551.128; and
	(3) record the broadcast and make that recording
	publicly available in an online archive located on the
	institution's or university system's Internet website.
	(c) Subsection (b)(1) does not apply to written materials
	that the general counsel or other appropriate attorney for the
	institution or university system certifies are confidential or may
	be withheld from public disclosure under Chapter 552.
	(d) The governing board of a general academic teaching
	institution or of a university system is not required to comply with
	the requirements of this section if that compliance is not possible
	because of an act of God, force majeure, or a similar cause not
	reasonably within the governing board's control.
	SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
	to a meeting of the governing board of a general academic teaching
	institution or of a state university system for which notice is
	given under Chapter 551, Government Code, on or after January 1,
	2014.
	SECTION 3. 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, 2013.


	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House


	I certify that H.B. No. 31 was passed by the House on May 4,
	2013, by the following vote: Yeas 135, Nays 0, 2 present, not
	voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
	No. 31 on May 24, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, 2
	present, not voting.

	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House

	I certify that H.B. No. 31 was passed by the Senate, with
	amendments, on May 22, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays
	0.

	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED: __________________
	Date

	__________________
	Governor