Bill Text: TX SB1343 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Comm Sub

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Relating to certain meetings of a commissioners court during a disaster or emergency.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)

Status: (Passed) 2021-05-24 - Effective on 9/1/21 [SB1343 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-SB1343-Comm_Sub.html

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By: Taylor S.B. No. 1343
(In the Senate - Filed March 10, 2021; March 18, 2021, read
first time and referred to Committee on Business & Commerce;
April 19, 2021, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 8,
Nays 0; April 19, 2021, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to certain meetings of a commissioners court during a
disaster or emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 551, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 551.091 to read as follows:
Sec. 551.091. COMMISSIONERS COURTS: DELIBERATION
REGARDING DISASTER OR EMERGENCY. (a) This section applies only to
the commissioners court of a county:
(1) for which the governor has issued an executive
order or proclamation declaring a state of disaster or a state of
emergency; and
(2) in which transportation to the meeting location is
dangerous or difficult as a result of the disaster or emergency.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter and
subject to Subsection (c), a commissioners court to which this
section applies may hold an open or closed meeting, including a
telephone conference call, solely to deliberate about disaster or
emergency conditions and related public safety matters that require
an immediate response without complying with the requirements of
this chapter, including the requirement to provide notice before
the meeting or to first convene in an open meeting.
(c) To the extent practicable under the circumstances, the
commissioners court shall provide reasonable public notice of a
meeting under this section and if the meeting is an open meeting
allow members of the public and the press to observe the meeting.
(d) The commissioners court:
(1) may not vote or take final action on a matter
during a meeting under this section; and
(2) shall prepare and keep minutes or a recording of a
meeting under this section and make the minutes or recording
available to the public as soon as practicable.
(e) This section expires September 1, 2027.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
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