HBA-ATS S.B. 916 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 916
By: Wentworth
State Affairs
4/27/1999
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the secretary of state must post a notice of all open meetings
on bulletin boards accessible to the public 24 hours a day.  Bulletin
boards with notices are available outside the secretary of state's office
in the Capitol.  However, at night, because the Capitol is locked, the
official bulletin board is in the lobby of the Rudder State Office Building
where the Department of Public Safety posts a guard.  Additionally,
although the secretary of state posts the official notices on bulletin
boards, state agencies file their open meeting notices with the secretary
of state on-line. 

Making the Internet the official posting site for notices may provide
quicker and wider access to open meetings notices because a notice will be
available to anyone with Internet access within minutes of the agency's
submission.  S.B. 916 require the secretary of state to post certain
meetings of public agencies on the Internet.  The secretary of state is
required to provide a computer terminal in its office for the public to
view the posted notices of meetings. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 551.044(a), Government Code, to require the
secretary of state (secretary) to post certain meetings of public agencies
on the Internet.  Adds a provision requiring the secretary to provide a
computer terminal in its office for the public to view the posted notices
of meetings. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 551.0148(b), Government Code, to require the
secretary to post the notice on the Internet.  Adds a provision requiring
the secretary to provide a computer terminal, rather than a bulletin board,
in its office for the public to view the posted notices of meetings.  Makes
a nonsubstantive change. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 551.053(b), Government Code, to make conforming
changes. 

SECTION 4.Effective date: September 1, 1999.
  Makes application of this Act prospective.