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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the definition in the open meetings law of the term |
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"deliberation." |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subdivisions (2) and (4), Section 551.001, |
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Government Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(2) "Deliberation" means a verbal or written exchange |
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[during a meeting] between a quorum of a governmental body, or |
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between a quorum of a governmental body and another person, |
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concerning an issue within the jurisdiction of the governmental |
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body or any public business. A written exchange includes an e-mail, |
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letter, or other written communication that: |
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(A) is produced by or originates from a member of |
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the governmental body; |
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(B) is circulated among a quorum of the |
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governmental body; and |
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(C) concerns an issue within the jurisdiction of |
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the governmental body or any public business. |
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(4) "Meeting" means: |
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(A) a deliberation between a quorum of a |
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governmental body, or between a quorum of a governmental body and |
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another person, during which public business or public policy over |
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which the governmental body has supervision or control is discussed |
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or considered or during which the governmental body takes formal |
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action; or |
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(B) except as otherwise provided by this |
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subdivision, a gathering: |
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(i) that is conducted by the governmental |
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body or for which the governmental body is responsible; |
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(ii) at which a quorum of members of the |
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governmental body is present or actively participating; |
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(iii) that has been called by the |
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governmental body; and |
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(iv) at which the members receive |
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information from, give information to, ask questions of, or receive |
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questions from any third person, including an employee of the |
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governmental body, about the public business or public policy over |
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which the governmental body has supervision or control. |
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The term does not include the gathering of a quorum of a |
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governmental body at a social function unrelated to the public |
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business that is conducted by the body, or the attendance by a |
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quorum of a governmental body at a regional, state, or national |
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convention or workshop, ceremonial event, or press conference, if |
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formal action is not taken and any discussion of public business is |
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incidental to the social function, convention, workshop, |
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ceremonial event, or press conference. |
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The term includes a session of a governmental body. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
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last day of the legislative session. |