H.B. No. 1500
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to allowing the commissioners court of a county to
  deliberate in a closed meeting regarding business and financial
  issues related to a contract being negotiated.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 551.0725(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  The commissioners court of a county [with a population
  of 400,000 or more] may conduct a closed meeting to deliberate
  business and financial issues relating to a contract being
  negotiated if, before conducting the closed meeting:
               (1)  the commissioners court votes unanimously that
  deliberation in an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on
  the position of the commissioners court in negotiations with a
  third person; and
               (2)  the attorney advising the commissioners court
  issues a written determination that deliberation in an open meeting
  would have a detrimental effect on the position of the
  commissioners court in negotiations with a third person.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a meeting held on or after the effective date of this Act. A
  meeting held before the effective date of this Act is governed by
  the law in effect on the date the meeting is held, and the former law
  is continued in effect for that purpose.
         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, 2011.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1500 was passed by the House on May 5,
  2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 144, Nays 2, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1500 was passed by the Senate on May
  25, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0
  .
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor