HBA-SEP H.B. 371 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 371
By: Glaze
State Affairs
66/12/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, nonprofit corporations eligible to receive public
funding under the federal community services block grant program and that
serve a geographic area of the state, are subject to the open records law.
However, prior to the 77th Legislature, they were not subject to the open
meetings law.  This created a situation that may have allowed decisions to
be made without the knowledge of, or an opportunity for input by,
interested parties.  House Bill 371 subjects these nonprofit corporations
to the open meetings law. 

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 371 amends the Government Code to expand the definition of
"governmental body," as it applies to open meetings and public information,
to include a nonprofit corporation that is eligible to receive funds under
the federal community services block grant program and that is authorized
by this state to serve a geographic area of the state.  The change in law
made by this Act applies only to a deliberation during an open meeting of
the governing body of a nonprofit corporation described by this Act that
begins on or after September 4, 2001.  The change in law made by this Act
applies to public information held by a nonprofit corporation described by
this Act regardless of when the information was collected or assembled.  
EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.