JIM MAnOX Attorney Cienerrl

suprem cowl 8ulldlng p.0.60x 12548 **AUSllh T-x.** **IQll- 2na**  **512147,2501 trl.1**  **9lw57l1x7 Tslecopisr** **5W475-0255**

**714 Jackron.** **Sultr 100**  **Dslkr. TX.**  **752Q245w 214l7426944**  **,**

**4824 Albwts** **An.. Suile** **160** ElPaso.lx. 7vw52793 **915f%..33yor c-1;**  LOITrxrr.Suiie

700 **wous1on.**

**TX. 77002.3111**  **7lY2235555**

**ace 9irordrsy.**  **SUIIS 312**  **LubBcch.**

**lx. 79ull.3479**  **boM47.5235**

**43W N.** **lenlk Sulls** **8 YcAnM,**  **lx 75%1.1595**  **512se2454**

**200 Main**  **Plaza. Sultc** **400 San** **Anlmlo. TX.**  **75205.2797 512J2254191**  

# The Attorney General of Texas

Dewmber 13, 1984

Mr. Clayton T. Carrinon Executive Director Rmployece Rttircmewt System of Texar P. 0. Box 13207 Austin, Texas. 79711 Opiulon No. .11i-2&8
**Re:** Whether members **of** a public body ary meet to receive informtton end 

### l

sk questions vithout violating the Open Reetlags Act, 

### l rticlt 6252-17, V.I.C.S. Dear klr. Garrison: You have requested our opinion regarding vhether members **of** a governing body msy meet without complying with the Opeu Meetlugs Act to receive lnforsatlon and to ask question& You indiutt that the board of trustees **of** the Dmployttr Retirement System find6 it necessary occ~8ic~nally to meet vltb particular lndividwls to be informed about spw:lfLc Patters over which the board her jurisdiction. On these occasiour~, the boerd mtmbtrs usually ask questions of the individual provitll.np ioformetlon. Tou ask whether the board asi conduct such meetings vithout opening them to the general public.

-nee ting” Is defined in section l(a) of article 6252-17. V.T.C.S.) the Open Meetiligs Act. eo

eny deliberetion between l **quorum** of member8 of a governsental body at which any public buslntsr or public policy over uhfeh the Rovernmentel body his aupervjsioo **or** control io discursed or considered. or at which my formal action is tsken. In The Pea Picker, Inc. v. Reagan. 632 S.U.2d 674 (Tu. App. - Tyler 1982. wit rcf

’d u.r.e.1. the court considered whether l meeting held by the Rcnderacn Couury Comolssloncra Court for the purpose **of** “hewing reporta from **agents** end cmployecr” **ua6** l “meeting ” ulthfn the tenss **of** article 6252-17. V.T.C.S. The trial court, **la** granting **the** county ’s motfon for nuxuary judgment. found that **the** meeting **in** qucetioa var Ilot

. “mceting” under the statute because no

“dcliberntion

” had occurred. “Deliberation” 18 defined In section l(b) **of** the act pi;

p. 1110l verbal exchengt bttvew t quorum **of aambbrs**  of l governmenr~l body ttrempting fo arrive 

### at t dtcirioa on my public bwlaets. The tppellatt court concluded that **sumary judgmeaf**  **vex** Improper because l feet Issue **existed** as (,a~ whether dtllber~tion had fo fact **occurred** during **he ntetlog**  in queritlw. The appellate **court did**  not, **however.** question **chr trial**  **court ’** **s** conclusion **rbac a**  “mtetlng ” **for purpotte**  **of** article 6252-17 occurs only vhert **there** it “dtllberttioo.” Lt., *a verbal txchaoge betvttn t quorum of **umbtr8. ”** 
We **tgrto with**  **rhe** rdal coum ’s coosrructtoa of l rrlcle 6252-17 in Tbe Pu Plcknr, Inc. v. **Reagan,** w IO **our** opinloo, l weting It a “outlog” at dtfloed by **ttc:::too** l(a) **of** that statum ooly in thou luscanctt in vhfch a “verbtl exchange” occurs **between**or **among a**  quonm of rabtrt **of** a govtruneotal body. If the board members merely **Sirceo to**  l

od ask questions of am. individual providing lnfomtloa. and **no** dircusalon talcs **phct** between board msmbern, **there it**  **no**
“dellbtrrcion

” end beoct oo “mtttlng” for purponen of artlclo 62.52-17. In such fnotaoceo. **ehe** board may **cowtoe** without 

### l drittlng

**the** general public. We conclude that members of l governante **body mey**  noC vlthout coaplylng vlth **tbt Open**  Mcwtlngr Act to receive **loformation** and to ask qutsriona. lo long as no dlocussioo of public butloets takes place **betutto** umber& Set ACtormy General Opinion g-785 (1976). But **cf. art.**  6252-17. **ee=caoe 3**  **end 4.**  **We cation,**  **however,** that chelipttvetn “dellbtraticnw and “non-deliberatloQ it **very** tltin. Therefore. ln order to avcld violating tht 

### wt. whether by **inadvertence** or oLhtzwlst, a **govtrnneotel** body should err **on** the side of **uutiot** In determining whether to open to the public t convocation like the OIU described here.

I S’U MII A R T

--- Tkt **here** of l govtrwsotal body uy meet **to** receive inforastlon god to ttk questions, **without violeriag**  trtlclt 6252-17, V.T.C.S., M long as no discussion **of** gubllc business take. place between hers during such **mttHc.g.**


### very truly your

.1’ &I 

# A

,

TOI4 GREEN **First Aseistsot**  **Attorney General**  I-- J I I4 MATTOX Attorney General **of** Texar

p. 1111nt. Clayton T. Cnrrison - Pqc 3 (J?I-248)

DAVIDR. RICHARDS Exacutivc Amlstmt **Attotmy** General RlCKCILPIN Chairman, Opinion Comlttu Prepared by Rick Gilpin hristaat Attorney General.
APPROVED: OPINION

CO!WlTEE Rick Gilpin, Chairman Colin Carl Suua Carriaon Tony cu1110ry JL Moellinger Jennifer Rig(la Nancy Sutton