reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
TX Govt Code § 551.126 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter F. Meetings Using Telephone, Videoconference, or Internet|Section 551.126. Higher Education Coordinating Board

Sec. 551.126.  HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD.  (a)  In this section, "board" means the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.(b)  The board may hold an open meeting by telephone conference call or video conference call in order to consider a higher education impact statement if the preparation of a higher education impact statement by the board is to be provided under the rules of either the house of representatives or the senate.(c)  A meeting held by telephone conference call must comply with the procedures described in Section 551.125.(d)  A meeting held by video conference call is subject to the notice requirements applicable to other meetings.  In addition, a meeting held by video conference call shall:(1)  be visible and audible to the public at the location specified in the notice of the meeting as the location of the meeting;(2)  be recorded by audio and video;  and(3)  have two-way audio and video communications with each participant in the meeting during the entire meeting.|Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 944, Sec. 1, eff. June 18, 1997.|
TX Govt Code § 551.1281 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter F. Meetings Using Telephone, Videoconference, or Internet|Section 551.1281. Governing Board of General Academic Teaching Institution or University System: Internet Posting of Meeting Materials and Broadcast of Open Meeting

Sec. 551.1281.  GOVERNING BOARD OF GENERAL ACADEMIC TEACHING INSTITUTION OR UNIVERSITY SYSTEM: INTERNET POSTING OF MEETING MATERIALS AND BROADCAST OF OPEN MEETING. (a) In this section, "general academic teaching institution" and "university system" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.(b)  The governing board of a general academic teaching institution or of a university system that includes one or more component general academic teaching institutions, for any regularly scheduled meeting of the governing board for which notice is required under this chapter, shall:(1)  post as early as practicable in advance of the meeting on the Internet website of the institution or university system, as applicable, any written agenda and related supplemental written materials provided to the governing board members in advance of the meeting by the institution or system for the members' use during the meeting;(2)  broadcast the meeting, other than any portions of the meeting closed to the public as authorized by law, over the Internet in the manner prescribed by Section 551.128; and(3)  record the broadcast and make that recording publicly available in an online archive located on the institution's or university system's Internet website.(c)  Subsection (b)(1) does not apply to written materials that the general counsel or other appropriate attorney for the institution or university system certifies are confidential or may be withheld from public disclosure under Chapter 552.(d)  The governing board of a general academic teaching institution or of a university system is not required to comply with the requirements of this section if that compliance is not possible because of an act of God, force majeure, or a similar cause not reasonably within the governing board's control.|Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 842 (H.B. 31), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2013.|
TX Govt Code § 551.1282 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter F. Meetings Using Telephone, Videoconference, or Internet|Section 551.1282. Governing Board of Junior College District: Internet Posting of Meeting Materials and Broadcast of Open Meeting

Sec. 551.1282.  GOVERNING BOARD OF JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT:  INTERNET POSTING OF MEETING MATERIALS AND BROADCAST OF OPEN MEETING. (a) This section applies only to the governing board of a junior college district with a total student enrollment of more than 20,000 in any semester of the preceding academic year.(b)  A governing board to which this section applies, for any regularly scheduled meeting of the governing board for which notice is required under this chapter, shall:(1)  post as early as practicable in advance of the meeting on the Internet website of the district any written agenda and related supplemental written materials provided by the district to the board members for the members' use during the meeting;(2)  broadcast the meeting, other than any portions of the meeting closed to the public as authorized by law, over the Internet in the manner prescribed by Section 551.128; and(3)  record the broadcast and make that recording publicly available in an online archive located on the district's Internet website.(c)  Subsection (b)(1) does not apply to written materials that the general counsel or other appropriate attorney for the district certifies are confidential or may be withheld from public disclosure under Chapter 552.(d)  The governing board of a junior college district is not required to comply with the requirements of this section if that compliance is not possible because of an act of God, force majeure, or a similar cause not reasonably within the governing board's control.|Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 690 (H.B. 2668), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2013.|
TX Govt Code § 551.1283 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter F. Meetings Using Telephone, Videoconference, or Internet|Section 551.1283. Governing Body of Certain Water Districts: Internet Posting of Meeting Materials; Recording of Certain Hearings

Sec. 551.1283.  GOVERNING BODY OF CERTAIN WATER DISTRICTS:  INTERNET POSTING OF MEETING MATERIALS; RECORDING OF CERTAIN HEARINGS.  (a)  This section only applies to a special purpose district subject to Chapter 51, 53, 54, or 55, Water Code, that has a population of 500 or more.(b)  On written request of a district resident made to the district not later than the third day before a public hearing to consider the adoption of an ad valorem tax rate, the district shall make an audio recording of reasonable quality of the hearing and provide the recording to the resident in an electronic format not later than the fifth business day after the date of the hearing.  The district shall maintain a copy of the recording for at least one year after the date of the hearing.(c)  A district shall post the minutes of the meeting of the governing body to the district's Internet website if the district maintains an Internet website.(d)  A district that maintains an Internet website shall post on that website links to any other Internet website or websites the district uses to comply with Section 2051.202 of this code and Section 26.18, Tax Code.(e)  Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit a district from allowing a person to watch or listen to a board meeting by video or telephone conference call.|Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 105 (S.B. 239), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2019.Amended by: Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 647 (H.B. 1154), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2021.|
TX Govt Code § 551.129 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter F. Meetings Using Telephone, Videoconference, or Internet|Section 551.129. Consultations Between Governmental Body and Its Attorney

Sec. 551.129.  CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN GOVERNMENTAL BODY AND ITS ATTORNEY.  (a)  A governmental body may use a telephone conference call, video conference call, or communications over the Internet to conduct a public consultation with its attorney in an open meeting of the governmental body or a private consultation with its attorney in a closed meeting of the governmental body.(b)  Each part of a public consultation by a governmental body with its attorney in an open meeting of the governmental body under Subsection (a) must be audible to the public at the location specified in the notice of the meeting as the location of the meeting.(c)  Subsection (a) does not:(1)  authorize the members of a governmental body to conduct a meeting of the governmental body by telephone conference call, video conference call, or communications over the Internet;  or(2)  create an exception to the application of this subchapter.(d)  Subsection (a) does not apply to a consultation with an attorney who is an employee of the governmental body.(e)  For purposes of Subsection (d), an attorney who receives compensation for legal services performed, from which employment taxes are deducted by the governmental body, is an employee of the governmental body.(f)  Subsection (d) does not apply to:(1)  the governing board of an institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code; or(2)  the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.|Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 50, Sec. 1, eff. May 7, 2001.Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 538 (S.B. 1046), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2007.|
TX Govt Code § 551.131 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter F. Meetings Using Telephone, Videoconference, or Internet|Section 551.131. Water Districts

Sec. 551.131.  WATER DISTRICTS.  (a)  In this section, "water district" means a river authority, groundwater conservation district, water control and improvement district, or other district created under Section 52, Article III, or Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution.(b)  This section applies only to a water district whose territory includes land in three or more counties.(c)  A meeting held by telephone conference call or video conference call authorized by this section may be held only if:(1)  the meeting is a special called meeting and immediate action is required; and(2)  the convening at one location of a quorum of the governing body of the applicable water district is difficult or impossible.(d)  A meeting held by telephone conference call must otherwise comply with the procedures under Sections 551.125(c), (d), (e), and (f).(e)  A meeting held by video conference call is subject to the notice requirements applicable to other meetings.  In addition, a meeting held by video conference call shall:(1)  be visible and audible to the public at the location specified in the notice of the meeting as the location of the meeting;(2)  be recorded by audio and video; and(3)  have two-way audio and video communications with each participant in the meeting during the entire meeting.|Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 20 (S.B. 293), Sec. 1, eff. May 10, 2013.|
TX Govt Code § 551.141 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter G. Enforcement and Remedies; Criminal Violations|Section 551.141. Action Voidable

Sec. 551.141.  ACTION VOIDABLE.  An action taken by a governmental body in violation of this chapter is voidable.|Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.|
TX Govt Code § 551.142 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter G. Enforcement and Remedies; Criminal Violations|Section 551.142. Mandamus; Injunction

Sec. 551.142.  MANDAMUS;  INJUNCTION.  (a)  An interested person, including a member of the news media, may bring an action by mandamus or injunction to stop, prevent, or reverse a violation or threatened violation of this chapter by members of a governmental body.(b)  The court may assess costs of litigation and reasonable attorney fees incurred by a plaintiff or defendant who substantially prevails in an action under Subsection (a).  In exercising its discretion, the court shall consider whether the action was brought in good faith and whether the conduct of the governmental body had a reasonable basis in law.(c)  The attorney general may bring an action by mandamus or injunction to stop, prevent, or reverse a violation or threatened violation of Section 551.045(a-1) by members of a governmental body.(d)  A suit filed by the attorney general under Subsection (c) must be filed in a district court of Travis County.|Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.Amended by: Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 462 (S.B. 494), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2019.|
TX Govt Code § 551.143 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter G. Enforcement and Remedies; Criminal Violations|Section 551.143. Prohibited Series of Communications; Offense; Penalty

Sec. 551.143.  PROHIBITED SERIES OF COMMUNICATIONS; OFFENSE; PENALTY.  (a)  A member of a governmental body commits an offense if the member:(1)  knowingly engages in at least one communication among a series of communications that each occur outside of a meeting authorized by this chapter and that concern an issue within the jurisdiction of the governmental body in which the members engaging in the individual communications constitute fewer than a quorum of members but the members engaging in the series of communications constitute a quorum of members; and(2)  knew at the time the member engaged in the communication that the series of communications:(A)  involved or would involve a quorum; and(B)  would constitute a deliberation once a quorum of members engaged in the series of communications.(b)  An offense under Subsection (a) is a misdemeanor punishable by:(1)  a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500;(2)  confinement in the county jail for not less than one month or more than six months;  or(3)  both the fine and confinement.|Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.Amended by: Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 645 (S.B. 1640), Sec. 2, eff. June 10, 2019.Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 645 (S.B. 1640), Sec. 3, eff. June 10, 2019.|
TX Govt Code § 551.144 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter G. Enforcement and Remedies; Criminal Violations|Section 551.144. Closed Meeting; Offense; Penalty

Sec. 551.144.  CLOSED MEETING;  OFFENSE;  PENALTY.  (a)  A member of a governmental body commits an offense if a closed meeting is not permitted under this chapter and the member knowingly:(1)  calls or aids in calling or organizing the closed meeting, whether it is a special or called closed meeting;(2)  closes or aids in closing the meeting to the public, if it is a regular meeting;  or(3)  participates in the closed meeting, whether it is a regular, special, or called meeting.(b)  An offense under Subsection (a) is a misdemeanor punishable by:(1)  a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500;(2)  confinement in the county jail for not less than one month or more than six months;  or(3)  both the fine and confinement.(c)  It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under Subsection (a) that the member of the governmental body acted in reasonable reliance on a court order or a written interpretation of this chapter contained in an opinion of a court of record, the attorney general, or the attorney for the governmental body.|Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.  Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 647, Sec. 3, eff. Aug. 30, 1999.|
TX Govt Code § 551.145 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter G. Enforcement and Remedies; Criminal Violations|Section 551.145. Closed Meeting Without Certified Agenda or Recording; Offense; Penalty

Sec. 551.145.  CLOSED MEETING WITHOUT CERTIFIED AGENDA OR RECORDING; OFFENSE; PENALTY.  (a)  A member of a governmental body commits an offense if the member participates in a closed meeting of the governmental body knowing that a certified agenda of the closed meeting is not being kept or that a recording of the closed meeting is not being made.(b)  An offense under Subsection (a) is a Class C misdemeanor.|Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.Amended by: Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 87 (S.B. 471), Sec. 15, eff. May 18, 2013.Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 87 (S.B. 471), Sec. 16, eff. May 18, 2013.|
TX Govt Code § 551.146 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter G. Enforcement and Remedies; Criminal Violations|Section 551.146. Disclosure of Certified Agenda or Recording of Closed Meeting; Offense; Penalty; Civil Liability

Sec. 551.146.  DISCLOSURE OF CERTIFIED AGENDA OR RECORDING OF CLOSED MEETING; OFFENSE; PENALTY; CIVIL LIABILITY.  (a)  An individual, corporation, or partnership that without lawful authority knowingly discloses to a member of the public the certified agenda or recording of a meeting that was lawfully closed to the public under this chapter:(1)  commits an offense; and(2)  is liable to a person injured or damaged by the disclosure for:(A)  actual damages, including damages for personal injury or damage, lost wages, defamation, or mental or other emotional distress;(B)  reasonable attorney fees and court costs; and(C)  at the discretion of the trier of fact, exemplary damages.(b)  An offense under Subsection (a)(1) is a Class B misdemeanor.(c)  It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a)(1) and an affirmative defense to a civil action under Subsection (a)(2) that:(1)  the defendant had good reason to believe the disclosure was lawful; or(2)  the disclosure was the result of a mistake of fact concerning the nature or content of the certified agenda or recording.|Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.Amended by: Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 87 (S.B. 471), Sec. 17, eff. May 18, 2013.Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 87 (S.B. 471), Sec. 18, eff. May 18, 2013.|
TX Govt Code § 552.001 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 552 - Public Information|Subchapter A. General Provisions|Section 552.001. Policy; Construction

Sec. 552.001.  POLICY;  CONSTRUCTION.  (a)  Under the fundamental philosophy of the American constitutional form of representative government that adheres to the principle that government is the servant and not the master of the people, it is the policy of this state that each person is entitled, unless otherwise expressly provided by law, at all times to complete information about the affairs of government and the official acts of public officials and employees.  The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know.  The people insist on remaining informed so that they may retain control over the instruments they have created.  The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed to implement this policy.(b)  This chapter shall be liberally construed in favor of granting a request for information.|Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.|
TX Govt Code § 552.002 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 552 - Public Information|Subchapter A. General Provisions|Section 552.002. Definition of Public Information; Media Containing Public Information

Sec. 552.002.  DEFINITION OF PUBLIC INFORMATION; MEDIA CONTAINING PUBLIC INFORMATION.  (a)  In this chapter, "public information" means information that is written, produced, collected, assembled, or maintained under a law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business:(1)  by a governmental body;(2)  for a governmental body and the governmental body:(A)  owns the information;(B)  has a right of access to the information; or(C)  spends or contributes public money for the purpose of writing, producing, collecting, assembling, or maintaining the information; or(3)  by an individual officer or employee of a governmental body in the officer's or employee's official capacity and the information pertains to official business of the governmental body.(a-1)  Information is in connection with the transaction of official business if the information is created by, transmitted to, received by, or maintained by an officer or employee of the governmental body in the officer's or employee's official capacity, or a person or entity performing official business or a governmental function on behalf of a governmental body, and pertains to official business of the governmental body.(a-2)  The definition of "public information" provided by Subsection (a) applies to and includes any electronic communication created, transmitted, received, or maintained on any device if the communication is in connection with the transaction of official business.(b)  The media on which public information is recorded include:(1)  paper;(2)  film;(3)  a magnetic, optical, solid state, or other device that can store an electronic signal;(4)  tape;(5)  Mylar; and(6)  any physical material on which information may be recorded, including linen,  silk, and vellum.(c)  The general forms in which the media containing public information exist include a book, paper, letter, document, e-mail, Internet posting, text message, instant message, other electronic communication, printout, photograph, film, tape, microfiche, microfilm, photostat, sound recording, map, and drawing and a voice, data, or video representation held in computer memory.(d)  "Protected health information" as defined by Section 181.006, Health and Safety Code, is not public information and is not subject to disclosure under this chapter.|Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.  Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 1035, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.Amended by: Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1204 (S.B. 1368), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013.Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1340 (S.B. 944), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.|
TX Govt Code § 552.0035 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 552 - Public Information|Subchapter A. General Provisions|Section 552.0035. Access to Information of Judiciary

Sec. 552.0035.  ACCESS TO INFORMATION OF JUDICIARY.  (a)  Access to information collected, assembled, or maintained by or for the judiciary is governed by rules adopted by the Supreme Court of Texas or by other applicable laws and rules.(b)  This section does not address whether information is considered to be information collected, assembled, or maintained by or for the judiciary.|Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1319, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.|