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.