Allowing the electronic publication of certain public notices by certain governmental bodies and officers

This bill provides for electronic publication of public notices by certain governmental bodies and officers. The bill provides that an area education agency, a school district, a county or city legislative body, or a county or city officer (governmental body) that is required by statute to publish a notice, action, or other information in a newspaper of general circulation may, in lieu of such requirements, publish the notice, action, or other information in its entirety on the respective governmental body’s internet site, if the governmental body maintains an internet site. The bill requires each governmental body subject to the bill to, by rule, ordinance, resolution, or other official action, as appropriate, identify each type of notice, action, or information that may be published on the governmental body’s internet site in lieu of newspaper publication and to identify the location of the governmental body’s office where a paper copy of such notices, actions, or information will be available for public inspection. The bill requires a governmental body to provide a method by which persons may opt to receive notices, actions, or other information by electronic mail. Electronic mail addresses possessed by a governmental body for this purpose are not public records subject to disclosure under Code chapter (examination of public records).