AUSTIN _ The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas will host an Open Government Seminar in Denton in November featuring training in public meetings and public records laws.
The non-profit FOI Foundation, in cooperation with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office and the Mayborn School of Journalism at UNT, will offer the one-day seminar on Wednesday, Nov. 16. It is designed for government employees, journalists, attorneys and members of the general public interested in the Texas Public Information Act and Texas Open Meetings Act.
“This seminar highlighting Texas’ open government laws helps to inform citizens of their rights and responsibilities as they participate in our democracy,” said Kelley Shannon, executive director of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas.
The seminar will take place at the University Union on the UNT campus.
The Attorney General’s Office will begin the day with training on the Texas Public Information Act at 9:15 a.m. followed by training on TPIA cost rules. Those sessions are free and conclude at 11:45 a.m. Justin Gordon, chief of the Open Records Division at the Texas Attorney General’s Office, will present these sessions.
The FOI Foundation will present training on the Texas Open Meetings Act by Haynes and Boone attorney Thomas Williams, the foundation’s vice president, starting at 1:15 p.m. Admission for this session is $50. Participants may attend the morning or afternoon sessions or both.
Additional seminar sponsors are the Denton Record-Chronicle and CourthouseDirect.com/Integrity Title. The seminar training sessions are approved by the Attorney General’s Office as meeting the state requirements for open government training for public officials. The training also qualifies for Continuing Legal Education through the State Bar of Texas.
To register, click here or call the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas at 512-377-1575.