FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Katherine Garner
214.977.6658
FOIFT
supports required open government education
(DALLAS) – The Freedom of
Information Foundation commends Texas Attorney General Greg
Abbott, Senator Jeff Wentworth (R- San Antonio) and Representative
Todd Baxter (R-Austin) for their effort to require all elected
and appointed officials in Texas to take a training and education
course on Texas open government laws.
“The
Foundation believes education of public officials would increase
compliance with the laws, which are frequently violated because
they are misunderstood,” FOIFT President Joel White said.
“Each year, surveys demonstrate violations by public officials
who are unfamiliar with their obligations under the Open Meetings
and Public Information Acts. Government officials who have
already undergone training in these areas are far less likely
to violate the law.”
Wentworth
and Baxter filed identical bills in the Texas House and Senate
today that would make open records and open meetings courses
mandatory for public officials. The training under
the proposed bill would be an education course taught through
or approved by the Attorney General's office in order to ensure
the consistency of the instruction. The courses would cover
overall open government requirements as well as specific issues
for each workplace. Refresher courses would be required every
two years.
“The
result of this legislation will be fewer violations of the
law, fewer prosecutions of government officials for violating
the law, less taxpayer money spent on needless legal disputes
to enforce compliance of the law, and more openness in state
government,” White said.
The
FOIFT is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization supported through
grants from private citizens, corporations, foundations and
tax-deductible donations. For more information, call 214-977-6658,
visit our Web site at www.foift.org or write to FOIFT, 400
S. Record St., Suite 240, Dallas, Texas 75202.
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