By Keven Ozebek and Sarah Rafique
KTRK, ABC 13
Originally published March 11, 2024
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Whether it’s investigating controversial decisions by local governments or digging into how those agencies spend taxpayer money, 13 Investigates relies on open records laws to get copies of internal documents, datasets and even emails and text messages between government officials all so we can hold our leaders accountable. …
Under the Texas Public Information Act, anyone can request information from a government agency and by law should receive a response from them within 10 business days.
The response can range anywhere from the agency providing the requested documents, to providing a cost estimate for those documents, or asking the Texas Attorney General if they can withhold the documents for one of the acceptable reasons outlined by the act.
13 Investigates wanted to put the law to the test and sent out a simple request for employee rosters at two dozen city, county and state agencies.