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Public, media, staff barred from Texas Senate committee meeting

FOIFT2015-03-05T21:49:23-06:00

By Mike Ward Houston Chronicle Originally published March 4, 2015 AUSTIN – When the Senate Education Committee convened on the Senate floor Wednesday, just minutes after the day's session recessed, senators quickly discussed and passed a bill doing something about high school graduations. Even though the meeting involved public business, their discussions were not. The reason: A new Senate rule, sergeants-at-arms insisted as they ordered staff and reporters to outside of a brass rail several feet away where the proceedings were mostly inaudible. Even though the meeting officially was listed as a "public hearing." Afterward, Committee Chairman Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, said he [...]

Public, media, staff barred from Texas Senate committee meetingFOIFT2015-03-05T21:49:23-06:00

Victoria Advocate: Bill would close loophole in obtaining information from private accounts

FOIFT2015-03-04T15:41:09-06:00

By the Editorial Board Victoria Advocate Originally published March 4, 2015 Government is the servant, not the master of the people. This very principle, the first words of the Texas Public Information Act, is the fundamental philosophy of our constitutional form of representative government. All too often, elected officials skirt the law by conducting the public's business away from watchful eyes. With ever-evolving technology, a smart phone in every pocket, and some governmental bodies issuing portable tablets and other Internet-ready devices, it's easier than ever for officials to hide what should belong to the public. The Victoria Advocate experienced it first-hand [...]

Victoria Advocate: Bill would close loophole in obtaining information from private accountsFOIFT2015-03-04T15:41:09-06:00

Journalists, FOI advocates urge passage of third party allegation law

FOIFT2015-03-03T04:37:39-06:00

AUSTIN - Advocates for watchdog reporting testified Monday in favor of a Senate bill that provides limited protections for news accounts about potential wrongdoing that are based on third party allegations. Senate Bill 627 would codify what has been part of common law since 1990, said Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, as she introduced her bill before the Senate State Affairs Committee, which she chairs. Laura Prather, a First Amendment attorney and co-chair of the FOI Foundation of Texas legislative committee, testified that libel law is currently unsettled in this area because of a recent Texas Supreme Court ruling. News reporters covering [...]

Journalists, FOI advocates urge passage of third party allegation lawFOIFT2015-03-03T04:37:39-06:00

Legislation by Rep. Todd Hunter would strengthen Texas Public Information Act

FOIFT2015-02-24T15:51:27-06:00

AUSTIN – Citizens requesting government records would have improved access to public information stored in private electronic accounts under newly filed legislation by Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi. House Bill 1764 amends the Texas Public Information Act to specify that a government officer or employee in possession of public records must hand that information over to the governmental body upon request. The Texas Legislature approved a measure in 2013 clarifying that public business, even if it’s conducted on private electronic devices or in private email accounts, is public record. That placed into law what the Texas Attorney General’s Office had been [...]

Legislation by Rep. Todd Hunter would strengthen Texas Public Information ActFOIFT2015-02-24T15:51:27-06:00

Victoria County sheriff declines to release ex-deputy’s records in excessive force investigation

FOIFT2015-02-19T15:25:34-06:00

By Jessica Priest Victoria Advocate Originally published Feb. 17, 2015 The Victoria County Sheriff is refusing to release records about a former deputy under investigation for excessive use of force. Sheriff T. Michael O'Connor said Tuesday that he must consult an attorney before complying with the Victoria Advocate's open records request for the employment application and personnel file of former Sgt. Daniel Bettes. O'Connor also would not release the dashboard camera video of Bettes stopping a motorist Oct. 10 because it is being used in a Texas Ranger investigation. He said the video motivated the sheriff's office to take action against [...]

Victoria County sheriff declines to release ex-deputy’s records in excessive force investigationFOIFT2015-02-19T15:25:34-06:00

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