PIA

Positive open government bills emerging at Capitol, too

FOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:42-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Executive Director Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas Every legislative session there are attempts to shut off government information to the public, and this year is no exception. But there are also a number of positive open government bills emerging at the Texas Capitol. Throughout the session, we'll highlight some good open government bills in periodic blog posts. Here are a few of those bills filed so far: Senate Bill 308 by Sen. John Whitmire. This measure would ensure that the records of private universities' police departments are subject to the Texas Public Information Act. Senate Bill 434 [...]

Positive open government bills emerging at Capitol, tooFOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:42-05:00

Out of state, out of luck? Restraint on outside access among open records bills

FOIFT2015-02-12T16:40:59-06:00

By Allison Wisk The Dallas Morning News Originally published Feb. 11, 2015 Interest in prioritizing open government may wax and wane in the state Legislature. But as the first month of the legislative session draws to a close, a host of bills offered by lawmakers could impact the reach of the state’s sunshine law, the Texas Public Information Act. Most of those bills seek to carve out exceptions to disclosure of public information in other laws. But some legislators have proposed revisions to the language of the Public Information Act to change who is entitled to receive information, and what they are able [...]

Out of state, out of luck? Restraint on outside access among open records billsFOIFT2015-02-12T16:40:59-06:00

Bill would limit Public Information Act use to Texans

FOIFT2015-02-06T14:13:19-06:00

By Madlin Mekelburg Houston Chronicle Originally published Feb. 5, 2015 A bill filed Wednesday seeks to limit the scope of the Texas Public Information Act to Texas residents. The legislation, filed by Rep. Mike Schofield, R-Katy, would allow members of a governmental body to decide if they want to deny or comply with open records requests filed by non-Texas residents. Current law stipulates public information in Texas must be made available to all members of the public, without regard to residency. “The purpose of Texas government is to serve Texans, not folks from other places,” Schofield said. “It costs money and [...]

Bill would limit Public Information Act use to TexansFOIFT2015-02-06T14:13:19-06:00

Abbott tweaks controversial email destruction policy

FOIFT2015-01-29T13:45:46-06:00

By David Saleh Rauf San Antonio Express-News Originally published Jan. 28, 2015 AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott has changed a controversial policy put in place by former Gov. Rick Perry to delete emails every seven days, extending the period to officially scrub emails to 30 days. An Abbott spokeswoman said the governor initiated the new the record retention rule on his first day on the job, Jan 20. Along with the change to Perry’s email policy, Abbott has created a new position in his office to handle all open records requests. Jordan Hale, the public information coordinator for Abbott when he [...]

Abbott tweaks controversial email destruction policyFOIFT2015-01-29T13:45:46-06:00

Fort Bend County withholds details of paramedic raises until after vote

FOIFT2015-01-28T14:53:15-06:00

By Jayme Fraser Houston Chronicle Originally published Jan. 27, 2015 Fort Bend County commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved an average 22 percent increase to the wages of paramedics and EMTs after county officials refused to provide details about the proposal in the days leading up to the vote, as required by state open government laws. On Thursday, a Chronicle reporter requested details about how much wages would be increased under the proposal, but county administrators and the staff of elected officials did not return multiple emails or calls requesting the same information even though commissioners had received two versions of the [...]

Fort Bend County withholds details of paramedic raises until after voteFOIFT2015-01-28T14:53:15-06:00

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