PIA

City of San Antonio seeks AG opinion on releasing audio evidence in non-discrimination ordinance complaint

FOIFT2014-08-28T14:45:22-05:00

By Ryan Loyd Texas Public Radio Originally published Aug. 27, 2014 The city of San Antonio is seeking an opinion from the Texas attorney general's office on whether it must release sensitive audio files under the Public Information Act. The city contends that some of the documents relating to San Antonio’s first non-discrimination ordinance complaint are confidential. Matt Hileman, a transgender man, worked for AT&T as a third-party contract employee through RGP Consulting, a staffing agency for highly skilled workers. It was about the time the city council was debating the revised non-discrimination ordinance last September when Hileman overheard two of [...]

City of San Antonio seeks AG opinion on releasing audio evidence in non-discrimination ordinance complaintFOIFT2014-08-28T14:45:22-05:00

Local officials urge lawmakers to change Texas Public Information Act

FOIFT2014-08-27T20:30:49-05:00

Large commercial data requests are slowing down city secretaries and county clerks, who need to be exempt from some Texas Public Information Act requests, those officials told state lawmakers Wednesday. Comal County Clerk Joy Streater told the House Government Efficiency and Reform Committee that the Public Information Act, which dates to the early 1970s, was intended to let taxpayers know how their money is being spent and not for large businesses obtaining public information to profit from it. She said information maintained by county clerks, which includes divorce decrees and probate records, should be exempt from the act. "I feel that's [...]

Local officials urge lawmakers to change Texas Public Information ActFOIFT2014-08-27T20:30:49-05:00

Light of Day Project: Tarleton student service fee totals top $3.3 million

FOIFT2014-08-21T15:43:35-05:00

By Rachel Peoples Texan News Service Originally published Aug. 14, 2014 The average Tarleton student just finished paying around $1,400 in fees for the upcoming semester. Though students are used to shelling out hundreds of dollars each semester to pay for library fees, parking and the like, most probably don’t know where that money goes. Texan News Service decided to trace the trail and we started with the Student Service Fee, which, records show, took in some $3.3 million in 2013. We wanted to know where students’ money goes – not just the organization that spent it, but how and where [...]

Light of Day Project: Tarleton student service fee totals top $3.3 millionFOIFT2014-08-21T15:43:35-05:00

New Texas AG ruling keeps governor’s old travel security records secret

FOIFT2014-08-13T14:58:35-05:00

By Jay Root The Texas Tribune Originally published Aug. 13, 2014 After critics raised a stink about the tax dollars being spent to provide security for Gov. Rick Perry while he was gearing up to run for president, lawmakers passed a bill in 2011 designed to let Texans know — eventually — what they were getting for their money. Now, thanks to a new ruling from the office of Attorney General Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety will not have to provide itemized travel records for the security detail after all. The DPS is still releasing the overall spending, with figures broken down into [...]

New Texas AG ruling keeps governor’s old travel security records secretFOIFT2014-08-13T14:58:35-05:00

Watchdog column: Is DART stalling on records request?

FOIFT2014-08-08T14:22:38-05:00

By Dave Lieber The Dallas Morning News Originally published Aug. 7, 2014 Let’s pretend today that I run my own court. Watchdog Nation’s Court of Open Government. We pretend to prosecute governments who we think violate the spirit of the Texas Public Information Act. (Hey, somebody has to, because in real life it almost never happens.) You play judge. Today I unseal a four-count pretend indictment for obstruction of release of public records against Dallas Area Rapid Transit. Yep, I’m throwing a dart at DART. Opening statement Last year, I filed an open records request seeking copies of public complaints about [...]

Watchdog column: Is DART stalling on records request?FOIFT2014-08-08T14:22:38-05:00

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