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Time to register: FOI Foundation state conference coming up Sept. 24

2022-04-07T16:10:20-05:00

Mark your calendars and register today for the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas state conference, to be held in person on Friday, Sept. 24, at the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center on the University of Texas campus. Registration is also available for live virtual attendance for those who cannot make it in person. COVID-19 safety precautions, such as social distancing and other measures, will be in place. Among the confirmed speakers and panelists are Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush, a candidate for attorney general; state Rep. Joe Moody of El Paso; Eva Ruth Moravec of the Texas Justice Initiative; [...]

Time to register: FOI Foundation state conference coming up Sept. 242022-04-07T16:10:20-05:00

Austin police will now release video footage of critical incidents within 10 days

2021-07-23T21:22:30-05:00

By Kelsey BradshawAustin American-StatesmanOriginally published July 23, 2021 Austin police will now release video footage from critical incidents, like shootings that involve officers, within 10 business days of the event, the department announced Friday. Critical incidents include: Shootings in which an office discharges a gun, including incidents where no one is shot or if no allegation of misconduct is made.A use of force incident that results in death or serious bodily injuryAll deaths that occur while a person is in the police department's care Read the full story here.

Austin police will now release video footage of critical incidents within 10 days2021-07-23T21:22:30-05:00

Update on COVID-19 Texas Open Meetings Act suspensions

2021-07-09T00:22:26-05:00

Gov. Greg Abbott has announced that his March 2020 suspension of sections of the Texas Open Meetings Act amid the COVID-19 pandemic will be lifted as of Sept. 1, 2021. Abbott suspended parts of the law requiring a quorum to be in one physical place for a virtual meeting and requiring a physical meeting place for the public to observe the meeting. The order required certain notice provisions to enable the public to watch and participate in the online or telephone meeting. Here's the brief announcement from the attorney general's office about the governor's June 30 decision: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/open-government/open-meetings-act-suspension-updates

Update on COVID-19 Texas Open Meetings Act suspensions2021-07-09T00:22:26-05:00

Yet another local government continues to dodge the Texas Public Information Act, citing ‘skeleton crew’

2022-04-07T16:02:18-05:00

This is another example of a local government still claiming pandemic "skeleton crew" as a reason for not responding promptly to Texas Public Information Act requests. This time it's the city of El Paso. The Texas attorney general's office needs to update its guidance on skeleton crew and remote work to fit with the modern work world. Read the full story here: https://elpasomatters.org/2021/06/29/as-city-attorneys-office-continues-on-a-skeleton-crew-access-to-public-records-remains-a-challenge/

Yet another local government continues to dodge the Texas Public Information Act, citing ‘skeleton crew’2022-04-07T16:02:18-05:00

Another example of a Texas public entity avoiding the Public Information Act by claiming ‘skeleton crew’

2022-04-07T16:02:19-05:00

This tweet by reporter Dave Hendricks about IDEA Public Schools is yet another example of abuse of the Texas Public Information Act and the Texas attorney general's "skeleton crew" guidance. The school system should have responded to records requests even though they were working remotely during COVID-19 over the past year. Most records are available electronically these days. Additionally, the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas has urged the AG's office to update its guidance on TPIA business days in relation to government office physical closures and "skeleton crews." The guidance needs to be adjusted for the modern work world and [...]

Another example of a Texas public entity avoiding the Public Information Act by claiming ‘skeleton crew’2022-04-07T16:02:19-05:00
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