At the state Capitol, the FOI Foundation of Texas supports bills promoting transparency in government and protecting the rights of free speech and free press. The foundation’s staff and volunteers advocate for legislation that strengthens the Texas Public Information Act, the Texas Open Meetings Act and other state laws. Here are updates about transparency efforts in recent Texas legislative sessions.
Editorial: Don’t bury police video with those who die in custody
By American-Statesman Editorial BoardAustin American-StatesmanOriginally published Jan. 10, 2019 Police video has the power to give an unbiased, unflinching view of what really happened — but it works only when the public is allowed to see it. We’ve seen the benefits of police camera footage clearing up the circumstances of officer-involved shootings and allowing for scrutiny of high-profile arrests. Think of what dashboard camera footage meant [...]
In reversal, city of Pharr releases city manager’s salary
By Dave Hendricks Progress TimesOriginally published Jan. 9, 2019 After attempting to keep City Manager Alex Meade’s salary a secret, Pharr announced Wednesday that “in the interest of continuing its commitment to transparency” the city would release the information. ... The Texas Public Information Act includes an exception for “information that, if released, would give advantage to a competitor or bidder.” A controversial Texas [...]
Texas Sunshine Coalition seeks greater transparency
By Ken MartinThe Austin BulldogOriginally published Jan. 7, 2019 During the 2019 legislative session, open government advocates have high hopes that this time they will be able to convince lawmakers to demolish the legal barriers created by court decisions that are preventing access to important public information. Among other things, these court decisions prevent finding out how taxpayers’ money is being spent. They also [...]
Austin police won’t release video, citing Public Information Act loophole used increasingly when suspect dies
By Josh Hinkle and Sarah RafiqueKXAN-TVOriginally published Jan. 3, 2019 The parents of a teenager who shot himself in a police patrol car have filed a federal lawsuit claiming Austin police have a pattern of performing incompetent and incomplete searches of detainees. Meanwhile, the Austin Police Department is refusing to release to the public patrol car video showing the officer's conversation with the teen. [...]
Taxpayers needs to know how money is spent, say advocates for closing hole in Texas open records law
By Robert T. GarrettThe Dallas Morning NewsOriginally published Dec. 27, 2018 AUSTIN — Open government advocates in Texas say a 3½-year-old court decision, probably unintentionally, has blown a growing hole in the state's transparency about how taxpayers' money is spent. Conservative and liberal think tanks, government watchdogs, consumer groups and industries that depend on robust access to public records, such as newspapers and broadcasters, have [...]
TribTalk: R.I.P, the Texas Public Information Act
By Joe Larsen Attorney Gregor Cassidy, PLLC Board Member, FOI Foundation of Texas Originally published Dec. 7, 2018, in the Texas Tribune The once-robust Texas Public Information Act lies bleeding. The Texas Supreme Court’s decision this year to deny a newspaper’s petition for review of the opinion of the 1st Court of Appeals in the case of Nehls v. Hartman Newspapers is the latest [...]