COVID-19

Legislation clarifies “business days” when responding to Texas Public Information Act requests

FOIFT2021-02-01T21:05:06-06:00

Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, has filed an open government bill designed to clarify "business days" for governmental entities responding to requests made under the Texas Public Information Act. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, some governments have refused to respond to TPIA requests if their physical offices were closed, even if the staff was working remotely. Many of those governments, citing guidance from the Texas attorney general's office, said such a day didn't count as a business day for the TPIA. Capriglione's bill would give clearer guidelines for TPIA response days. The proposed legislation is House Bill 1416.

Legislation clarifies “business days” when responding to Texas Public Information Act requestsFOIFT2021-02-01T21:05:06-06:00

After shutting down workouts, UH avoids serious COVID-19 outbreaks, public records show

FOIFT2020-11-16T22:34:44-06:00

By Joseph DuarteHouston ChronicleOriginally published Nov. 12, 2020 The University of Houston athletic department has avoided any serious outbreaks of the novel coronavirus since temporarily halting voluntary summer workouts in June, test results provided to the Houston Chronicle show. During a nearly three-month span from July 30 to Oct. 22, the athletic department reported 26 positive cases out of 5,453 tests administered — a positivity rate of .005 percent — for 14 varsity sports, according to data obtained through an open-records request. Read the full story here.

After shutting down workouts, UH avoids serious COVID-19 outbreaks, public records showFOIFT2020-11-16T22:34:44-06:00

FOI Column: Even during a pandemic, government must be open with easy access

FOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:20-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Reopening public places amid the COVID-19 pandemic should certainly be carried out with caution. Government offices are no exception. Yet citizens must have the ability to watch over their government, even during an emergency. Especially during an emergency. It’s long past time to reopen public access to government records and meetings that have been shut off for months. This can happen even if government employees continue to work from home for safety reasons. The Texas Public Information Act and Texas Open Meetings Act – two major open government laws that help us learn about everything from local zoning [...]

FOI Column: Even during a pandemic, government must be open with easy accessFOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:20-05:00

Texas HHSC to release names and locations of nursing homes with COVID-19 outbreaks

FOIFT2020-08-26T21:57:28-05:00

After the Texas Attorney General's Office rejected most of the secrecy arguments made by the state Health and Human Services Commission, the agency is now the releasing the names and locations of nursing homes and state living facilities with COVID-19 outbreaks. The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, journalists and interested citizens requested the information under the Texas Public Information Act. The FOI Foundation and others made it clear they were not seeking information that would identify individual patients. The attorney general's open records division issued a ruling July 6 rejecting almost all of the HHSC's arguments for withholding the facility [...]

Texas HHSC to release names and locations of nursing homes with COVID-19 outbreaksFOIFT2020-08-26T21:57:28-05:00

Austin American-Statesman editorial: End the secrecy on virus deaths at nursing homes

FOIFT2020-05-05T16:01:25-05:00

By American-Statesman Editorial BoardAustin American-StatesmanOriginally published May 3, 2020 More than 300 coronavirus deaths in Texas have been tied to nursing homes and other senior living facilities. Which locations? For the most part, no one will say. In an extreme interpretation of state law, Texas officials have refused to tell the public about any COVID-19 outbreak at a specific senior facility — not even the number of cases or the mere existence of a cluster, despite the fact that long-term care facilities have seen 40% of the state’s COVID-19 deaths. Read the full editorial here.

Austin American-Statesman editorial: End the secrecy on virus deaths at nursing homesFOIFT2020-05-05T16:01:25-05:00

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