Texas Public Information Act

Del Mar College resolves public information problem

FOIFT2014-10-01T14:14:43-05:00

By Dave Hendricks Corpus Christi Caller-Times Originally published Sept. 30, 2014 CORPUS CHRISTI - Del Mar College and accountant Ed Bennett, who's running for an at-large seat on the college's Board of Regents, publicly resolved a $26.7 million question on Tuesday afternoon. Concerned about bad debt write-offs at the taxpayer funded community college, Bennett had requested financial documents under the Texas Public Information Act. He requested 10 years worth of what accountants call "general ledger transactions" for seven accounts — and all documents related to them. Del Mar interpreted Bennett's request literally and provided him with a statement, which estimated the [...]

Del Mar College resolves public information problemFOIFT2014-10-01T14:14:43-05:00

Texas journalists battle for media access

FOIFT2014-09-29T14:01:49-05:00

By Lena Williams Right to Report Originally published Sept. 24 A year ago, the Texas Legislature amended the state’s Public Information Act to give citizens and journalists greater access to public records and the discussions of public officials. Gov. Rick Perry signed it into law, but did he mean it? Officials across Texas are circumventing some of the key provisions of the state’s 41-year-old Public Information Act, considered by many First Amendment advocates to be one of the strongest in the country. Requests that have been refused in recent months include access to Perry’s travel records, as well as certain court [...]

Texas journalists battle for media accessFOIFT2014-09-29T14:01:49-05:00

Rule 12 grants access to judges’ emails, payroll information

FOIFT2014-09-23T16:35:35-05:00

By Angela Morris Texas Lawyer Originally published Sept. 19, 2014 Lawyers might be interested in a little-known tool to request copies of courts' administrative records such as emails, calendars and payroll records. During a Sept. 12 panel at the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas annual conference, solo Joel White said that in 1998 he helped draft the tool—Rule 12 of the Rules of Judicial Administration. The Texas Public Information Act doesn't apply to the judiciary, but Rule 12 is sort of like the judiciary's version of an open records law. White explained that the public can use Rule 12 to [...]

Rule 12 grants access to judges’ emails, payroll informationFOIFT2014-09-23T16:35:35-05:00

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

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