SRC-AXB H.B. 1432 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1432
By: Grusendorf (Shapiro)
Criminal Justice
5/12/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) charges more for written
inquiries than for inquiries submitted electronically through the website
because it requires less time and labor to handle electronic requests than
written requests.  H.B. 1432 prohibits DPS from charging a $15 fee for
public information Internet inquiries. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1432 prohibits the Department of Public Safety from
charging a $15 fee for public information Internet inquiries. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 411.001, Government Code, by adding Subdivision
(4), to define "Internet." 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 411.088, Government Code, to authorize the
Department of Public (DPS), to charge a fee, except as provided by
Subsection (b), which prohibits DPS from charging a fee for processing an
electronic inquiry for certain information made through the Internet.
Deletes text regarding public information. 

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.
  Effective date:  upon passage.