SRC-AXB S.B. 278 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 278
76R647  JRD-DBy: Carona
State Affairs
2/23/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, no state agency is specifically responsible for monitoring
governmental entities' procedures for complying with the Texas Open Records
Act (Act), Chapter 552, Government Code. Additionally, Texas law does not
authorize the General Services Commission (commission) to audit the
procedures for the processing of requests for public information, and some
smaller cities and counties are unfamiliar with their legal requirements
under the Act.  S.B. 278 would allow the commission to audit the procedures
relating to requests for public information. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 278 authorizes the General Services Commission to audit
the procedures by which a governmental body processes requests for public
information. 

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 552.262, Government Code, by adding Subsection
(f), as follows: 

(f)  Authorizes the General Services Commission to audit the procedures a
governmental body uses to process requests for public information. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.