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.