SRC-ARR S.B. 747 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 747
76R2341 JRD-DBy: Shapleigh
State Affairs
3/23/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas law does not require state governmental bodies to record
either the categories of public information requested from the other
governmental bodies or the frequency with which different categories of
public information are requested. The lack of this data makes it difficult
to determine whether it might be more cost-effective for state government
to publicize frequently requested categories of public information, rather
than waiting for information to be requested under the Public Information
Act. S.B. 747 would require state governmental bodies to keep a record of
and report to the General Services Commission (commission) the categories
of public information requested, from the governmental body and the
frequency with which the different categories are requested and require the
commission to report to the legislature of its analysis of the types of
public information most often requested in an effort to determine whether
certain categories of public information could be publicized more
frequently. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 747 requires determination of the types of public
information most often requested from state governmental bodies under the
open records law. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the General Services Commission in
SECTION 1 (Section 552.009(b), Chapter 552A, Government Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 552A, Government Code, by adding Section 552.009,
as follows: 

Sec. 552.009. DETERMINING TYPES OF INFORMATION FREQUENTLY REQUESTED FROM
STATE GOVERNMENTAL BODIES; RULES AND REPORT OF GENERAL SERVICES COMMISSION.
Requires each state governmental body to keep a record of and report to the
General Services Commission (commission) the categories of public
information requested from the governmental body under this chapter and the
frequency with which the different categories of public information are
requested. Requires the commission to prescribe the form of the report
required under Subsection (a) and to prescribe, by rule, the categories
into which requested public information will be divided for purpose of this
section. Requires the commission to analyze the information it receives
under this section and report to the legislature not later than a certain
date the frequency with which different categories of public information
are requested from state governmental bodies under this chapter. Requires
the commission, at a minimum, to design the categories of information and
draft its report so that the legislature and state governmental bodies may
determine the extent to which it would be cost-effective for state
government or useful to members of the public for state governmental bodies
to publicize frequent requested categories of public information without
waiting for the information to be requested under this chapter. 

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
                      Effective date: upon passage.