SRC-DBM S.B. 1047 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1047
By: Wentworth
State Affairs
3/23/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

The Public Information Act, according to a 1993 opinion by the Attorney
General, does not protect certain proprietary or confidential information
gathered by city governments or other economic development efforts from
businesses seeking economic incentives from those entities.  S.B. 1047
would except certain business prospect information included in economic
development negotiations with a governmental body from the open records
law, but not from certain information if public funds are directly or
indirectly expended. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1047 excepts certain information about business prospects
who have engaged in economic development negotiations with a governmental
body from the open records law. 

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 Chapter 552C, Government Code, by adding Section
552.131, as follows: 

Sec. 552.131.  EXCEPTION:  ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INFORMATION.  Provides that
information is excepted from the requirements of Section 552.021, if the
information relates to economic development negotiations involving a
governmental body and a business prospect that the governmental body seeks
to have locate, stay, or expand in or near the jurisdiction of the
governmental body and the information relates to certain business
information.  Provides that this section does not except from the
requirements of  Section 552.021, information about a financial or other
incentive being offered to the business prospect by the governmental body
or by another person, if the financial or other incentive may directly or
indirectly result in the expenditure of public funds by a governmental body
or in a reduction in revenues received by a governmental body from any
source of revenue. 

 Effective date:  90 days after adjournment.