SRC-JXG S.B. 1367 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1367 76R9309 SRC-DBy: Harris Administration 3/17/1999 As Filed DIGEST Currently, the open records law allows a legislator to obtain one copy of any public information without charge. The Texas Legislative Council (council) conducts investigations, studies, and gathers and disseminates information for the legislature. The council also maintains databases of statistical and demographic information to obtain and correlate information for legislative policy analysis and development. S.B. 1367 would authorize legislative agencies and committees to cooperate with the council in providing information to the extent permitted by state and federal law, and would entitle the council to obtain appraisal records in electronic form from appraisal districts. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1367 authorizes legislative agencies and committees access to the same 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 552.264, Government Code, to require one copy of public information that is requested from a state agency by a member, agency, or committee of the legislature under Section 552.008 to be provided without charge. SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 323, Government Code, by adding Section 323.019, as follows: Sec. 323.019. STATISTICAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION AND STUDIES. Authorizes the Texas Legislative Council (council) to gather and analyze information relating to public education and other public services for the purpose of conducting statistical and demographic research and producing reports. Requires state agencies in each branch of government to cooperate with the council in the gathering of information and the production of reports under this section and to provide information as requested by the council to the maximum extent permitted by state or federal law. SECTION 3. Amends Section 276.008(a), Election Code, to require the secretary of state, a county clerk, or county elections administrator, a city secretary, or a voter registrar to provide without charge to the council information or data maintained by the appropriate officer relating to voter turnout. SECTION 4. Amends Chapter 6A, Tax Code, by adding Section 6.14, as follows: Sec. 6.14. INFORMATION PROVIDED TO TEXAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Requires an appraisal district that maintains its appraisal records in electronic format to provide a copy of the information or data maintained in the district's appraisal records to the council without charge, on the written request of the council. Requires the appraisal district to provide the requested information or data to the council as soon as practicable, but no later than the 30th day after the date the request is received by the district. Requires the information or data to be provided in a form approved by the council. SECTION 5. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.