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.