By: Wentworth S.B. No. 879 Line and page numbers may not match official copy. Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E. A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to requiring governmental bodies to prominently display a 1-2 sign that states the basic requirements of the open records law. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 552, Government Code, is 1-5 amended by adding Section 552.205 to read as follows: 1-6 Sec. 552.205. INFORMING PUBLIC OF BASIC RIGHTS AND 1-7 RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THIS CHAPTER. (a) An officer for public 1-8 information shall prominently display a sign prescribed by the 1-9 General Services Commission that contains basic information about 1-10 the rights of requestors, the responsibilities of governmental 1-11 bodies, and the procedures for inspecting or obtaining a copy of 1-12 public information under this chapter. The officer shall display 1-13 the sign at one or more places in the administrative offices of the 1-14 governmental body where it is plainly visible to: 1-15 (1) members of the public who request public 1-16 information in person under this chapter; and 1-17 (2) employees of the governmental body whose duties 1-18 include receiving or responding to requests under this chapter. 1-19 (b) The General Services Commission by rule shall prescribe 1-20 the content of the sign and the size, shape, and other physical 1-21 characteristics of the sign. In prescribing the content of the 1-22 sign, the commission shall include plainly written basic 2-1 information about the rights of requestors, the responsibilities of 2-2 governmental bodies, and the procedures for inspecting or obtaining 2-3 a copy of public information under this chapter that, in the 2-4 opinion of the commission, is most useful for requestors to know 2-5 and for employees of governmental bodies who receive or respond to 2-6 requests for public information to know. 2-7 SECTION 2. (a) The General Services Commission shall adopt 2-8 the rules required by Section 552.205, Government Code, as added by 2-9 this Act, in sufficient time so that governmental bodies may print 2-10 the sign required by that section and begin displaying the sign on 2-11 or before January 3, 2000. 2-12 (b) A governmental body is not required under Section 2-13 552.205, Government Code, as added by this Act, to display the 2-14 required sign before January 3, 2000.