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.