S.B. 84 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 84
By: Wentworth
State Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Public Information Act requires a governmental body to promptly
produce public information for inspection and/or duplication.  However,
"promptly" is not defined for purposes of the Act.  In a recent Open
Records Decision, the Attorney General concluded that Section 552.221
requires the release of information as "soon as possible under the
circumstances, meaning within a reasonable time, without delay."  The
purpose of Senate Bill 84 is to define "promptly" in Section 552.221 of
the Government Code as having the meaning given by the Attorney General in
Open Records Decision 664. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the committee that this bill does not expressly grant
any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department,
institution, or agency. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 84 amends Section 552.221 of the Government Code to define
"promptly" as that term is applied to the time period for release of
information in response to an open records request. "Promptly" is defined
to mean as soon as possible under the circumstances, that is, within a
reasonable time, without delay. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2003.