S.B. 653 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 653 By: Wentworth State Affairs Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law does not clearly specify the method of charging for copies of information requested under the Public Information Act, nor does current law clearly specify the method for resolving a complaint of overcharging for such information. The purpose of Senate Bill 653 is to clarify certain provisions in the Public Information Act relating to the charges that may be imposed by governmental bodies for providing copies of information and relating to procedures for resolving complaints of overcharging. 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, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS Senate Bill 653 amends Section 552.261 of the Government Code to clarify that, with respect to requests for 50 or fewer pages of the paper record, the cost of copying shall be the charge for each page of the paper record and may not include costs of materials, labor, or overhead. The bill amends Section 552.2615 of the Government Code to provide that a request for public information is not considered to be withdrawn if the requestor has filed a timely complaint with the Texas Building and Procurement Commission alleging that the requestor has been overcharged. The bill amends Section 552.269 of the Government Code to clarify the timeline to be followed by a governmental body in responding to written questions from the Texas Building and Procurement Commission concerning complaints of overcharging. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003.