BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                        S.B. 478

80R2440 JRD-D                                                                                                          By: Shapleigh

State Affairs

2/26/2007

As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Under current law, a member, agency, or committee of the legislature is allowed to obtain one copy of public information for legislative purposes at no cost from a state agency.  This limits the opportunity for no-cost access to state agency information, precluding the open transfer of information from other governmental bodies.  Since the public's right to know is vital to an effective and efficient democracy, legislators and the legislative bodies that support them, as stewards for the public, should have the least obstructed access to information that is within reason.

As proposed, S.B. 478 allows a member, agency, or committee of the legislature to obtain, without charge, one copy of public information from any governmental body.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 552.264, Government Code, as follows:

Sec. 552.264.  COPY OF PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTED BY MEMBER OF LEGISLATURE.  Requires one copy of public information that is requested from a governmental body, rather than a state agency, by a member, agency, or committee of the legislature under Section 552.008 (Information for Legislative Purposes) to be provided without charge.

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.