By: Wentworth  S.B. No. 178
         (In the Senate - Filed January 9, 2007; January 29, 2007,
  read first time and referred to Committee on Jurisprudence;
  February 13, 2007, reported favorably by the following vote:  
  Yeas 6, Nays 0; February 13, 2007, sent to printer.)
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to working papers and electronic communications of State
  Office of Administrative Hearings administrative law judges.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 552.144, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 552.144.  EXCEPTION: WORKING PAPERS AND ELECTRONIC
  COMMUNICATIONS OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES AT STATE OFFICE OF
  ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS.  The following working papers and
  electronic communications of an administrative law judge at the
  State Office of Administrative Hearings are excepted from the
  requirements of Section 552.021:
               (1)  notes and electronic communications recording the
  observations, thoughts, questions, deliberations, or impressions
  of an administrative law judge;
               (2)  drafts of a proposal for decision;
               (3)  drafts of orders made in connection with
  conducting contested case hearings; and
               (4)  drafts of orders made in connection with
  conducting alternative dispute resolution procedures.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the
  legislative session.
 
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