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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