BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

S.B. 1629

By: Wentworth

State Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Last session, legislation was enacted to authorize a governmental body to recover its actual costs in responding to certain requests for information under the Public Information Act, and provide exemptions therefrom for certain requestors, including members of the radio, television, and print newspaper media.

 

S.B. 1629 provides that certain newspapers and magazines are exempt from the cost recovery provisions.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

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

 

ANALYSIS

 

S.B. 1629 amends Section 552.275(j), Government Code, to provide that this section does not apply if the requestor is a representative of a newspaper that is a newspaper of general circulation that is published on the Internet by a news medium engaged in the business of disseminating news or information to the public; or a magazine that is published at least once a month or on the Internet by a news medium engaged in the business of disseminating news or information to the general public.  S.B. 1629 makes nonsubstantive changes.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2009.