81(R) SB 1630 - Senate Committee Report version

The bill would amend the Government Code relating to the availability of information under the public information law. Under current law, information regarding the location or purchase price of real or personal property for a public purpose prior to a public announcement, or formal award of a contract is excepted from the public information law.

The bill would allow a public information officer to inform a person requesting information in writing that the public information is available on a governmental body's Internet website, and provide the exact Internet location or uniform resource locator (URL) in writing, as well as offer the person access to a computer at no charge.

The bill would clarify that if a person who is provided public information for inspection at a governmental office or by accessing public information on an Internet website subsequently requests copies of the public information, the governmental body may charge the person for copies as provided by current law.

The bill would exclude a nonprofit corporation organized for the purposes of a chamber of commerce from the definition of a "Governmental body" under Section 552.003(1) of the Government Code.

The agencies contacted indicate that any costs associated with the bill, including any additional equipment, training, or security for public access to computers, could be absorbed within existing resources.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


April 24, 2009

TO:	Honorable Robert Duncan, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs

FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	SB1630 by Wentworth (Relating to the availability of information under the public information law.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted