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
As a result of this bill there will be no significant restriction upon:
(1) the open records law; or (2) the access to government information.
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 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.