LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 82ND LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 13, 2011

TO:	Honorable Jeff Wentworth, Chair, Senate Committee on Open Government, Select
FROM:	John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1571 by Watson (Relating to information subject to the public information law.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Public Information Act (PIA) to include within the definition of "public information" data stored or created by government contractors funded in whole or in part by public funds or by a person performing research, a study, or consulting for the government. The bill would expand the definition of public information to include data stored in electronic format and add statutory definitions of "administrator" and "public function" and add federal funds to the definition of "public funds."

The bill would require certain provisions related to the Public Information Act be included in governmental contract involving the exchange or creation of public information, including provisions to make certain information maintained by a contractor accessible by the public.

This analysis assumes that any costs associated with implementing the bill's provisions could be met with existing resources.

The bill's provisions related to changes to the Public Information Act would apply only to requests made on or after the effective date. The bill's requirements related to contracting provisions would apply only to a contract first advertised or solicited on or after the effective date. The bill would take effect September 1, 2011.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

302 Office of the Attorney General, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 313 Department of Information Resources, 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 720 The University of Texas System Administration

LBB Staff:

JOB, JT, JI, KY, KKR