BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 895

By: Davis

Transparency in State Agency Operations, Select

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been reported that recent efforts to obtain documents and records from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Foundation have given rise to legal challenges regarding whether the foundation qualifies as an entity subject to open records laws. Interested parties assert that such documents and records should be subject to state public information law. S.B. 895 seeks to address access to records of a nonprofit organization supporting the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas under that law. 

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. 895 amends the Health and Safety Code to establish that the records of a nonprofit organization established to provide support to the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas are public information subject to state public information law.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.