By: Ellis S.B. No. 881

(In the Senate - Filed February 27, 2013; March 5, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on Open Government; April 11, 2013, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 4, Nays 1; April 11, 2013, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 881 By: Ellis

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to access to certain archaic information.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 552, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 552.0216 to read as follows:

Sec. 552.0216. RIGHT OF ACCESS TO CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AFTER 75 YEARS. (a) Information that is designated as confidential under law is public information and is available to the public:

(1) on or after the 75th anniversary of the date the information was originally created or received by the applicable governmental body; or

(2) after the expiration of a specified period for maintaining the confidentiality of the information in accordance with applicable law.

(b) This section does not apply to:

(1) information withheld under Section 442.007;

(2) information covered by Section 552.147; or

(3) information covered by Section 191.004, Natural Resources Code.

(c) This section does not limit the authority of a governmental body to establish retention periods for records under applicable law.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.

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