BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 79

By: Nelson

Government Transparency & Operation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that governmental bodies other than political subdivisions should be authorized to comply with a public information request by referring a requestor to information already published online in the same way that political subdivisions are authorized to so comply. S.B. 79 seeks to provide for this authorization.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 79 amends the Government Code to expand from a political subdivision to a governmental body the entities for which the public information officer is authorized to comply with a request for public information by referring a requestor to an exact Internet location or uniform resource locator (URL) on a website maintained by the entity.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.