Honorable Kelly Hancock, Chair, Senate Committee on Business & Commerce
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1655 by Watson (Relating to the availability of certain information under the public information law.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Government Code to clarify that section 552.101 does not encompass the attorney-client privilege, the work product privilege, other exceptions in chapter 552, or state or federal discovery privileges. The bill would also clarify that certain statutory exceptions to disclosure do not constitute a compelling reason to withhold the information and would outline procedures by which a governmental body may request an attorney general's opinion as to whether requested information falls into a statutory exception to public disclosure requirements. Based on the analysis of the Office of Court Administration, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council