Texas public information act.

Texas public information act ) Your Name Return Address Telephone Number (business hours) Date Name of Government Agency Address of Government Agency Dear Officer for Public Records: This request is made under the Texas Public Information Act, Chapter 552, Texas The Texas Public Information act requires the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to release public information in response to requests. Texas Government Code, Chapter 552, gives you the right to access government records; and an officer for public information and the officer's agent may not ask why you want them. Dec 27, 2022 · Start by reading Tips For a Successful Public Information Request by the Office of the Attorney General, along with The Texas Public Information Act. One of the changes to the Public Information Act (the “PIA”) as a result of the 2019 Texas Legislative Session is the creation of section 552. Texas Homeland Security Act Various governmental records related to emergency response and preventing, detecting or investigating an act of terrorism or related criminal activity are made confidential by law. Texas Government Code, Chapter 552, gives citizens the right to access records at various levels of Texas government, without having to declare a purpose in doing so. garding any information the governmental body wishes to with - hold, and send a copy of the request for ruling, or a redacted copy, to the requestor; • Segregate public information from information that may be withheld and provide that public information promptly; • Make a good faith attempt to inform third parties when their pro- The governmental body must also copy you on its written comments to the OAG, including its reasons any exceptions apply to the requested information. However, not every case is so straightforward. Suit for Writ of Mandamus. mail, electronic mail, hand delivery, or any appropriate method approved by the governmental body. 1 1. TEXAS PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT INFORMATION REQUEST FORM For guidance regarding your rights as a requestor and the public information procedures adopted by this governmental body, you may review the governmental body’s notice required under section 552. What types of entities are subject to the Public Information Act?. Are there certain entities that are excluded from the definition of “governmental Sec. (a) In this chapter, "public information" means information that is written, produced, collected, assembled, or maintained under a law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business: (1) by a governmental body; Learn how the OAG interprets and enforces the PIA, which protects the public's right to access information from governmental bodies in Texas. Texas Municipal League . Learn how to request and access public information from the state's technology agency and other governmental bodies in Texas. TEXAS PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT (FORMERLY THE TEXAS OPEN RECORDS ACT) APRIL October 2-3, 2024 EMBASSY SUITES CONFERENCE CENTER, SAN MARCOS, TEXAS The Texas Public Information Act (“TPIA”) is the vehicle through which members of the public and media access information in the hands of governmental bodies in Texas. It is the policy of the Texas Tech University System and the State of Texas that Institutions of Higher Education serve the people of Texas, and, thus, the general public is granted certain rights under the Texas Public Information Act to view or receive a copy of the documents and electronically stored information held by this institution and Definition of Public Information . A guide to help public officials and citizens understand and comply with the Texas Public Information Act, which gives citizens access to information about the business of government. Assistant General Counsel . Section 552. Sep 1, 2019 · Requesting public information is simple. While government information is presumed to be available to the public, exceptions may apply to the disclosure of some information. Using the online portal, you may now request public records of most City departments. The Public Information Act (PIA) requires governmental bodies to prominently display a public information sign. DEFINITION OF PUBLIC INFORMATION; MEDIA CONTAINING PUBLIC INFORMATION. Under the Texas Public Information Act (the Act), the general rule is that any member of the public has a right to access any information that is written, produced, collected, assembled, or maintained by or for a city, or by Public Information Act. 1 2. (a) In this chapter, "public information" means information that is written, produced, collected, assembled, or maintained under a law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business: (1) by a governmental body; What types of information are subject to the Public Information Act? Public information includes any information that is collected, assembled, or maintained by or for a governmental entity in connection with the transaction of official business . 235 requires the Office of the Attorney General (the “OAG”) to create a public information request form for use by Texas governmental bodies. public information that includes public information in the custodian’s possession, custody, or control?. 205 of the Government Code. The handbook covers the history, policy, scope, procedures, exceptions, and enforcement of the act, as well as the role of the Attorney General. Used to compel a governmental body to make information available for public inspection. Learn how to request and access public information from governmental bodies in Texas under the PIA. All government information is presumed to be available to the public. Texas Government Code, Chapter 552, gives you the right to access government records; and an officer for public information and the officer’s agent may not ask why you want them. To submit a request for a decision from the OAG under the Public Information Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 552 (the "Act") and submit new material for review; or To submit supplemental documents or comments related to an existing request for a decision. The primary open government laws are the Texas Public Information Act and the Texas Open Meeting Act. Requests for information may be mailed or dropped Apr 4, 2025 · All agency staff are obligated to abide by the TCEQ's Operating Policy and Procedure (Requests for Public Information ) regarding requests for information under the Texas Public Information Act. Spelled out in Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code, the act states that "government is the servant and not Oct 4, 2023 · Texas Government Code Chapter 552 (commonly referred to as the Public Information Act, PIA, or Open Records Act) gives you the right to access to government records. • If the public information request included the requestor’s physical or mailing address, the governmental body generally must send the written request for clarification or narrowing to that address by certified mail, however… If the public information request was sent by e-mail, the written What is the UH System Policy on the Texas Public Information Act? SAM 03. Examples of potential mandamus situations. Agencies are responsible for: Aug 9, 2018 · The Public Information Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 552, gives you the right to access government records; and an officer for public information and the officer's agent may not ask why you want them. A public information request must be in writing to the governmental body you believe maintains the information. Public Information Act. Everyone has the fundamental right to know what his or her elected representatives and governmental bodies are doing. 2018 Editor . (a)AAIn this chapter, "public information" means information that is written, produced, collected, assembled, or maintained under a law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business: (1)AAby a governmental body; TEXAS PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT . If you would like to view or obtain copies of records under the Texas Public Information Act, please send a written request. Public Information Act Civil Remedies(Slide 1 of 4) Gov’t Code § 552. 27 54. DFPS cannot ask you why you want the information, but may ask questions to clarify the information you are requesting. Public Information Request. 176 through 418. Such transparency Aug 15, 2023 · The State of Texas has many open government laws to help make the work of the state transparent to the public. 02 - Open Records/Public Information Act. Find out how to make a request, what rights you have, and some notable cases related to the Act. Refreshed: 2023-08-19 Texas Statutes Code , Government Code; Title 5, Open Government; Ethics; Subtitle A, Open Government; Chapter 552, Public Information. PIRs will be Texas Public Information Act (formerly Open records Act) The Texas Public Information Act (Texas Open Records Act), Chapter 552, Texas Government Code, establishes requirements for governmental bodies to respond to written requests for access and/or reproductions of public information. Public information, including non-confidential employee level data, is published on numerous public websites. 235 of the Government Code. tml. 002. Updated March 2018 The Texas Public Information Act was originally known as the Texas Open Records Act, approved by the Legislature in 1973 in a reform atmosphere following the Sharpstown stock fraud scandal involving state officials. State of Texas Public Information Act. The best way for a governmental body to respond to a request for information is to promptly release the requested information. S. To learn more, click one of the choices below. Tip: If you are researching the law rather than looking for public information, see I need to do legal research. Review our Public Information Act Handbook (PDF) for more information on exceptions to disclosure. However, your written request needs to be for information already in existence. org. Your request was assigned ID# 441980. An officer for public information and the officer’s agent may not ask why you want them. The request should include your name, contact information, and as much description as you can provide regarding the records you are requesting. Certain exceptions may apply to the disclosure of the information. Find out what types of records are covered, what information is not covered, and how to make a request. The Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code, Chapter 552) gives the public the right to request access to government information. Find out your rights, the process, the exceptions, and how to report violations or complaints. Find out your rights, responsibilities, procedures, and exceptions under the Public Information Act. Read more about the Public Information Act. . 552. The Greenville Police Department and the City of Greenville (collectively the "city"), which you represent, each received a request for a specified Jul 31, 2009 · Many of these requests are for information directly related to state employees. Effective September 1, 1993, Texas Government Code, Chapter 552, gives you the right to access government records; and an officer for public information and the officer's agent may not ask why you want them. Official PIA Poster. Staff can answer questions about charges relating to the Public Information Act. The Texas Public Information Act assures that government entities give citizens access to information about The Public Information Act is a critical protection I. The Texas Public Information Act at a Glance . Sample Texas Public Information Act Request Letter (Note: Wording does not need to exactly replicate this sample letter. The Public Information Act (hereinafter t he A ct) applies to records regardless of their format. Every city official should consult with local legal counsel to ensure that any information complies with current law and the particular facts of each situation. Public Information Act Please be advised that the information found on this website does not constitute legal advice, and is posted for informational purposes only. Include your full first and last names, email address, daytime telephone number or other contact information and a clear description of the records you want. The letter can be mailed, emailed or faxed. Texas Public Information Act. What types of information are subject to the Public Information Act? . 002(a- 1), (a- 2) Information is in connection with the transaction of official business if the information is created by, transmitted to, A public official may assign a public information coordinator to satisfy the training requirement for the public official if the coordinator is primarily responsible for administering the responsibilities of the public official or governmental body under the Public Information Act. The Texas Public Information Act sets requirements for the ability of citizens to access information on action taken by governmental bodies. 2 3. When confidential information is requested, or when a governmental body needs to protect its interests, a governmental body may need to seek to withhold certain information. Exceptions to the Public Information Act. Zindia Thomas . Sec. Open Records Policy. Here, governmental bodies can find all resources related to the Public Information Act (PIA) and Open Meetings Act (OMA) — including prior rulings, training, guidelines, and requests. Access the portal via this link. The Texas Public Information Act seminar is designed to provide instruction to law enforcement and city/county administrative personnel on the operative provisions and requirements of TPIA, as well as practical guidance on how to prepare responses to frequently requested information, including the preparation of requests for open records The Texas Public Information Act Made Easy publication provides answers in easy-to-understand language to the most frequently asked questions regarding the Public Information Act. The sign must be the official PIA Poster created by the OAG TDHCA is committed to providing full access to public information. All TCEQ records are available for public view unless one of the exceptions to disclosure listed in the The City of Houston has rolled out a new open records portal! You can submit a public information request, manage existing requests, and view public information in the user-friendly system. GB refuses to provide copies or access to information that is clearly “Core” Public Information Gov’t Code § 552. Further, if a governmental body has previously released information voluntarily that is not confidential by law, the governmental body cannot claim a discretionary exception to withhold the previously released information. Texas Statutes Code , Government Code; Title 5, Open Government; Ethics; Subtitle A, Open Government; Chapter 552, Public Information. Filed by requestor or Attorney General. Until the law was formalized, the ability of a citizen to gain access to public records was at the discretion of the custodian of the records, except in those cases where records custodians were forbidden Public Information Requests. (512) 475-2497 or (888) OR-COSTS (672-6787) For questions, complaints and enforcement of the Public Information Act, contact the Attorney General Open Records Division. LAWS MADE EASY. Public Information Defined (Slide 2 of 2) Gov’t Code § 552. What is the information? What is it about? Who has it? “Public information” can be found in any recorded medium, in forms such as The Public Information Act of Texas (TPIA) is a series of laws designed to guarantee that the public has access to public records of government bodies at all levels in Texas. Dec 27, 2022 · Learn about your right to access certain state government records that are public information under the Texas Public Information Act. If you cannot locate the information or records you need online, Section 552. www. 234 of the Texas Public Information Act provides that a person may make a written request for information by delivering the request by U. The first section of the Public Information Act underscores this point: The Texas Public Information Act provides that information in the possession of a governmental body is generally available to the public. Certain employee information is confidential under the Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code, Chapter 552). When is a request for public information considered received by the city if a request to surrender or return public information is requested from a temporar y This Freeman Law Insights blog provides a high-level overview of the public’s wide-reaching right to information under the Texas Public Information Act (formerly the Texas Open Records Act) as well as various statutory exceptions that protect professional services firms from otherwise mandatory disclosure of certain records in the possession of a governmental body. These acts are among the strongest in the nation. The Texas Public Information Act is a series of laws designed to guarantee that the public has access to public records of government bodies. Learn about the laws that guarantee public access to information held by the state government of Texas. Read the law: Texas Government Code Chapter 552. Refreshed: 2023-08-19 •If information is located on Web site, can refer to Internet address of the requested information, but the governmental body must provide either copies or access in accordance with the PIA unless the requestor agrees to utilize the information on the Web Should provide public information in medium requested, if possible Sep 9, 2019 · In 1973, a reform-minded legislature strengthened the Texas Open Meetings Act, and passed the Texas Open Records Act, which the Texas legislature changed in 1995 to the Public Information Act. To request public records under the Texas Public Information Act: Submit your PIR in writing by email. The Definition of “Public Information” in Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code, also known as the Texas Public Information Act (PIA), has 3 parts. 022(a) Without limiting the amount or kind of information that is public information under this chapter, the following categories of information are public information and not excepted from required disclosure unless made confidential under this chapter or other law: Public Information Act Texas Government Code, Chapter 552, gives you the right to access government records. 321 . As part of the Texas Homeland Security Act, [HSA] sections 418. Application of the Public Information Act . H. All government information is presumed to be available to the public; however, certain exceptions may apply to the disclosure of the information. 182 were added to chapter 418 of the GOVERNMENT CODE. AADEFINITION OF PUBLIC INFORMATION; MEDIA CONTAINING PUBLIC INFORMATION. Here's what you need to know to make a successful Public Information Act (PIA) request. Find resources, rulings, training, and contact information for the OAG. How Do I Find Additional Information About the Texas Public Information Act? For more information about the Act, you may wish to refer to the 2020 Public Information Act Handbook published by the Office of the Attorney General of Jan 11, 2012 · You ask whether certain information is subject to required public disclosure under the Public Information Act (the "Act"), chapter 552 of the Government Code. iwlkp poojf ptnqk vnp idjkre vfzaxt jynda ztq rlslezq osctoikp dzc xijx wdzkqn eelxgx izeauma