Relating to the definition of business day for purposes of the public information law.
The amendment to the definition of a business day will limit the days during which governmental bodies are required to respond to public information requests. By excluding weekends and designated holidays, the bill essentially standardizes the calculations for response times, potentially leading to more uniform compliance across various governmental entities. This change could improve the overall responsiveness of state entities in handling public information requests, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability.
Senate Bill 925 aims to clarify the definition of a 'business day' as it relates to public information laws in Texas. The bill specifies that a business day is defined as any day other than Saturday, Sunday, national holidays, or state holidays as outlined in specified sections of the Government Code. This change is intended to enhance clarity for governmental bodies and citizens requesting access to public information, ensuring that both parties have a mutual understanding of the timeframe for responses.
While the bill appears to streamline the request process for public information, it may raise concerns regarding its impact on the accessibility of government records. Some advocates for government transparency may argue that by defining business days more strictly, there could be indirect consequences that delay essential public access to information, especially if requests coincide with holidays or weekends. Critics could contend that such a revision may limit immediate access to public records needed for timely matters or public interest emergencies.
The effective date for SB925 is set for September 1, 2021, meaning that the changes will be immediately relevant to public information requests received on or after that date. The legislative intent behind this bill seems focused on improving governmental efficiency and clarity, with potential trade-offs in public accessibility during non-business days.