By: Nelson S.B. No. 79
(Capriglione)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the production of public information available on a
publicly accessible website.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 552.221(b-1) and (b-2), Government
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(b-1) In addition to the methods of production described by
Subsection (b), an officer for public information for a
governmental body [political subdivision of this state] complies
with Subsection (a) by referring a requestor to an exact Internet
location or uniform resource locator (URL) address on a website
maintained by the governmental body [political subdivision] and
accessible to the public if the requested information is
identifiable and readily available on that website. If the person
requesting the information prefers a manner other than access
through the URL, the governmental body [political subdivision] must
supply the information in the manner required by Subsection (b).
(b-2) If an officer for public information for a
governmental body [political subdivision] provides by e-mail an
Internet location or uniform resource locator (URL) address as
permitted by Subsection (b-1), the e-mail must contain a statement
in a conspicuous font clearly indicating that the requestor may
nonetheless access the requested information by inspection or
duplication or by receipt through United States mail, as provided
by Subsection (b).
SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
a request for information that is received by a governmental body or
an officer for public information on or after the effective date of
this Act. A request for information that was received before the
effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the
date the request was received, and the former law is continued in
effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.