88R20800 JON-F
By: Vasut, et al. H.B. No. 613
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the imposition of charges by a governmental body for
providing copies of public information under the public information
law.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 552.261, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
(f) A governmental body may not impose a charge under this
subchapter for providing a copy of public information if the
information is a report required to be filed with the governmental
body under Subchapter C or D, Chapter 254, Election Code, unless all
of those reports filed with the governmental body during the
preceding three years are available to the public on the
governmental body's Internet website.
SECTION 2. Section 552.269, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) The attorney general may cancel or reduce any charge or
portion of a charge imposed by a governmental body under this
subchapter if the attorney general determines that the governmental
body:
(1) has not maintained the requested information in
accordance with standard recordkeeping practices; or
(2) failed to comply with this chapter with regard to
the request for public information for which the charge is imposed.
SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
a request for public information received by a governmental body or
officer for public information on or after the effective date of
this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.