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AN ACT
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relating to the production of public information under the public |
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information law. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 552.221, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (b-1) and (b-2) to read as follows: |
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(b-1) In addition to the methods of production described by |
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Subsection (b), an officer for public information for a political |
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subdivision of this state complies with Subsection (a) by referring |
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a requestor to an exact Internet location or uniform resource |
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locator (URL) address on a website maintained by the political |
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subdivision and accessible to the public if the requested |
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information is identifiable and readily available on that website. |
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If the person requesting the information prefers a manner other |
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than access through the URL, the political subdivision must supply |
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the information in the manner required by Subsection (b). |
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(b-2) If an officer for public information for a political |
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subdivision provides by e-mail an Internet location or uniform |
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resource locator (URL) address as permitted by Subsection (b-1), |
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the e-mail must contain a statement in a conspicuous font clearly |
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indicating that the requestor may nonetheless access the requested |
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information by inspection or duplication or by receipt through |
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United States mail, as provided by Subsection (b |
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). |
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SECTION 2. Section 182.052, Utilities Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: |
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(e) A governmental body as defined by Section 552.003, |
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Government Code, may withhold information prohibited from being |
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disclosed under this section without the necessity of requesting a |
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decision from the attorney general under Subchapter G, Chapter 552, |
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Government Code. |
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SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a request for information that is received by a governmental body or |
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an officer for public information on or after the effective date of |
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this Act. A request for information that was received before the |
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effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the |
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date the request was received, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 685 was passed by the House on April |
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9, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 1, 2 present, not |
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voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
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No. 685 on May 26, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 1, 2 |
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present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 685 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 22, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays |
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0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |