Bill: HB 628, 83(R) - 2013

Vote Recommendation

Vote Recommendation Economic Freedom Property Rights Personal Responsibility Limited Government Individual Liberty
Yes Neutral Neutral Positive Positive Neutral

Author(s)

Tony Dale

Bill Caption

Relating to the right of a member of the board of trustees of a school district to obtain information, documents, and records.

Fiscal Notes

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Based on the analysis of the Texas Education Agency, it is assumed that school districts already incur costs related to providing information, documents, and records to school board trustees. To the extent that any school districts are charging school board trustees for information, documents, and records in response to school board trustee requests for public information, those districts would no longer be allowed to assess charges for this information.

Bill Analysis

Summary: HB 628 would require public school districts to provide their school board of trustees with information, documents, and records upon request without the trustees having to submit a public information request to obtain the information. The exception is for information not permitted to disclosure or confidential under statute or federal law.

Analysis: HB 628 would provide government transparency by allowing the trustees to perform their job in managing the school districts effectively by having easy access to documented information. The board of trustees also has the responsibility to represent voters and provide taxpayers with information on the status of the school districts. This legislation would help the trustees ensure they retrieve the necessary information without barriers. We support HB 628.


Source URL (retrieved on 03/28/2024 07:03 PM): http://reports.texasaction.com/bill/83r/hb628?print_view=true