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Relating to maintenance and production of electronic public information under the public information law.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
HB 4132 would prohibit a governmental body's use of an electronic recordkeeping system from eroding the public's right of access to public information under state law. It would also require a government body that receives a public information request applicable to electronic public information to provide an electronic copy of the requested information using computer software in its possession. If the requestor prefers, the governmental body must provide a paper copy of the information.
This bill would also prohibit a governmental body from refusing to provide a copy of the information on the grounds that exporting the information or redacting the excepted information will require inputting certain commands into the computer system if the commands can be executed with software in the ordinary course of business to manage the information. The governmental body would be required to use reasonable efforts to ensure that a contract entered into by the governmental body for the creation and maintenance of electronic public information does not impair the public's ability to inspect or copy the information, or make the information more difficult for the public to inspect or copy records.
Texas Action supports HB 4132 because would promote greater transparency in government which is in alignment with our limited government liberty principle.
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