FAQ

Open Record Requests

What You Need to Know About Open Records Requests

(Information from the Office of the Attorney General website)

Effective September 1, 2019, pursuant to section 552.234 of the Government Code, a person may make a request for public information only by delivering the request by one of the following methods to the governmental body’s public information officer or the officer’s designee:

    1. United States mail;
    2. electronic mail; 
    3. hand delivery; or  
    4. any other method approved by the governmental body.

1.    If you believe that a governmental body has not responded as required by the Public Information Act, you may you contact the Open Records Division Hotline at (512) 478-6736 or toll-free (877) 673-6839, your local District Attorney, or local County Attorney.

2.    The Public Information Act allows governmental bodies to set a charge for providing copies of public information.

What Requestors Can Expect After a Request is Made

  • The governmental body must "promptly" produce public information in response to your request. "Promptly" means that a governmental body may take a reasonable amount of time to produce the information, which varies depending on the facts in each case. The amount of information you have requested is highly relevant to what makes for a reasonable response time. Providing a date range for information requested is helpful. (Please note: The City is required to acknowledge receipt of written requests for records within ten business days.) 
  •    The Public Information Act prohibits the governmental body from asking you why you want the information you have requested. The governmental body may, however, ask you to clarify your request if they are uncertain as to what you want, and they may discuss narrowing the scope of your request if you have requested a large amount of information.
  •  If the governmental body wishes to withhold information from you, it must:  Seek an attorney general decision within ten business days of its receipt of your request and state the exceptions to disclosure that it believes are applicable. The governmental body must also send you a copy of its letter to the attorney general requesting a decision within ten business days. If the governmental body does not notify you of its request for an attorney general decision, the information you requested is generally presumed to be open to the public.
  • Within fifteen business days of receiving your request, the governmental body must send the attorney general its arguments for withholding the information you requested and copies of the information you have requested. You are entitled to receive this notice; however, if the letter to the attorney general contains the substance of the information requested, you may receive a redacted copy of the letter. If the governmental body does not send you a copy of this letter, you may request it from the attorney general by writing to: 

Public Information Coordinator

Office of the Attorney General

P.O. Box 12548

Austin, Texas 78711-2548

FAX (512) 494-8017

If the governmental body does not timely request an attorney general decision, notify you that it is seeking an attorney general decision, and submit to the attorney general the information you requested, the information is generally presumed to be open to the public. 

  •  If an attorney general decision has been requested, you may submit your written comments to the attorney general stating any facts you want the Open Records Division to consider. You may send your comments to:

Office of the Attorney General

Open Records Division

P.O. Box 12548

Austin, Texas 78711-2548

The Public Information Act expressly prohibits the attorney general from releasing the records. 

THE REQUESTER IS LIABLE FOR THE FOLLOWING CHARGES:

8½” x 11” Copy - $0.10/page

11” x 17” Copy - $0.50/page

Other Paper Size – at copy cost

CD (if digital files are available) - $1.00

DVD (if digital files are available) - $3.00

A 50% deposit will be required if the estimated expenses exceed $100. Requester shall be liable for any postage and/or shipping charges. The City’s actual labor costs of providing information may include costs of locating and preparing copies (maximum hourly salary charge of $15/hour plus 20% employer’s overhead costs). The City may request an opinion from the Texas Attorney General’s Office as to whether the requested records are exceptions to disclosure pursuant to the Open Records Act or other applicable law. Payment is due prior to release of records and may be made in person with cash or check, made payable to the City of Bee Cave.