Texas Attorney General – National Freedom of Information Coalition

Texas police withheld records of their son’s death. Now they know why

Posted on

Even in the dark days following their son’s death, the Dyers tended to believe the police. Why wouldn’t they? Kathy, a civil engineer, and Robert, a teacher, were solid citizens.

And yet, they wondered: What were those marks on his arms — “chicken feet” scratches, Robert called them. Or what to make of the emergency room doctor’s notes saying it appeared Graham had been the victim of an assault? Seeking answers, the couple asked the Mesquite Police Department for their records of what happened that night.

[…]

Gubernatorial candidate Abbott calls for greater privacy protections, legalizing open carry

Posted on

From The Republic: AUSTIN, Texas — Republican candidate for governor Greg Abbott said Tuesday he supports making it legal to openly carry handguns in public and wants to place stricter limits on state agencies selling personal information from public records.

[…]

Texas AG says some redacted info can be released

Posted on

From Temple Daily Telegram: Following an early July visit to the Bell County Sheriff’s Department to get copies of new jail administrator Nancy Botkin’s personnel file as part of a Public Information Act request, in September I received a mailed letter from the Texas Attorney General’s office regarding certain information that the sheriff’s office had redacted.

The information that was requested, with certain redactions, was mailed on July 9, within 10 days of the information request.

[…]

Texas open records law updates urged

Posted on

From MySanAntonio.com:

AUSTIN (Nov 26, 2012) — The state's 40-year-old law designed to keep government in the open needs a few tweaks to catch up with modern technology, open government advocates told a Texas Senate committee Monday.

The law should clarify, for example, that emails and text messages that public officials send from private accounts must be open for public review if the content is in any way related to public business.

[…]

Read More… from Texas open records law updates urged

State Bar of Texas sues Attorney General Greg Abbott over records in investigation into misused funds

Posted on

From Texas Watchdog:

The State Bar of Texas is suing the office of Attorney General Greg Abbott over an open records decision earlier this month that gives a legal trade magazine access to records detailing an internal investigation by the state bar.

[…]

Read More… from State Bar of Texas sues Attorney General Greg Abbott over records in investigation into misused funds

Texas AG cuts off email for public records filings

Posted on

From Texas Watchdog:

The state Attorney General’s open records division launches an online appeals system in February, which will require parties to cough up $30 if they want to use the system to respond to a government body’s appeal of an open records request.

[…]

Read More… from Texas AG cuts off email for public records filings