New report examines transparency at Austin City Hall

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The city of Austin will receive a report Tuesday on how open and transparent it is when it comes to some major decisions that impact residents’ tax dollars. The report is from an independent organization called Open Government Partnership. It tracks governments around the world. A local researcher spent the last year examining five…

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Changes in Texas open government law

From Mondaq: Governmental entities in Texas, and the companies that transact with them, should be aware of new changes in Texas “open government” law that may affect how they do business. On September 1, 2013, changes in state law became effective that are intended to make Texas “open government” law more open. These changes affect the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA) and the obligations of public officials, employees and private companies to comply with Texas open records law.

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Texas AG says some redacted info can be released

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.

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Sunshine Week highlights need for openness

Opinion from Herald Zeitung:

Every year, the American public’s right to know is marked with Sunshine Week. This year’s observance begins Sunday and runs through March 16.

Newspapers, which campaign incessantly for open government and freedom of information, will take the opportunity next week to remind readers and public officials of the laws that demand transparency in government.

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