| (a) Open Records Requests. Inspection of Public Records
under the Texas Public information Act, Texas Government Code Chapter
552, provides that public information is available for public inspection
during normal business hours except investigative files and other
records of the Board made confidential by law. In addition, the exceptions
to disclosure in Texas Government Code Chapter 552 or other state
or federal statutes may protect certain information. This rule is
promulgated pursuant to Texas Government Code Chapter 552 to establish
a records review process that is efficient, safe, and timely to the
public and to the agency.
(1) Requests must be in writing and reasonably identify
the records requested.
(2) Records access will be by appointment only.
(3) Records access is available only during the regular
business hours of the agency.
(4) A review of public information may be by physical
access or by duplication at the requestor's option.
(5) When the safety of any public record is at issue,
physical access may be denied and the records will be provided by
duplication as previously described.
(6) Confidential files will not be made available for
inspection or for duplication except under certain circumstances,
e.g., court order.
(7) All open records request appointments will be referred
to the Executive Director or the Executive Director's designee before
complying with a request.
(8) The open records coordinator for the agency is
the Executive Director and the alternate is the Executive Director's
designee.
(b) Charges for Copies of Public Records. The Board
will calculate and collect charges in accordance with Texas Government
Code Chapter 552 and rules promulgated by the Attorney General under
Texas Government Code §552.262.
(c) The Board may waive these charges if there is a
public benefit. The Executive Director or the Executive Director's
designee is authorized to determine whether a public benefit exists
on a case-by-case basis.
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