HB4218 - Relating to maintenance and production of electronic public information under the public information law.

  89R24227 BEF-F     By: Capriglione H.B. No. 4218     Substitute the following for H.B. No. 4218:     By:  Capriglione C.S.H.B. No. 4218       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to maintenance and production of electronic public   information under the public information law.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 552.002(a-2), Government Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a-2)  The definition of "public information" provided by   Subsection (a) applies to and includes :                 (1)   any electronic communication created,   transmitted, received, or maintained on any device if the   communication is in connection with the transaction of official   business ; and                 (2)     a data dictionary or other indicia of the type or   category of information held in the applicable field of a database,   other than metadata that directly implicates database security .          SECTION 2.  Subchapter E, Chapter 552, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 552.2285 to read as follows:           Sec.   552.2285.     ELECTRONIC PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a)   In this   section "electronic public information" means public information   produced and maintained in an electronic spreadsheet or database   that is searchable or sortable.           (b)     A governmental body's use of an electronic   recordkeeping system may not erode the public's right of access to   public information under this chapter. The content of electronic   public information, including information described by Section   552.002(a-2), is significant and not merely a tool used for the   maintenance, manipulation, or protection of property.           (c)     If a request for public information applies to   electronic public information and the requestor requests the   electronic public information in a searchable or sortable format,   the governmental body shall provide an electronic copy of the   requested electronic public information in the searchable or   sortable format requested using computer software the governmental   body uses to access, support, program, manipulate, or otherwise   manage the governmental body's information.   If the requestor   prefers, the governmental body shall provide a copy of electronic   public information in the form of a paper printout.           (d)  A governmental body may not:                 (1)     refuse to provide a copy of electronic public   information on the grounds that exporting the information or   redacting excepted information will require inputting range,   search, filter, or report parameters, or similar commands or   instructions into the governmental body's computer system if the   commands or instructions can be executed with computer software the   governmental body uses in the ordinary course of business to   access, support, or otherwise manage the information; or                 (2)     except for charges specifically authorized by   rules adopted under Section 552.262, charge the requestor for   inputting range, search, filter, or report parameters, or similar   commands or instructions into the governmental body's computer   system as provided by Subdivision (1).           (e)     A requestor may request that a copy of electronic public   information be provided in the format in which the governmental   body maintains information or in a standard export format such as a   flat file electronic American Standard Code for Information   Interchange (ASCII) if the computer programs the governmental body   uses support exporting the information in that format.   The   governmental body shall provide the copy:                 (1)     in the requested format or in another format   acceptable to the requestor; and                 (2)  on suitable electronic media.           (f)     If electronic public information is maintained by a   governmental body in a format that is:                 (1)     searchable but not sortable, the governmental body   shall provide an electronic copy of the information in a searchable   format that complies with this section; or                 (2)     sortable, the governmental body shall provide an   electronic copy of the information in a sortable format that   complies with this section.           (g)     A governmental body shall use reasonable efforts to   ensure that a contract the governmental body enters into 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 than records the governmental body maintains.           (h)     This section applies to public information for which a   third party is the custodian for the governmental body.           (i)     This section does not affect the applicability to   electronic public information of a confidentiality provision or   other exception from required disclosure.           (j)     Subchapter F applies to an electronic copy or paper   printout of electronic public information.          SECTION 3.  Section 118.011(e), Local Government Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (e)  A county clerk who provides a copy in a format other than   paper of a record maintained by the clerk shall provide the copy and   charge a fee in accordance with Section [ Sections 552.231 and ]   552.262, Government Code.          SECTION 4.  Section 552.231, Government Code, is repealed.          SECTION 5.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to   a request for public information received on or after the effective   date of this Act.          SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.