TITLE: Relating to allowing a governmental body to request clarification of a request for public information by electronic mail.

SUMMARY: Relating to allowing a governmental body to request clarification of a request for public information by electronic mail.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to allowing a governmental body to request clarification of a request for public information by electronic mail. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 552.222, Government Code, is amended by amending Subsection (f) and adding Subsection (g) to read as follows: (f) Except as provided by Subsection (g), if [If] the requestor's request for public information included the requestor's physical or mailing address, the request may not be considered to have been withdrawn under Subsection (d) unless the governmental body, officer for public information, or agent, as applicable, sends the request for clarification or discussion under Subsection (b) or the written request for additional information under Subsection (c) to that address by certified mail. (g) If the requestor's request for public information was sent by electronic mail, the request may be considered to have been withdrawn under Subsection (d) if: (1) the governmental body, officer for public information, or agent, as applicable, sends the request for clarification or discussion under Subsection (b) or the written request for additional information under Subsection (c) by electronic mail to the same electronic mail address from which the original request was sent or to another electronic mail address provided by the requestor; and (2) the governmental body, officer for public information, or agent, as applicable, does not receive from the requestor a written response or response by electronic mail within the period described by Subsection (d). SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to a request for information that is received by a governmental body, an officer for public information, or an agent on or after the effective date of this Act. A request for information that was received before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the request was received, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.