Source: https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/opinions/openrecords/50abbott/orl/2002/htm/or200206925.htm
Timestamp: 2017-07-26 00:48:38
Document Index: 467133820

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 552', '§ 552', '§ 552', '§ 552', '§ 143', '§ 143', '§ 143', '§ 143', '§ 552']

Abbott Open Records Letter Ruling OR2002-6925 Office of the ATTORNEY GENERAL
OR2002-6925
chapter 552 of the Government Code. Your request was assigned ID# 173172.
The City of Austin (the "city") received a request for copies of training records pertaining
to a specified city police department ("department") officer in regard to a specified traffic
accident. The requestor subsequently clarified that he was also seeking documents related
to a report filed with regard to the accident, as well as audio and/or video produced by the
officer at the accident scene. See Gov't Code § 552.222 (providing that if request for
information is unclear, governmental body may ask requestor to clarify request); see also
Open Records Decision No. 31 (1974) (stating that when governmental bodies are presented
with broad requests for information rather than for specific records, governmental body may
advise requestor of types of information available so that request may be properly narrowed). You state that the city will release some responsive information to the requestor. You claim,
however, that the remaining requested information is excepted from disclosure pursuant to
Initially, we must address the procedural requirements of section 552.301 of the Government
Code. Section 552.301 provides in pertinent part that a governmental body must ask the
attorney general for a decision as to whether requested information must be disclosed not
later than the tenth business day after the date of receiving the written request for
information. See Gov't Code § 552.301(b). We note, and you acknowledge, that the city did
not request a decision from our office regarding the remaining requested information within
ten business days of the city's receipt of the request for information. Consequently, we find
that the city failed to comply with section 552.301 of the Government Code in requesting a
decision from our office with respect to the remaining requested information. See Gov't
Code § 552.301(b).
Because the city failed to request a decision from us within ten business days of receiving
the request, the information at issue is now presumed public. See Gov't Code § 552.302; see also Hancock v. State Bd. of Ins., 797 S.W.2d 379 (Tex. App.--Austin 1990, no writ); City of Houston v. Houston Chronicle Publ'g Co., 673 S.W.2d 316, 323 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1984, no writ); Open Records Decision No. 319 (1982). The city must demonstrate
a compelling interest in order to overcome this presumption of openness. See id. Normally,
a governmental body demonstrates a compelling interest by showing that some other source
of law makes the information confidential or that the release of the requested information
implicates third party interests. See Open Records Decision No. 150 at 2 (1977). Since the
city claims that the submitted information is excepted from disclosure pursuant to section
552.101 of the Government Code, we will consider that claim with respect to the submitted
Government Code.(1) Section 143.089 contemplates two different types of personnel files, one that the city is required to maintain as part of the department officer's civil service file, and one that the department may maintain for its own internal use. See Local Gov't Code § 143.089(a), (g). The civil service file must contain certain specified items, including
documents relating to any misconduct in those cases where the department took disciplinary
action against the officer. See id. § 143.089(a)(2). However, documents relating to any
alleged misconduct or disciplinary action taken must be removed from the civil service file
if the department determines that there is insufficient evidence to sustain the charge of
misconduct or that the disciplinary action was taken without just cause. See id. § 143.089(b),
(c). Information that reasonably relates to an officer's employment relationship with the
department and that is maintained in a department's internal file pursuant to section
143.089(g) is confidential and must not be released. See City of San Antonio v. San Antonio
Express-News, 47 S.W.3d 556 (Tex. App.-- San Antonio 2000, pet. denied); City of San
Antonio v. Texas Attorney General, 851 S.W.2d 946, 949 (Tex. App.--Austin 1993, writ
denied). Thus, subsections (a)-(c) limit the contents of the civil service file.
Local Gov't Code § 143.089(g). In City of San Antonio v. Texas Attorney General, 851
section 143.089(g) made these records confidential. See id at 949. You state that the
information at issue is maintained within the departmental personnel file maintained by the
department. We, therefore, agree that the information is confidential pursuant to
section 143.089(g) of the Local Government Code and, thus, must be withheld from
Ref:	ID# 173172
cc:	Mr. Mike Heintzelman
1. Section 552.101 of the Government Code excepts from disclosure information considered to be confidential by law, either constitutional, statutory, or by judicial decision. See Gov't Code § 552.101. Section 552.101 encompasses information that is protected from disclosure by other statutes. POST OFFICE BOX 12548, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711-2548 TEL: (512) 463-2100 WEB: WWW.OAG.STATE.TX.US