|
Requests for
Public
Information
The Council
Coordinator for the Ryan White Planning Council Office of Support handles the open records requests
received by the Planning
Council. Individuals seeking documents pertaining to Ryan White
Planning Council activities should submit those requests to the
Public
Information Coordinator as
follows:
Public Information Coordinator
(Open Records Coordinator):
Pursuant to Chapter 552.001 et seq.:
The Ryan White Planning
Council Office of Support has designated Diane Beck, as the recipient of all requests for public information
maintained by the Ryan White Planning Council. Requests for public
information should be sent in writing to:
| By
mail: |
Diane Beck, Council Coordinator
Ryan
White Planning Council Office of Support
2223
West Loop South, Suite 240
Houston,
TX 77027 |
| By fax: |
713-572-3740 |
| By email: |
d i a n e . b
e c k @ h c t x . n e t |
For
open records requests pertaining to other Harris County records, please
contact the appropriate department: Harris
County Homepage
The following questions and answers from the
website of Greg Abbott, Texas Attorney General, are provided to assist
in making your request:
What types of records are subject to the
Public Information Act?
Any information collected, assembled, or maintained
by or for a governmental body is subject to the Public Information Act.
The format (paper, electronic, microfilm, etc.) of the record does not
affect its status as a public record.
How do I make a public information request?
The request must be in writing and must be addressed
to the governmental body. While the request does not need to be
addressed to any particular person, it is a good practice to clearly
label your correspondence as a "Public Information Request" or
"Open Records Request." Requests sent via fax must be
addressed to the public information officer or to the person designated
by that officer to receive such requests.
What should I say in my public information
request?
No "magic language" is required to trigger
the Public Information Act. You should, however, make the request as
clear and as specific as possible. This will enable the governmental
body to identify exactly what information you are requesting.
How long does the governmental body have to
respond to my request for information?
The Act provides that a governmental body must
respond "promptly" to a request for information. If a
governmental body is unable to produce the requested information within
ten business days, the officer for public information must send you
correspondence certifying that he is unable to do so and he must set a
date and time when the records will be available to you.
May a governmental body ask me why I want the
records?
No, a governmental body is forbidden from inquiring
about the purpose for which the records will be used. However, if a
request is unclear or very broad, the governmental body may ask the
requestor to more clearly identify or narrow his or her request.
Additionally, a governmental body may require additional identifying
information to determine that the requestor is eligible to receive
certain types of information.
When may a governmental body refuse to
release the information I request?
If the information you request falls within one of
the exceptions to disclosure found in the Public Information Act, the
governmental body may refuse to release the information while it seeks
an open records decision from the Attorney General. Unless the
governmental body has a previous determination from a court or the
Attorney General regarding the precise information requested, a
governmental body cannot determine on its own to withhold information.
What procedures must be followed if a
governmental body wishes to withhold information?
Within ten business days of receiving a written
request, the governmental body must:
-
write
the Attorney General, asking for a decision and state which
exceptions apply to the requested information;
-
provide
the requestor with a written statement that the governmental body
wishes to withhold the information and that it has asked the
Attorney General for a decision;
-
provide
the requestor with a copy of the governmental body's correspondence
to the Attorney General; and
-
make
a good faith attempt to notify, in the form prescribed by the
Attorney General, any affected third parties of the request.
Within fifteen business days of receiving your
request, the governmental body must:
-
write
the Attorney General and explain how the claimed exceptions apply;
-
provide
a copy of your written request to the Attorney General;
-
provide
a signed statement to the Attorney General stating the date the
request was received by the governmental body or provide evidence
sufficient to establish the date the request was received; and
-
provide
copies of the documents requested or a representative sample of the
documents to the Attorney General and the documents must be labeled
to show which exceptions apply to which parts of the documents.
|