This section limits when a governmental body may charge for inspecting paper public information, and it allows certain personnel-cost charges only under specified conditions.
Sec. 552.271. INSPECTION OF PUBLIC INFORMATION IN PAPER RECORD IF COPY NOT REQUESTED. (a) If the requestor does not request a copy of public information, a charge may not be imposed for making available for inspection any public information that exists in a paper record, except as provided by this section. (b) If a requested page contains confidential information that must be edited from the record before the information can be made available for inspection, the governmental body may charge for the cost of making a photocopy of the page from which confidential information must be edited. No charge other than the cost of the photocopy may be imposed under this subsection. (c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), an officer for public information or the officer's agent may require a requestor to pay, or to make a deposit or post a bond for the payment of, anticipated personnel costs for making available for inspection public information that exists in paper records only if: (1) the public information specifically requested by the requestor: (A) is older than five years; or (B) completely fills, or when assembled will completely fill, six or more archival boxes; and (2) the officer for public information or the officer's agent estimates that more than five hours will be required to make the public information available for inspection. (d) If the governmental body has fewer than 16 full-time employees, the payment, the deposit, or the bond authorized by Subsection (c) may be required only if: (1) the public information specifically requested by the requestor: (A) is older than three years; or (B) completely fills, or when assembled will completely fill, three or more archival boxes; and (2) the officer for public information or the officer's agent estimates that more than two hours will be required to make the public information available for inspection. (e) A requestor who has exceeded a limit established by a governmental body under Section 552.275 may not inspect public information on behalf of another requestor unless the requestor who exceeded the limit has paid each statement issued by the governmental body under Section 552.275(e). Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 1035, Sec. 17, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1231, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1319, Sec. 18, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by: Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 847 (H.B. 3033), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2023.