FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

LAWS IN TEXAS:

An Overview of
the Texas Public Information Act
and
the Texas Open Meetings Act
______________

2009

Paul C. Watler
Jackson Walker, LLP,
901 Main Street, Suite 6000
Dallas, TX 75202
(214) 953-6069
pwatler@jw.com
 By Paul C. Watler1
Jackson Walker, L.L.P.
901 Main Street, Suite 6000
Dallas, TX 75202
(214) 953-6000

PART ONE:2

TEXAS PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT, § 552.001 et seq.,

TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE
A. Policy - § 552.001

1. “[I]t is the policy of this state that each person is entitled unless otherwise
expressly provided by law, at all times to complete information about the affairs
of government and the official acts of public officials and employees.”
(§ 552.001(a))

2. TPIA shall be liberally construed in favor of granting a request for information.

B. Definition of Public Information (§ 552.002)

1. a. “Public information” is defined as information collected, assembled or

maintained under a law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction
of official business;

b. by a governmental body; or

c. for a governmental body and the governmental body owns the information
or has a right of access to it:

i. Salary information of a contractor of a governmental body is

public information where the contractor has agreed to maintain
records for inspection by the governmental body. Baytown Sun v.
City of Mont Belvieu, 145 S.W.3d 268, 271 (Tex. App.—Houston
[14th Dist.] 2004, no pet. h.).

ii. However, if the private entity maintains records for its own
purposes and has control over its own methods and details of work,
then the records are not public information because the records are

1
Mr. Watler, a partner in the litigation section of Jackson Walker, LLP, is a board certified civil trial lawyer and
former president of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, 1996 - 1999. He is listed in the Best Lawyers
in America in the categories of First Amendment law, bet-the-company litigation and commercial litigation.
2
This paper includes developments through July 31, 2009, including acts of the 81st regular session in 2009 of the
Texas Legislature.

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 not maintained for the government. Murphy v. City of Austin, 2005
WL 309203, at *3 (Tex. App.—Austin March 24, 2005, no pet.)
(mem.).

2. applies to electronic, digital and all types of media on which information can be
recorded (§ 552.002(b) and (c));

3. TPIA requires disclosure only of existing information and does not require
governmental body to prepare or assemble new information in response to a
request. A&T Consultants, Inc. v. Sharp, 904 S.W.2d 668, 676 (Tex. 1995).

a. Substituting numerical coding for confidential student names amounted to

manipulation of existing data, not creation of new information, and
therefore was required to comply with request pursuant to § 552.231. Fish
v. Dallas I.S.D., 31 S.W.3d 678, 681-82 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2000, pet.
denied).

C. Definition of Governmental Body (§ 552.003)

The definition of governmental body includes:

1. a board, commission, department, committee, institution, agency or office that is

within or is created by the executive or legislative branch of state government and
that is directed by one or more elected or appointed members;

2. a county commissioners court in the state;

3. a municipal governing body in the state/city Parish governments;

4. a deliberative body that has rule making or quasi-judicial power and that is
classified as a department, agency, or political subdivision of a county or
municipality;

5. a school district board of trustees;

6. the part, section or portion of an organization, corporation, commission,

committee, institution or agency that spends or that is supported in whole or in
part by public funds:

a. public funds means funds of the state or of a governmental subdivision of

the state (§ 552.003(5));

b. excludes entities receiving a quid pro quo, in sufficiently identifiable and

measurable quantities of services, for any public fund expenditures
(Kneeland v. Nat’l Collegiate Athletic Ass’n, 850 F.2d 224, 230 (5th Cir.
1988), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 1042 (1989); see also Tex. Att’y. Gen. ORD-
602 (1992), regarding Dallas Museum of Art); Cooper v. Circle Ten

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 Council, 254 S.W.3d 689 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2008) (Boy Scouts
governing council was not a governmental body).

7. a nonprofit corporation that is eligible to receive funds under the federal

community services block grant program;

8. “governmental body” does not include the judiciary (§ 552.003(l)(B)):

a. County district attorney’s office is not part of the judiciary. Holmes v.

Morales, 924 S.W.2d 920, 922-23 (Tex. 1996).

b. The Texas Supreme Court has adopted a special rule governing public
access to “judicial records.” Rule 12, Texas Rules of Judicial
Administration. Judicial records exclude those pertaining to the
adjudicative function of courts; thus, only certain administrative records of
the judiciary are within the scope of the rule.

 State Bar of Texas maintains membership records “for the

judiciary,” and therefore, access to such records is governed by
Rule 12 rather than the TPIA. Abbott v. State Bar of Texas, 214
S.W.3d 604 (Tex. App.—Austin 2007) (citing TPIA § 552.0035).

c. Grand jury is an extension of the judiciary, which is expressly exempt

from mandatory disclosure under the TPIA. See State v. Newton,
179 S.W.3d 104, 111 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2005, no pet.).

d. Open records act does not affect scope of civil discovery; exceptions do
not create new privileges from discovery (§ 552.005).

D. Authority to Withhold Public Information Must be Express

1. TPIA does not authorize the withholding of public information or limit

availability of information to the public except as expressly provided by the Act
(§ 552.006).

E. Open Records Training

1. Elected or appointed members of governmental bodies and public information

officers must complete 1-2 hours of training not later than 90 days after taking
office (§ 552.012).

F. Examples of Categories of Public Information (§ 552.022)

The following categories are public information not excepted from disclosure unless
expressly confidential under the law:

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 1. a completed report, audit, evaluation, or investigation made of, for, or by a
governmental body, except as provided by Section 552.108 (the law enforcement
exception);

2. the name, sex, ethnicity, salary, title, and dates of employment of each employee
and officer of a governmental body;

3. information in an account, voucher, or contract relating to the receipt or

expenditure of public or other funds by a governmental body, if the information is
not otherwise made confidential by law;

4. the name of each official and the final record of voting on all proceedings in a
governmental body;

5. all working papers, research material, and information used to estimate the need
for or expenditure of public funds or taxes by a governmental body, on
completion of the estimate;

6. the name, place of business, and the name of the municipality to which local sales
and use taxes are credited, if any, for the named person, of a person reporting or
paying sales and use taxes under Chapter 151, Tax Code;

7. a description of an agency’s central and field organization, including:

a. the established places at which the public may obtain information, submit
information or requests, or obtain decisions;

b. the employees from whom the public may obtain information, submit
information or requests, or obtain decisions;

c. in the case of a uniformed service, the members from whom the public
may obtain information, submit information or requests, or obtain
decisions; and

d. the methods by which the public may obtain information, submit

information or requests, or obtain decisions.

8. a statement of the general course and method by which an agency’s functions are
channeled and determined, including the nature and requirements of all formal
and informal procedures;

9. a rule of procedure, a description of forms available or the place at which forms

may be obtained and instructions relating to the scope and content of all papers,
reports, or examinations;

10. a substantive rule of general applicability adopted or issued by an agency as

authorized by law, and a statement of general policy or interpretation of general
applicability formulated and adopted by an agency;

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 11. each amendment, revision, or repeal of information described by subdivisions (7)-
(10);

12. final opinions, including concurring and dissenting opinions, and orders issued in
the adjudication of cases;

13. a policy statement or interpretation that has been adopted by an agency;

14. administrative staff manuals and instructions to staff that affect a member of the
public;

15. information regarded as open to the public under an agency’s policies;

16. information that is in a bill for attorney’s fees and that is not privileged under the
attorney/client privilege or confidential under other law;

17. information that is also contained in a public court record; and

18. a settlement agreement to which a governmental body is a party unless the

agreement is confidential under other law.

a. A settlement agreement is not excepted from disclosure even if the

governmental body and a party agree to make it confidential. Thomas v.
El Paso County Cmty. College District, 68 S.W.3d 722, 726-27 (Tex.
App.—El Paso 2001, no pet.).

b. Although TPIA was not binding on federal district court’s ability to issue
confidentiality order regarding settlement agreement to which
governmental body was a party, federal court was obliged to consider
effect of order on state law, and failure to do so was abuse of discretion.
Ford v. City of Huntsville, 242 F.3d 235, 241-42 (5th Cir. 2001).

19. a. No court may order a governmental body to withhold information unless

the information is expressly confidential under other law (§ 552.022(b)).

b. Discovery privileges under the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and Texas
Rules of Evidence are “other law” that may render items listed in Section
552.022(a) “expressly confidential.” In re City of Georgetown, 53 S.W.3d
328, 331-36 (Tex. 2001); see also N.N. v. Institute for Rehabilitation and
Research, 234 S.W.3d 1 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, no pet.)
(rules of procedure are binding in the same manner as statutes).

c. Section 552.022(b) does not deprive trial court of jurisdiction to issue

temporary injunctions maintaining the status quo in “a public information”
mandamus action. Ctr. for Econ. Justice v. American Ins. Assoc.,
39 S.W.3d 337, 344 (Tex. App.—Austin 2001, no pet.).

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 20. Information regarding employees and trustees of a public employee pension
system, including relating to their income, salary, benefits and bonuses, is public
information (§ 552.022).

21. Basic information held by a governmental body relating to its investments is

public information and not excepted from disclosure (§ 552.0225).

G. Right of Access for Particular Individuals

1. Person has special right of access to information that relates to that person
(§ 552.023).

2. Governmental body is not required to accept or comply with a request for

information from an individual who is imprisoned or confined in a correctional
facility (§ 552.027).

H. Contact Information for Public Employee or Official.

1. Employees and officials may opt-out of allowing public access to information

held by governmental body relating to home address, telephone, etc. (§ 552.024).

I. Access to Information of Judiciary

1. Access to judicial records is governed by rules promulgated by the Supreme Court

of Texas. See Rule 12, Texas Rules of Judicial Administration. TPIA does not
address whether info is considered to be a judicial record (§ 552.0035).

2. A subpoena duces tecum or a discovery request is not considered to be an open

record request (§ 552.0055).

J. Information Excepted from Required Disclosure - Commonly Used Exceptions

1. Confidential information (§ 552.101):

information considered to be confidential by law, either constitutional, statutory,

or by judicial decision

a. includes information the disclosure of which would constitute the common

law tort of invasion of privacy through the public disclosure of private
facts (Indus. Found. of the South v. Texas Indus. Accident Bd., 540 S.W.2d
668, 682-83 (Tex. 1976), cert. denied, 430 U.S. 930 (1977)) - Information
is protected by common law privacy if 1) it contains highly intimate or
embarrassing facts about a person’s private affairs the publication of
which would be highly objectionable to a reasonable person and 2) the
information is not of legitimate concern to the public. Id.

b. also excepts information protected by constitutional privacy --

Constitutional privacy encompasses two types of privacy: (1) the right to

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 make certain kinds of decisions independently and (2) a person’s interest
in avoiding disclosure of personal matters. Tex. Att’y. Gen. ORD-455
(1987). The first addresses matters within “zones of privacy” while the
second balances privacy interests versus the public’s need to know about
matters of public concern. Id. at 4. Information must concern “the most
intimate aspects of human affairs.” Id. at 5; see also Ramie v. City of
Hedmg Village, Texas, 765 F.2d 490, 492 (5th Cir. 1985), cert. denied
474 U.S. 1062 (1986).

c. does not include attorney work product (Tex. Att’y Gen. ORD-574 and
ORD-575 (1990));

d. nursing home entitled to injunction against release by Department of

Human Services of “peer review” materials regarding accident
investigations, as materials probably confidential by law (Ebony Lake
Healthcare v. Texas Dep’t. of Human Serv., 62 S.W.3d 867, 870-75 (Tex.
App.—Austin 2001, no pet.);

e. HIPAA does not preempt state TPIA. Where a request for protected
health information is made under the TPIA, the exception to non-
disclosure found in the HIPAA privacy rule Section 164.512(a) applies,
and the governmental body must determine whether the TPIA compels
disclosure or whether the information is excepted from disclosure under
the TPIA. Abott v. Texas Dep’t. of Mental Health and Mental
Retardation, 212 S.W.3d 648, 662 (Tex. App.—Austin 2006, no pet.).

f. state employee date of birth information is not excepted from disclosure

by common law or constitutional privacy. Texas Comptroller of Public
Accounts v. Abbott, 244 S.W.3d 629 (Tex. App.—Austin 2008, review
pending).

g. Settlement letters between bingo device manufacturer and Lottery

Commission were not excepted as confidential alternative dispute
resolution documents. Abbott v. Gametech International, Inc., 2009 WL
1708815 (Tex. App.—Austin 2009).

h. Travel expense vouchers of governor’s security detail not excepted under

common law right of privacy. Texas Department of Public Safety vs. Cox
Newspapers, Inc., ___ S.W.3d ___, 2009 WL 1491880 (Tex. App.—
Austin 2009)(but see subsequent amendment at § 552.151 regarding
exception for information relating to “substantial threat of physical
harm”).

2. Personnel information (§ 552.102):

information in a personnel file, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly

unwarranted invasion of personal privacy:

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 a. Industrial Foundation of the South, supra, standard, would apply. Hubert
v. Harte-Hanks Texas Newspaper, Inc., 652 S.W.2d 546, 550 (Tex.
App.—Austin 1983, writ ref’d n.r.e.).

b. Employee can choose whether to allow public access to information that

relates to person’s home address, home telephone number or social
security number, or that reveals whether person has family members
(§ 552.024 and § 552.117).

3. Information relating to litigation, civil or criminal, to which the state or a political

subdivision may be a party (§ 552.103):

a. includes matters to which an officer or employee of the state or political

subdivision is or may be a party;

b. information not excepted if other parties to litigation have had access to it

(Tex. Att’y Gen. ORD-551 (1990));

c. Litigation of a criminal nature continues until defendant has exhausted all

appellate and post conviction remedies in state and federal court
(§ 552.103(b));

d. Information relating to litigation is excepted from disclosure only if it is

pending or anticipated on the date of the public information request
(§ 552.103(c));

e. Governmental body bears burden to prove applicability of litigation

exception. Thomas v. Cornyn, 71 S.W.3d 473 (Tex. App.—Austin 2002,
no pet.); see also Abbott v. Texas Dep’t. of Mental Health and Mental
Retardation, 212 S.W.3d 648, 655 (Tex. App.—Austin 2006, no pet.).

4. Information related to competition or bidding (§ 552.104):

a. excepts information that if released would give advantage to a competitor

or a bidder;

b. exemption continues until government contract is awarded (Tex. Att’y

Gen. ORD-541 (1990));

c. protects interests of government body not private parties (ORD 592

(1991)).

5. Information related to location or price of property prior to public announcement

or formal award of contracts (§ 552.105);

6. Certain legal matters (§ 552.107):

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 information that the attorney general or an attorney of a political subdivision is
prohibited from disclosing because of a duty to the client under the Texas Rules
of Civil Evidence, the Texas Rules of Criminal Evidence or the Texas
Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, or of which a court by order has
prohibited disclosure

a. Distinct factual summary included with legal analysis in report of attorney

hired to conduct independent investigation of sexual assault allegations
was excepted from disclosure under Section 552.107(1) as confidential
under the attorney-client privilege. Harlandale I.S.D. v. Cornyn, 25
S.W.3d 328, 331-35 (Tex. App.—Austin 2000, pet. denied).

7. Law enforcement and prosecutorial records that deal with the detection,
investigation or prosecution of crime (§ 552.108):

a. In Holmes v. Morales, 924 S.W.2d 920 (Tex. 1996), the Texas Supreme
Court refused access to records even after case closed.

b. 1997 amendment somewhat alleviates effect of Holmes v. Morales.

Information held by a law enforcement agency may be withheld if release
would interfere with the detection, investigation or prosecution of crime.

c. Information may be withheld in case of investigation that does not result

in conviction or deferred adjudication.

d. Information prepared by attorney representing state in a criminal case is

also protected.

e. Basic information about an arrested person, an arrest or a crime is not

excepted (§ 552.108(c)).

f. Local Govt. Code § 143.089(g) prohibits the release of documents relating

to unsubstantiated allegations of misconduct by a police officer in a civil
service municipality. City of San Antonio v. Texas Att’y Gen., 851 S.W.2d
946, 949-52 (Tex. App.—Austin 1993, writ denied). But § 143.089(g)
does not prohibit the release of information about a police officer not
reasonably related to the officer’s employment status. City of San Antonio
v. San Antonio Express News, 47 S.W.3d 556, 562-65 (Tex. App.—San
Antonio 2000, pet. denied).

g. Court should refuse to apply law enforcement exception when

governmental body fails to produce evidence or to submit documents in
camera establishing exception. Thomas v. Cornyn, 71 S.W.3d 473 (Tex.
App.—Austin 2002, no pet.).

h. Information and references collected in evaluating applicant for job as a

police officer were not protected from disclosure by law-enforcement
exception to the TPIA; records sought would not divulge police

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 department’s methods, techniques, and strategies for preventing and
predicting crime. City of Fort Worth v. Cornyn, 86 S.W.3d 320, 322-29
(Tex. App.—Austin 2002, no pet.).

8. Trade secrets, commercial information, or financial information (§ 552.110):

a. Trade Secret Exception. Attorney General and Texas courts look to six
factors in considering whether information is a trade secret:

i. extent to which the information is known outside of the company’s

business;

ii. the extent to which it is known by employees and others involved

in the company’s business;

iii. the extent of measures taken by the company to guard the secrecy
of the information;

iv. the value of the information to the company and to its competitors;

v. the amount of effort or money expended in developing the

information; and

vi. the ease or difficulty with which the information could be properly
acquired or duplicated by others.

b. Commercial or financial information is excepted if it is demonstrated,

based on specific factual evidence, that disclosure would cause substantial
competitive harm (§ 552.110(b)).

9. Agency memoranda (§ 552.111):

a. protects advice, opinions or recommendations, but not factual information

(Tex. Att’y Gen. ORD-293 (1981));

b. protects only those agency communications that relate to the agency’s

policy making function (City of Garland v. The Dallas Morning News 22
S.W.3d 351, 364 (Tex. 2000));

c. Compiled results of annual teacher effectiveness survey were purely

factual and not excepted by the agency memoranda exception (Arlington
I.S.D. v. Texas Atty. Gen., 37 S.W.3d 152, 160-61 (Tex. App.—Austin
2001, no pet.));

d. routine internal administrative and personnel matters not exempt.

Documents reflecting implementation of existing policy, rather than
relating to development of new policy, are not exempt (Lott v. Klein ISD,
917 S.W.2d 455 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1996, writ denied));

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 e. Portions of a consultant’s report concerning a university’s overall faculty
hiring and retention policies may be excepted (Tex. Att’y Gen. ORD-631
(1995)).

10. Student records (§ 552.114). Excepts student records at institutions funded by

State revenues. Section 552.026 incorporates federal Family Educational Rights
Privacy Act which excepts student records at institutions receiving federal funds.

11. Birth and death records (§ 552.115):

a. birth records available on and after the 75th anniversary of the filing of the
record with the bureau of vital statistics or local registration official;

b. death record available on and after the 25th anniversary of the date on
which the record is filed with the bureau of vital statistics or local
registration official;

c. Section 552.115 applies only to local registration officials and Texas

Department of State Health Services, not other governmental bodies.

12. Audit working paper or draft audit report of the state auditor or of another state
agency, institution of higher education, a county, a municipality, a joint board
operating under Section 22.074, Transportation Code, or a school district is
excepted (§ 552.116):

a. Section 552.116(a) – “audit working papers” include papers prepared by

“a school district” including “any audit relating to the criminal history
background check of a public school employee.”

b. Section 552.116(b) – “audit” for purposes of the audit working papers

exception includes “a resolution or other action of a board of trustees of a
school district, including an audit by the district relating to the criminal
history background check of a public school employee.”

13. Addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers and personal family
information of certain public officials or employees:

a. excepts personal information of officials or employees who have “opted

out” pursuant to § 552.024 (§ 552.117(a));

b. excepts personal information of most law enforcement and corrections

officials, regardless of “opt out” (§ 552.117(a)(2)-(5); § 552.1175);

c. No Attorney General opinion is necessary to redact information excepted

under this exception, but the governmental body must provide written
notice to the requestor that the information has been redacted, a
description of the withheld or redacted information, citation of the
applicable basis for the redaction, and notice to the requestor and

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 instructions on the right to seek an Attorney General’s opinion
(§ 552.1175).

14. Members of the State Bar of Texas:

a. Texas attorneys may “opt-out” of disclosure of personal records

maintained by the State Bar of Texas (§ 552.1176).

15. Photographs of peace officers:

a. Release prohibited if it would endanger the life or safety of the officer

(§ 552.119(a)).

b. Photos may be released of indicted officer, officer who is a party to a civil

service case or if photo offered in court (§ 552.119(a)(1)-(3)).

16. Name of applicant for state university CEO:

a. Governing board must identify finalists at least 21 days before date of

meeting at which a final action or vote is to be taken (§ 552.123).

17. Name of applicant for superintendent of public school district:

a. Board of trustees must identify finalists at least 21 days before date of

meeting at which a final action or vote is to be taken (§ 552.126).

18. Information identifying a person as a participant in a neighborhood crime watch

organization and relating to the person’s name, home address, business address,
home telephone number or business telephone number (§ 552.127);

19. Information relating to motor vehicle operator’s or driver’s license or permit

issued by an agency of this state, a motor vehicle title or registration issued by an
agency of this state or a personal identification document issued by a state or local
agency is exempt and may be released only in the manner authorized by Chapter
730, Transportation Code (§ 552.130):

a. Chapter 730, Transportation Code, permits disclosure of such information

only to certain persons or entities and only for certain purposes.

b. If recipient of information is other than the individual to whom the

information pertains or that individual’s agent, recipient must agree in
writing that the person will not disseminate or publish the information on
the Internet or permit another to do so (§ 731.002, Transportation Code).

i. Class A misdemeanor to disseminate or publish information

obtained from an agency’s motor vehicle records on the Internet
(§ 731.007, Transportation Code)

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 c. Requestor must be eligible under Chapter 730 to receive a certified
abstract of the record of conviction of a person for violation of a law
relating to the operation of a motor vehicle or the record of any injury or
damage caused by the person’s operation of a motor vehicle (§ 601.022,
Transportation Code).

d. Transportation Code also prohibits release of accident reports and certain

information relating to accidents unless person can provide name of any
person involved in accident and either date or specific location of accident
(§ 550.065, Transportation Code):

information relating to motor vehicle accident includes

information required to be reported by law as well as
information contained in a dispatcher log, towing record or
record of a 911 service provider.

20. Economic Development Information Exception - includes information related to

economic development negotiations between the government and a business
prospect if the information relates to trade secrets of the business prospect.
Includes financial and other incentives offered to the business prospect until an
agreement is made (§ 552.131);

21. Crime victim information exception (§ 552.132) and family violence shelter
center and sexual assault program information (§ 552.136);

22. Information regarding credit card, debit card, charge card, and access device
numbers (§ 552.136);

23. a. Email address of member of the public used to communicate with

governmental body is confidential (§ 552.137).

b. An email address is not confidential when used by a member of the public

for the purpose of providing public comment on or receiving notices
related to an application for a state license, or receiving orders or decisions
from a governmental body (§ 552.137).

24. a. Family violence shelter and sexual assault program information

(§ 552.138).

b. No Attorney General opinion is necessary to redact information excepted

under this exception, but the governmental body must provide written
notice to the requestor that the information has been redacted, a
description of the withheld or redacted information, citation of the
applicable basis for the redaction, and notice to the requestor and
instructions on the right to seek an Attorney General’s opinion
(§ 552.138).

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 25. The social security number of a living person is excepted. A governmental body
may redact the social security number of a living person from any information
disclosed without requesting a decision from the attorney general:

a. Social security number is not confidential under this section and this
section does not make the social security number of a living person
confidential under another provision of this chapter or other law
(§ 552.147).

26. Records received from private multiple listing agencies and maintained by a
comptroller or appraisal district:

a. Information relating to real property sales prices, descriptions,

characteristics, and other related information received from a private entity
by the comptroller or the chief appraiser of an appraisal district under
Chapter 6, Tax Code, is excepted from the requirements of Section
552.021;

b. Exceptions to exception permit property owner protesting an appraisal to

obtain certain data from the chief appraiser or property owner or appraisal
district to obtain data from comptroller (§ 552.148).

27. Certain records maintained by a municipality related to a minor:

a. Information below maintained by a municipality for purposes related to

the participation by a minor in a recreational program or activity is
excepted from disclosure:

i. the name, age, home address, home telephone number, or social

security number of the minor;

ii. a photograph of the minor; and

iii. the name of the minor's parent or legal guardian (§ 552.148).

28. Information that could reasonably be expected to compromise the safety of an

employee or officer of a hospital district where the employee submits a request in
writing with specifics on why the information should be withheld is excepted
(§ 552.150). (This amendment was subject to a sunset provision terminating its
effectiveness in 2013.)

29. Information related to a biological agent or toxin identified or listed as a select

agent under federal law is excepted, specifically: (a) location of select agent; (b)
people in chain of custody for the select agent; and (c) identity of people
authorized to possess select agents (§ 552.151).

30. Information regarding government employee or officer is excepted if, under

specific circumstances pertaining to the employee or officer, disclosure of the

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 information would subject the employee or officer to a substantial threat of
physical harm (§ 552.151).

K. Procedure for Requesting Information

1. Request should be directed to “officer for public information” (§ 552.221):

a. officer for public information is the chief administrative officer of a

governmental body (§ 552.201);

b. each elected county officer is the officer for public information for the
records created or received by that county officer’s office (§ 552.201);

c. each department head is an agent of the officer for public information

(§ 552.202).

2. Request can be oral or in writing; however, protections of act are not triggered
unless request is in writing (see § 552.301);

3. Officer for public information shall promptly produce public information for
inspection, duplication, or both on application by any person:

a. If information cannot be produced within 10 business days, officer shall

certify fact in writing and set a date and hour within a reasonable time.

4. a. Governmental body may make no inquiry of person requesting

information except to establish proper identification and the public
information requested (§ 552.222).

b. Requestor’s failure to respond in writing to a request for clarification

within 60 days allows governmental body to consider that the request has
been withdrawn.

c. The 60 day period is triggered by a governmental body request for

clarification that:

i. includes “a statement as to the consequences of the failure by the

requestor to timely respond to the request for clarification,
discussion, or additional information”; and

ii. sent by certified mail to physical or mailing address provided by

requestor.

5. Officer shall treat all requests for information uniformly (§ 552.223);

6. Governmental body shall provide a suitable copy within a reasonable time, but
shall provide a copy in the requested medium if (§ 552.228):

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 a. governmental body has technological ability to produce copy in requested
medium;

b. governmental body is not required to purchase software or hardware to

accommodate request; and

c. provision of copy in requested medium will not violate copyright

agreement between governmental body and third party.

7. A governmental body does not comply with TPIA if it simply refers a requestor of
information to its website containing the information sought unless the requestor
agrees to accept access to the information via the website. Tex. Att’y Gen. ORD-
682 (2005).

8. Governmental body can be required to respond to a request that requires

programming or manipulation of data if requestor, after receiving statement of
form and cost, advises governmental body within 30 days that requestor wants
information in either requested or available form. (§ 552.231)

9. a. Substituting numerical coding for confidential student names amounted to

manipulation of existing data, not creation of new information, and
therefore was required to comply with request pursuant to § 552.231. Fish
v. Dallas I.S.D., 31 S.W.3d 678, 681-82 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2000, pet.
denied).

10. Costs:

a. charge for copies of first 50 pages is limited to photocopying costs unless

records are located in more than one building or a remote storage facility
(§ 552.261);

b. state agency shall use rules adopted by the Attorney General in

determining charges for copies (§ 552.262);

c. other governmental bodies shall not charge an amount more than 25

percent greater than the charges set out in the Attorney General rules
(§ 552.262);

d. charges for public information may not be excessive and may not exceed
the actual cost of producing the information (§ 552.262);

e. governmental body may request an exemption from part or all of the rules
adopted by the Attorney General;

f. no charge for inspection of paper record if copies not requested, unless

copies made to redact confidential information (§ 552.271);

g. no charge to inspect electronic record if copy not requested (§ 552.272);

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 h. use of computerized electronic judicial information system is excepted;

i. charge for copies from district or county clerk shall be the charge provided
by law (§ 552.265).

11. Governmental body may cap research time:

a. Governmental body may establish a reasonable limit on time spent

producing information for inspection or duplication for a single requestor
without recovering personnel costs.

b. Limit may not be less than 36 hours per twelve-month period.

c. Exceptions for representative of newspaper (including on-line

newspapers), magazines, radio or television station, elected officials, and
non-profit publicly-funded legal services organizations (§ 552.275).

L. Oversight

1. Section 552.009 – Establishes an open records steering committee made up of

representatives from five government agencies and members of the public and
representatives from local governments appointed by the Attorney General. The
Committee shall study and determine the types of public info that should be made
available by the Internet or other electronic means. The Committee shall report is
findings and recommendations to the governor, the each house of the legislature.

2. State governmental bodies shall report to the Legislative Budget Board

information regarding the number and nature of open records requests they
process, the cost of processing such requests and of making information available
to the public via the Internet (§ 552.010).

M. Attorney General Decisions

The Attorney General shall maintain uniformity in applying and interpreting the Act
(§ 552.011).

1. Governmental body which intends to withhold information must seek attorney

general decision and state exceptions that apply within 10 business days of receipt
of written request for information and must provide the requestor within 10
business days of the written request: 1) a written statement that the governmental
body wishes to withhold the requested information and has sought an attorney
general decision as to whether the information falls within an exception to public
disclosure; and 2) a copy of the governmental body’s written communication to
the attorney general asking for the decision (§ 552.301).

2. If a governmental body does not request an attorney general decision and provide
the requestor with the information as required by Section 552.301, the
information requested is presumed to be public information and must be released

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 unless there is a compelling reason to except the information from disclosure.
(§ 552.302)

 A compelling reason is something more than just showing that the

information falls within one of the statutory exceptions to disclosure.
Simmons v. Kuzmich, 166 S.W.3d 342, 346 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2005,
no pet.).

 Requirement to demonstrate “compelling reason” applies even where

information is privileged. City of Dallas v. Abbott, 279 S.W.3d 806 (Tex.
App.—Amarillo 2007, review pending).

3. Governmental body has 15 business days to: 1) submit written comments to

attorney general; 2) submit copy of written request; 3) submit copy of information
requested; and 4) indicate which exceptions apply to which documents
(§ 552.301(e)).

4. Information is presumed to be public if governmental body fails to submit specific

information to attorney general within seven days after receiving notice from
attorney general that governmental body has failed to supply attorney general all
of the specific information that is necessary to render a decision (§ 552.303(e)).

5. Third parties are permitted to protect privacy or property interests (§ 552.305).

6. Attorney general shall issue written opinion - either informal letter ruling or open
records decision - not later than the 60th working day after receiving the request
for a decision (§ 552.306):

a. period can be extended by additional 20 working days.

7. In order to avoid criminal violation of the act, governmental body must file cause
of action seeking relief from compliance with an attorney general decision
requiring disclosure within 10 days after the date of receipt of a decision by the
attorney general that the information is public (§ 552.353):

a. Governmental body may not sue requestor (§ 552.324 and § 552.325);

 TPIA §§ 552.324-325 prohibit school district from bringing public

nuisance and abuse of government process action against
requestors. Lake Travis Ind. School District v. Lovelace, 243
S.W.3d 244, (Tex. App.—Austin 2007).

b. Requestor must be notified of suit filed by governmental body and

allowed to intervene (§ 552.325).

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N. Civil Enforcement

1. Suit for writ of mandamus for refusal to request attorney general’s decision or
refusal to supply public information or information that the attorney general has
determined is a public record (§ 552.321):

a. In such a suit, the burden to produce disputed information to the court for
in camera inspection and to preserve it of record for the appeal lies with
the governmental body seeking to assert an exception to the Act.
Dominguez v. Gilbert, 48 S.W.3d 789, 795 (Tex. App.—Austin 2001, no
pet.).

b. Requestor may intervene to seek mandamus in suit by governmental body

to challenge AG opinion. Thomas v. Cornyn, 71 S.W.3d 473, 481-84
(Tex. App.—Austin 2002, no pet.).

2. Court may assess costs of litigation and reasonable attorney fees incurred by a
plaintiff or defendant who substantially prevails (§ 552.323).

O. Criminal Violations

1. Destruction, removal or alteration of public record (§ 552.351);

2. Distribution of confidential information (§ 552.352);

3. Failure or refusal of officer for public records to provide access to or copying of

public record (§ 552.353):

a. affirmative defense to prosecution;

acted in reasonable reliance on a court order or a written interpretation of

the act;

b. requested an attorney general decision and decision is pending; or

c. within 10 days of receipt of attorney general decision, filed petition for

declaratory judgment, mandamus or both against the attorney general in
Travis County district court seeking relief from compliance with attorney
general decision.

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 Sample TEXAS PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT Request Letter
(Courtesy of FOI Foundation of Texas, Inc.)

Your Name
Return Address
Tele. No. (business hours)
Date

[Name of government agency]

[Address of government agency]

Dear Officer for Public Records:

This request is made under the Texas Public Information Act, Chapter 552, Texas
Government Code, which guarantees the public’s access to information in the custody of
governmental agencies. I respectfully request [copies of, access to] the following information:

[List here as specifically as possible the information you are seeking: documents, letters,
memoranda, reports etc. If you know the dates, report numbers, titles or even the specific
governmental subdivision that produced the information, list it.]

[Optional, when time is a factor.] In the interest of expediency, and to minimize the
research and/or duplication burden on your staff, I would be pleased to personally examine the
relevant records if you would grant me immediate access to the requested material. Additionally,
and since time is a factor, please communicate with me by telephone rather than by mail. My
telephone number is: [insert telephone number].

[If applicable, add.] Disclosure of this information is in the public interest because
providing a copy of the information primarily benefits the general public. I therefore request a
waiver of all fees and charges pursuant to Section 552.267 of the act.

I shall look forward to hearing from you promptly, as specified in the law. Thank you for
your cooperation.

Sincerely,

[signature]

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 PART TWO:

THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT

A. Introduction

1. The Texas Open Meetings Act, TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 551.001 et seq.,
provides that meetings of governmental bodies must be open to the public, except
for expressly authorized executive sessions. The Act also provides that the public
be given notice of the time and place of meetings as well as the subject(s) to be
discussed.

B. Constitutionality of TOMA

1. The issue of whether the Texas Open Meetings Act improperly infringes the free
speech rights of elected public officials is pending before the courts as of August,
2009. In Ranga v. Brown, ___ F.3d ___, 566 F.3d 515 (5th Cir. 2009) (en banc
review granted, July 27, 2009), a three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit held
TOMA is a content-based speech restriction subject to strict scrutiny. The panel
remanded the case for further review in the district court; however, subsequently,
the case has been granted en banc review, which remains pending.

C. When does the Act apply?

1. The Act applies to “meetings” held by “governmental bodies,” as those terms are
defined in the Act. Thus, it must first be determined there is a “governmental
body.” If so, the next step is to determine whether there is a “meeting.”

2. Definition of a “governmental body” - § 551.001(3)

a. The following entities qualify as “governmental bodies”:

i. a board, commission, department, committee or agency within the

executive or legislative branch of state government that is directed
by one or more elected or appointed members;

ii. A county commissioners court;

iii. a municipal governing body;

iv. a deliberative body that has rule making or quasi-judicial power

and that is classified as a department, agency, or political
subdivision of a county or municipality;

v. a school district board of trustees; county board of school trustees;

or county board of education;

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 vi. the governing body of a special district created by law; or

vii. certain nonprofit corporations that provide a water supply or a

wastewater service; or

viii. a Local workforce development boards that plan and oversee

workforce training; or

ix. a nonprofit corporation that is eligible to receive funds under the

federal community services block grant program and that is
authorized by this state to serve a geographic area of the state.

b. Advisory boards - a purely advisory board, which has no authority over

public business or policy, is not subject to the Open Meetings Act. See
Op. Tex. Att’y Gen. No. H-994 (1977) (committee appointed to study
process of choosing university president and make recommendations to
board of regents is not subject to Open Meetings Act); Op. Tex. Att’y
Gen. No. H-772 (1976) (meeting of group of employees, such as general
faculty of university, is not subject to Open Meetings Act).

c. A county election commission is not a county commissioners court, a

committee thereof, or a deliberative body with rulemaking or quasi-
judicial power nor is it a governmental body for purposes of Section
551.001(3). Thus, it need not comply with TOMA requirements. Op.
Tex. Att’y. Gen. No. GA-0361 (2005).

3. Definition of “meeting” - § 551.001(4)

a. Definition of a “meeting” - a meeting means a deliberation between a

quorum of a governmental body, or between a quorum of a governmental
body and another person, during which (1) public business or public
policy over which the governmental body has supervision or control is
discussed or considered; or (2) the governmental body takes formal action.
See § 551.001(4).

i. Informal or social meetings - A social function, convention,

workshop, ceremonial event or press conference attended by a
quorum of a governmental body does not qualify as a “meeting”
under the Act unless formal action is taken or unless discussion of
public business is more than “incidental” to the function. See Op.
Tex. Att’y Gen. No. H-785 (1976) (breakfast meetings of
commissioners court are subject to the requirements of the Act
unless the breakfasts are purely social in nature and do not in any
way involve discussion or consideration of public business or
policy).

ii. “Quorum” is defined as a majority of members of the

governmental body. § 551.001(6). Thus, anytime a majority of

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 members discuss public business, there is a meeting that must meet
the requirements of the Act. See Acker v. Texas Water Comm’n,
790 S.W.2d 299, 302 (Tex. 1990) (where two members of three-
member governmental body discussed public business in
bathroom, that discussion constituted a “meeting” that violated the
Open Meetings Act).

 A quorum not required if entity located in a disaster area

and majority unable to attend due to disaster. Govt. Code
§ 418.112.

D. Exceptions to the requirement that meetings be open to the public

1. The Open Meetings Act provides that meetings shall be open to the public unless
the subject to be discussed falls under one of several expressly authorized
exceptions. Exceptions to the requirement that meetings be open are set forth at
sections 551.071 - .085 of the Act. The following are some of the most frequently
invoked exceptions:

a. Litigation exception, § 551.071 - governmental bodies are permitted to

meet in executive session to consult with the governmental body’s
attorney with respect to pending or contemplated litigation or a settlement
offer.

i. Litigation exception does not permit a governmental body to meet

in executive session to discuss general policy matters just because
an attorney is present. Rather, the exception authorizes executive
sessions only if the governmental body is seeking the attorney’s
legal advice regarding a legal proceeding or legal matters. See Op.
Tex. Att’y Gen. No. JM-100 (1983).

 Exception did not allow council to discuss bids from

prospective vendors in closed session, even through advice
sought from legal counsel. Olympic Waste Services vs. City
of Grand Sabine, 204 S.W.3d 496, 503-504 (Tex. App.—
Tyler 2006).

ii. Since the attorney-client privilege can be waived by

communicating privileged matters in the presence of third parties,
third parties whose presence would prevent a privileged
communication from taking place may not attend a meeting that is
closed pursuant to the litigation exception. Thus, two
governmental bodies may not meet in executive session for
discussions intended to avoid litigation between them. Op. Tex.
Att’y Gen. No. MW-417 (1981).

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 b. Real property, § 551.072 - governmental bodies may meet in closed
session to discuss the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property if
deliberation in an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the
position of the governmental body in negotiations with a third person. See
City of Laredo v. Escamilla, 219 S.W.3d 14 (Tex. App.—San Antonio
2006).

i. Executive session is permitted only where public discussion of the

subject would have a detrimental effect on the governmental
body’s negotiating position with respect to a third party. Op. Tex.
Att’y Gen. No. MW-417 (1981).

ii. Executive session violated TOMA where city council had already
made an offer to purchase real estate. City of Laredo, 219 S.W.3d
at 20-21.

c. Texas Building and Procurement Commission, § 551.0726 – may conduct

a closed meeting to deliberate business and financial issues relating to a
contract being negotiated if the commission votes unanimously that an
open meeting would have a detrimental effect on negotiations and the
attorney advising the commission issues a written determination finding
that deliberation in an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on
the negotiations.

d. Personnel matters, § 551.074 - closed meetings are permitted where the

governmental body is deliberating the appointment, employment,
evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline or dismissal of a public officer
or employee or to hear a complaint or charge against the officer or
employee.

i. Officer or employee may request a public hearing. If a public

hearing is requested, Section 551.074 does not apply. Op. Tex.
Att’y Gen. No. DM-251 (1993).

ii. This section permits closed meetings for deliberations regarding

individual employees or officers. Deliberations about a class of
employees must be held in open session. For example, when a
governmental body discusses salary scales without referring to a
specific employee, it must meet in open session. Op. Tex. Att’y
Gen. No. H-496 (1975).

e. Repeal of staff briefing exception - TOMA formerly permitted

governmental bodies to meet in closed sessions for “staff briefings.” See
Act of May 4, 1993, 73d. Legis., R.S., Ch. 268, § 1, 1993 Tex. Gen. Laws
583, 590. Former Section 551.075 permitted a governmental body to meet
in closed session for the limited purposes of (1) receiving information
from governmental employees; and/or (2) questioning employees. These

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 “briefing sessions” could be closed provided the governmental body did
not engage in “deliberation.” Id.; see also Dallas Morning News v. Bd. of
Trustees, 861 S.W.2d 532 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1993, writ denied).
However, in 1999, the Legislature repealed the staff briefing exception for
all governmental bodies except the board of the Texas Growth Fund.

§ 551.075.

E. Procedures related to closed meetings

1. Requirement to first convene in open session - even when the Act permits a
governmental body to meet in closed session, the governmental body must first
convene at an open meeting for which proper notice has been given, at which time
the presiding officer must publicly announce that a closed meeting will be held
and identify the particular exception under the Act which authorizes the closed
session (§ 551.101).

2. Final Actions - when the authority to make a decision is vested in the

governmental body, the governmental body must act in open session. Even if a
matter is properly discussed during a closed hearing, a governmental body’s final
action, decision, or vote on any matter within its jurisdiction may be made only
during an open session held in compliance with the notice requirements of the
Act. § 551.102. However, if authority to make the decision is vested in an
employee of the governmental body rather than the governmental body itself, the
decision need not be made at an open meeting. See City of San Antonio v.
Aguilar, 670 S.W.2d 681, 686 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1984, writ ref’d n.r.e. in
part, writ dism’d w.o.j., in part) (where city attorney had authority under city
charter to bring lawsuit and did not need city council approval to appeal, a
discussion of the appeal did not involve a final action).

3. No straw votes in closed session - governmental body should not take a “straw
vote” or otherwise attempt to count votes in executive session. See Bd. of
Trustees v. Cox Enter., Inc. 679 S.W.2d 86, 89-90 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1984),
aff’d in part, rev’d in part on other grounds, 706 S.W.2d 956 (Tex. 1986) (school
board violated statutory predecessor to Section 551.102 where board took written
vote on which member would serve as president during closed session; then
convened in open session and voted unanimously for the individual who won the
vote in closed session); but, see, Poder v. City of Austin, 2008 WL 4603569 (Tex.
App.—Austin 2008) (city council did not violate straw vote prohibition).

4. Certified agenda or tape recording - governmental body must keep either a

certified agenda or a tape recording of its closed meetings, except for meetings
closed for consultations between the governmental body and its attorney pursuant
to the litigation exception. In the event of litigation challenging the validity of the
closed meeting, the certified agenda or tape recording provides evidence of what
transpired during the closed meeting. If the court determines that the meeting

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 should not have been closed, it may make the certified agenda or tape recording
available to the public (§§ 551.103 - .104).

F. Posting and notice requirements

1. All meetings, both open and closed, must be preceded by written public notice
(§ 551.041).

a. A governmental body that recesses an open meeting to the following

regular business day is not required to post notice of the continued
meeting if the action is taken in good faith. If the open meeting is
continued to the following business day and is then continued again to
another day, the governmental body must give written notice
(§ 551.0411).

b. Section 551.0415 exempt from agenda notice requirements municipal

governing body discussions regarding expressions of thanks,
congratulations, or condolence; information regarding holiday schedules;
an honorary or salutary recognition of a public official, public employee,
or other citizen; a reminder about an upcoming event organized or
sponsored by the governing body; information regarding a social,
ceremonial, or community event; and an imminent threat to the public
health and safety that has arisen after the posting of the agenda.

2. Time of posting:

a. Notice must be posted 72 hours in advance - Notice must be posted “in a

place readily accessible to the general public” for at least 72 hours
preceding the scheduled time of the meeting, unless the meeting qualifies
as an “emergency” meeting. The requirement is satisfied by making a
good-faith attempt to continuously post the notice on the Internet during
the prescribed period. The governmental body must still comply with any
duty imposed by this chapter to physically post the notice at a particular
location (§ 551.043).

b. Emergency meetings - Governmental bodies may meet on as little as two

hours’ notice in cases of an “emergency or urgent public necessity.”
(§ 551.045).

i. An “emergency or urgent public necessity” exists only if

immediate action is required by a governmental body because of
(1) an imminent threat to public health or safety; or (2) a
reasonably unforeseen situation.

ii. The term “emergency” “generally refers to an unforeseen

combination of circumstances that calls for immediate action; a
sudden or unexpected occasion for action. The mere necessity for
quick action does not constitute an emergency where the situation

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 calling for such action is one which reasonably should have been
anticipated.” River Road Neighborhood Ass’n v. South Texas
Sports, Inc., 720 S.W.2d 551, 557 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1986,
writ dism’d w.o.j.); see also Op. Tex. Att’y Gen. No. JM-985
(1988) (no “emergency” under Section 551.045 where school
board held emergency session to discuss real estate purchased and
stated as reason for “emergency” that “the land is now available
but [the fact that] a decision must be made immediately makes it
necessary to hold an emergency meeting”).

iii. Notice of the emergency session must clearly identify the

emergency or urgent public necessity (§ 551.045(c)).

iv. In addition to posting requirement, governmental body must give

personal notice by telephone, fax or e-mail to any news media that
has requested such notice (§ 551.047).

3. Content of posting:

a. The written notice must give the date, place and time of the meeting
(§ 551.041).

b. Notice must also include a description of subjects to be discussed that is

sufficient to apprize the general public of the subjects to be considered
during the meeting. Op. Tex. Att’y Gen. No. H-1045 (1977).

c. Whether a particular notice is sufficient is generally fact-specific. A

particular subject requires more specific treatment where it is of special
interest to the community. See Cox Enter., Inc. v. Bd. of Trustees, 706
S.W.2d 956, 959 (Tex. 1986); Op. Tex. Att’y Gen. No. H-1045 (1977).

d. In Cox Enterprises, the Texas Supreme Court held that notice of a school
board executive session which listed only general topics such as
“litigation” and “personnel” was insufficient to meet the notice
requirement of the Open Meetings Act. One of the items considered at the
closed session was the appointment of a new school superintendent. The
court noted that the appointment of a new superintendent was not in the
same category as ordinary personnel matters, since it was a matter of
special interest to the public; thus, the use of the descriptor “personnel”
was not sufficient to apprize the general public of the board’s proposed
selection of the new superintendent. The court also noted that “litigation”
would not sufficiently describe a major desegregation suit that had
occupied the district’s time for a number of years. Cox Enter., 706 S.W.2d
at 959. See also Point Isabel I.S.D v. Hinojosa, 797 S.W.2d 176, 182
(Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1990, writ denied) (“employment of
personnel” is insufficient to describe hiring of principals, but is sufficient
for hiring school librarian, part-time counselor, band director or school

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 teacher); Op. Tex. Att’y Gen. No. H-1045 (1977) (“discussion of
personnel changes” insufficient to describe selection of university system
chancellor or university president).

Violation probably occurred, warranting injunction, when posted school

board agenda gave notice of discussion of superintendent’s performance
but meeting resulted in award of $500,000 severance pay. Salazar v.
Gallardo, 57 S.W.3d 629 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2001, no pet.).

City’s agenda notice of water development agreement was sufficient.

Save Our Springs Alliance, Inc. vs. City of Dripping Springs, 2009 WL
1896070 (Tex. App.—Austin 2009).

G. Enforcement and remedies for violation of Open Meetings Act

1. Any action taken by a governmental body in violation of the Act is voidable. §

551.141. For example, action taken at a meeting held in violation of the Act’s
notice requirements subjects that action to judicial invalidation. Lower Colorado
River Auth. v. City of San Marcos, 523 S.W.2d 641, 646 (Tex. 1975).

2. Mandamus or injunction - An “interested person” (including a member of the

news media) may bring an action by mandamus or injunction to stop, prevent or
reverse a violation or a threatened violation of the Act (§ 551.142(a)).

a. Governmental body is an “interested person” with standing to challenge

another governmental body’s alleged TOMA violations. City of Port
Isabell v. Pinnell, 161 S.W.3d 233, 241 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi
2005).

b. TOMA is a “school law” of the State such that educator must exhaust
administrative remedies from Commissioner of Education before bringing
suit in court. Harrison v. Neely, 229 S.W.3d 745 (Tex. App.—San
Antonio 2007).

c. Court has discretion to award costs and reasonable attorneys fees to a

plaintiff or defendant who “substantially prevails” (§ 551.142(b)).

3. Criminal penalties - it is a misdemeanor to:

a. Knowingly conspire to circumvent the open meetings act by meeting in

numbers less than a quorum for the purposes of secret deliberations;

b. Call or aid in calling a closed meeting that is not permitted under the Act
or to close or aid in closing the meeting or to participate in the closed
meeting; or

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 c. Participate in a closed meeting knowing that a certified agenda of the
closed meeting is not being kept or that a tape recording of the closed
meeting is not being made (§§ 551.143-.145).

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