Tex. Gov't Code Section 552.221
Application for Public Information; Production of Public Information

(a)

An officer for public information of a governmental body shall promptly produce public information for inspection, duplication, or both on application by any person to the officer. In this subsection, “promptly” means as soon as possible under the circumstances, that is, within a reasonable time, without delay.

(b)

An officer for public information complies with Subsection (a) by:

(1)

providing the public information for inspection or duplication in the offices of the governmental body; or

(2)

sending copies of the public information by first class United States mail if the person requesting the information requests that copies be provided and pays the postage and any other applicable charges that the requestor has accrued under Subchapter F.

(b-1)

In addition to the methods of production described by Subsection (b), an officer for public information for a governmental body complies with Subsection (a) by referring a requestor to an exact Internet location or uniform resource locator (URL) address on a website maintained by the governmental body and accessible to the public if the requested information is identifiable and readily available on that website. If the person requesting the information prefers a manner other than access through the URL, the governmental body must supply the information in the manner required by Subsection (b).

(b-2)

If an officer for public information for a governmental body provides by e-mail an Internet location or uniform resource locator (URL) address as permitted by Subsection (b-1), the e-mail must contain a statement in a conspicuous font clearly indicating that the requestor may nonetheless access the requested information by inspection or duplication or by receipt through United States mail, as provided by Subsection (b).

(c)

If the requested information is unavailable at the time of the request to examine because it is in active use or in storage, the officer for public information shall certify this fact in writing to the requestor and set a date and hour within a reasonable time when the information will be available for inspection or duplication.

(d)

If an officer for public information cannot produce public information for inspection or duplication within 10 business days after the date the information is requested under Subsection (a), the officer shall certify that fact in writing to the requestor and set a date and hour within a reasonable time when the information will be available for inspection or duplication.

(e)

A request is considered to have been withdrawn if the requestor fails to inspect or duplicate the public information in the offices of the governmental body on or before the 60th day after the date the information is made available or fails to pay the postage and any other applicable charges accrued under Subchapter F on or before the 60th day after the date the requestor is informed of the charges.
Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 1035, Sec. 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1231, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1319, Sec. 12, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 791, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003.
Amended by:
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 692 (H.B. 685), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 520 (S.B. 79), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 894 (H.B. 3107), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017.

Source: Section 552.221 — Application for Public Information; Production of Public Information, https://statutes.­capitol.­texas.­gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.­552.­htm#552.­221 (accessed Jun. 5, 2024).

552.001
Policy 552.002
Definition of Public Information 552.003
Definitions 552.004
Preservation of Information 552.005
Effect of Chapter on Scope of Civil Discovery 552.006
Effect of Chapter on Withholding Public Information 552.007
Voluntary Disclosure of Certain Information When Disclosure Not Required 552.008
Information for Legislative Purposes 552.009
Open Records Steering Committee: Advice to Attorney General 552.010
State Governmental Bodies: Fiscal and Other Information Relating to Making Information Accessible 552.011
Uniformity 552.012
Open Records Training 552.021
Availability of Public Information 552.022
Categories of Public Information 552.023
Special Right of Access to Confidential Information 552.024
Electing to Disclose Address and Telephone Number 552.025
Tax Rulings and Opinions 552.026
Education Records 552.027
Exception: Information Available Commercially 552.028
Request for Information from Incarcerated Individual 552.029
Right of Access to Certain Information Relating to Inmate of Department of Criminal Justice 552.0031
Business Days 552.0035
Access to Information of Judiciary 552.0036
Certain Property Owners’ Associations Subject to Law 552.0038
Public Retirement Systems Subject to Law 552.0055
Subpoena Duces Tecum or Discovery Request 552.101
Exception: Confidential Information 552.102
Exception: Confidentiality of Certain Personnel Information 552.103
Exception: Litigation or Settlement Negotiations Involving the State or a Political Subdivision 552.104
Exception: Information Related to Competition or Bidding 552.105
Exception: Information Related to Location or Price of Property 552.106
Exception: Certain Legislative Documents 552.107
Exception: Certain Legal Matters 552.108
Exception: Certain Law Enforcement, Corrections, and Prosecutorial Information 552.109
Exception: Confidentiality of Certain Private Communications of an Elected Office Holder 552.110
Exception: Confidentiality of Trade Secrets 552.111
Exception: Agency Memoranda 552.112
Exception: Certain Information Relating to Regulation of Financial Institutions or Securities 552.113
Exception: Confidentiality of Geological or Geophysical Information 552.114
Exception: Confidentiality of Student Records 552.115
Exception: Confidentiality of Birth and Death Records 552.116
Exception: Audit Working Papers 552.117
Exception: Confidentiality of Certain Addresses, Telephone Numbers, Social Security Numbers, and Personal Family Information 552.118
Exception: Confidentiality of Official Prescription Program Information 552.119
Exception: Confidentiality of Certain Photographs of Peace Officers 552.120
Exception: Confidentiality of Certain Rare Books and Original Manuscripts 552.121
Exception: Confidentiality of Certain Documents Held for Historical Research 552.122
Exception: Test Items 552.123
Exception: Confidentiality of Name of Applicant for Chief Executive Officer of Institution of Higher Education 552.124
Exception: Confidentiality of Records of Library or Library System 552.125
Exception: Certain Audits 552.126
Exception: Confidentiality of Name of Applicant for Superintendent of Public School District 552.127
Exception: Confidentiality of Personal Information Relating to Participants in Neighborhood Crime Watch Organization 552.128
Exception: Confidentiality of Certain Information Submitted by Potential Vendor or Contractor 552.129
Confidentiality of Certain Motor Vehicle Inspection Information 552.130
Exception: Confidentiality of Certain Motor Vehicle Records 552.131
Exception: Confidentiality of Certain Economic Development Information 552.132
Confidentiality of Crime Victim or Claimant Information 552.133
Exception: Confidentiality of Public Power Utility Competitive Matters 552.134
Exception: Confidentiality of Certain Information Relating to Inmate of Department of Criminal Justice 552.135
Exception: Confidentiality of Certain Information Held by School District 552.136
Confidentiality of Credit Card, Debit Card, Charge Card, and Access Device Numbers 552.137
Confidentiality of Certain E-mail Addresses 552.138
Exception: Confidentiality of Family Violence Shelter Center, Victims of Trafficking Shelter Center, and Sexual Assault Program Information 552.139
Exception: Confidentiality of Government Information Related to Security or Infrastructure Issues for Computers 552.140
Exception: Confidentiality of Military Discharge Records 552.141
Confidentiality of Information in Application for Marriage License 552.142
Exception: Confidentiality of Records Subject to Order of Nondisclosure 552.143
Confidentiality of Certain Investment Information 552.144
Exception: Working Papers and Electronic Communications of Administrative Law Judges at State Office of Administrative Hearings 552.145
Exception: Confidentiality of Texas No-call List 552.146
Exception: Certain Communications with Assistant or Employee of Legislative Budget Board 552.147
Social Security Numbers 552.148
Exception: Confidentiality of Certain Personal Information Maintained by Municipality Pertaining to a Minor 552.149
Exception: Confidentiality of Records of Comptroller or Appraisal District Received from Private Entity 552.150
Exception: Confidentiality of Information that Could Compromise Safety of Officer or Employee of Hospital District 552.151
Exception: Confidentiality of Information Regarding Select Agents 552.152
Exception: Confidentiality of Information Concerning Public Employee or Officer Personal Safety 552.153
Proprietary Records and Trade Secrets Involved in Certain Partnerships 552.154
Exception: Name of Applicant for Executive Director, Chief Investment Officer, or Chief Audit Executive of Teacher Retirement System of Texas 552.155
Exception: Confidentiality of Certain Property Tax Appraisal Photographs 552.156
Exception: Confidentiality of Continuity of Operations Plan 552.158
Exception: Confidentiality of Personal Information Regarding Applicant for Appointment by Governor 552.159
Exception: Confidentiality of Certain Work Schedules 552.160
Confidentiality of Personal Information of Applicant for Disaster Recovery Funds 552.161
Exception: Certain Personal Information Obtained by Flood Control District 552.162
Exception: Confidentiality of Certain Information Provided by Out-of-state Health Care Provider 552.163
Exception: Confidentiality of Certain Attorney General Settlement Negotiations 552.201
Identity of Officer for Public Information 552.202
Department Heads 552.203
General Duties of Officer for Public Information 552.204
Scope of Responsibility of Officer for Public Information 552.205
Informing Public of Basic Rights and Responsibilities Under This Chapter 552.0221
Employee or Trustee of Public Employee Pension System 552.221
Application for Public Information 552.222
Permissible Inquiry by Governmental Body to Requestor 552.0222
Disclosure of Contracting Information 552.223
Uniform Treatment of Requests for Information 552.224
Comfort and Facility 552.0225
Right of Access to Investment Information 552.225
Time for Examination 552.226
Removal of Original Record 552.227
Research of State Library Holdings Not Required 552.228
Providing Suitable Copy of Public Information Within Reasonable Time 552.229
Consent to Release Information Under Special Right of Access 552.230
Rules of Procedure for Inspection and Copying of Public Information 552.231
Responding to Requests for Information that Require Programming or Manipulation of Data 552.232
Responding to Repetitious or Redundant Requests 552.233
Ownership of Public Information 552.234
Method of Making Written Request for Public Information 552.235
Public Information Request Form 552.261
Charge for Providing Copies of Public Information 552.262
Rules of the Attorney General 552.263
Bond for Payment of Costs or Cash Prepayment for Preparation of Copy of Public Information 552.264
Copy of Public Information Requested by Member of Legislature 552.265
Charge for Paper Copy Provided by District or County Clerk 552.266
Charge for Copy of Public Information Provided by Municipal Court Clerk 552.267
Waiver or Reduction of Charge for Providing Copy of Public Information 552.268
Efficient Use of Public Resources 552.269
Overcharge or Overpayment for Copy of Public Information 552.270
Charge for Government Publication 552.271
Inspection of Public Information in Paper Record if Copy Not Requested 552.272
Inspection of Electronic Record if Copy Not Requested 552.274
Report by Attorney General on Cost of Copies 552.275
Requests that Require Large Amounts of Employee or Personnel Time 552.301
Request for Attorney General Decision 552.302
Failure to Make Timely Request for Attorney General Decision 552.303
Delivery of Requested Information to Attorney General 552.304
Submission of Public Comments 552.305
Information Involving Privacy or Property Interests of Third Party 552.306
Rendition of Attorney General Decision 552.307
Special Right of Access 552.308
Timeliness of Action by United States Mail, Interagency Mail, or Common or Contract Carrier 552.309
Timeliness of Action by Electronic Submission 552.310
Searchable Database 552.321
Suit for Writ of Mandamus 552.322
Discovery of Information Under Protective Order Pending Final Determination 552.323
Assessment of Costs of Litigation and Reasonable Attorney Fees 552.324
Suit by Governmental Body 552.325
Parties to Suit Seeking to Withhold Information 552.326
Failure to Raise Exceptions Before Attorney General 552.327
Dismissal of Suit Due to Requestor’s Withdrawal or Abandonment of Request 552.351
Destruction, Removal, or Alteration of Public Information 552.352
Distribution or Misuse of Confidential Information 552.353
Failure or Refusal of Officer for Public Information to Provide Access to or Copying of Public Information 552.371
Certain Entities Required to Provide Contracting Information to Governmental Body in Connection with Request 552.372
Bids and Contracts 552.373
Noncompliance with Provision of Subchapter 552.374
Termination of Contract for Noncompliance 552.375
Other Contract Provisions 552.376
Cause of Action Not Created 552.1081
Exception: Confidentiality of Certain Information Regarding Execution of Convict 552.1085
Confidentiality of Sensitive Crime Scene Image 552.1101
Exception: Confidentiality of Proprietary Information 552.1175
Exception: Confidentiality of Certain Personal Identifying Information of Peace Officers and Other Officials Performing Sensitive Governmental Functions 552.1176
Confidentiality of Certain Information Maintained by State Bar 552.1177
Exception: Confidentiality of Certain Information Related to Humane Disposition of Animal 552.1235
Exception: Confidentiality of Identity of Private Donor to Institution of Higher Education 552.1315
Exception: Confidentiality of Certain Crime Victim Records 552.1325
Crime Victim Impact Statement: Certain Information Confidential 552.1331
Exception: Certain Government-operated Utility Customer Information 552.1345
Exception: Confidentiality of Certain Information Relating to Civilly Committed Sexually Violent Predators 552.1425
Civil Penalty: Dissemination of Certain Criminal History Information 552.2211
Production of Public Information When Administrative Offices Closed 552.2325
Temporary Suspension of Requirements for Governmental Body Impacted by Catastrophe 552.2615
Required Itemized Estimate of Charges 552.2661
Charge for Copy of Public Information Provided by School District 552.3031
Electronic Submission of Request for Attorney General Decision 552.3035
Disclosure of Requested Information by Attorney General 552.3215
Declaratory Judgment or Injunctive Relief 552.3221
In Camera Inspection of Information 552.11765
Confidentiality of Certain Information Maintained by State Licensing Authority
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Accessed:
Jun. 5, 2024

§ 552.221’s source at texas​.gov