Reasonable Response Time

The governmental body must promptly produce public information in response to your request. Promptly means that a governmental body may take a reasonable amount of time to produce the information, which varies depending on the facts in each case. The amount of information you have requested is highly relevant to what makes for a reasonable response time.

The Public Information Act prohibits the governmental body from asking you why you want the information you have requested. However, the governmental body may ask you to clarify your request if they are uncertain as to what you want. They may also discuss with you how the scope of your request may be narrowed if you have requested a large amount of information.

Withholding Information

If the governmental body wishes to withhold information from you, it must seek an attorney general decision within 10 business days of its receipt of your request and state the exceptions to disclosure that it believes are applicable. The governmental body must also send you a copy of its letter to the attorney general requesting a decision within 10 business days. If the governmental body does not notify you of its request for an attorney general decision, the information you requested is generally presumed to be open to the public.

Argument Requirements

Within 15 business days of receiving your request, the governmental body must send the attorney general its arguments for withholding the information you requested and copies of the information you have requested. You are entitled to receive this notice. However, if the letter to the attorney general contains the substance of the information requested, you may receive a redacted copy of the letter. If the governmental body does not request an attorney general decision in a timely matter, notify you that it is seeking an attorney general decision and submit to the attorney general the information you requested, the information is generally presumed to be open to the public.

Written Comments

If an attorney general decision has been requested, you may submit your written comments to the attorney general stating any facts you want the Open Records Division to consider. You may send your comments to:

Office of the Attorney General
Open Records Division
P.O. Box 12548
Austin, TX 78711