Texas Government Code, Chapter 552, gives you the right to access government records; and an officer for public information and the officer's agent may not ask why you want them. All government information is presumed to be available to the public. Certain exceptions may apply to the disclosure of the information. Governmental bodies shall promptly release requested information that is not confidential by law, either constitutional, statutory, or by judicial decision, or information for which an exception to disclosure has not been sought.
The Texas Public Information Act (Texas Open Records Act), Chapter 552, Texas Government Code, establishes requirements for governmental bodies to respond to written requests for access and/or reproductions of public information. Charges for reproductions are governed by the State of Texas Attorney General's Office rules on charges.
If you cannot locate the information or records you need online, Section 552.234 of the Texas Public Information Act provides that a person may make a written request for information by delivering the request by U.S. mail, electronic mail, hand delivery, or any appropriate method approved by the governmental body.
All government information is presumed to be available to the public, although certain exceptions may apply. Please note, pursuant to section 552.301(c) of the Government Code, the City of Austin has designated public.information@austintexas.gov as the email address for public information requests sent by electronic mail. A request sent by email will not be considered received unless sent to the designated email address.
• United States mail: P.O. Box 689001, Austin, Texas, 78768
• Electronic mail: public.information@austintexas.gov
• Hand delivery: City Hall, 4th Floor, 301 W. 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701
• Hand delivery: Austin Police Department Headquarters, 715 E. 8th Street, Austin, Texas 78701
Please note that records are not automatically posted online for many reasons, including lack of widespread interest, large size of records, or the fact that records contain confidential information.
Public Information Request Process
Section 552.221 specifies the duties of the officer for public information upon receiving a request for public information. An officer for public information of a governmental body shall promptly produce public information. The City of Austin has designated 10 business days to release available responsive information. If it cannot be produced within 10 working days the public information officer will notify you in writing of the reasonable date and time when it will be available. “Promptly” means that a governmental body may take a reasonable amount of time to produce the information but may not delay.
For complaints regarding the public information process you may contact the Office of the Attorney General , or call the Open Records Hotline at 512-478-6736 or toll-free at 1-877-673-6839
We also encourage you to contact the City of Austin Public Information Manager at 512-978-1870 regarding your public information concerns
Customer Service for City of Austin Open Records:
For questions about COA Public Information Requests (PIR) please email PIRCustomerService@austintexas.gov or call 512-974-2197
Customer Service for City of Austin Police Department Records:
For questions about APD Public Information Requests (PIR) please call 512-974-5212 or 512-974-5499
Cost of Public Information
Section 552.261 - There is no initial fee for submitting a public information request. However, the City of Austin may charge fees for providing a copy of the public information requested. The charge for providing a copy of public information shall be an amount that reasonably includes all costs related to reproducing the public information, including costs for materials, labor, and overhead.
Governmental bodies shall release requested information as promptly as possible, unless the information is exempt from disclosure under the Public Information Act. The City of Austin uses the rates established by the Office of the Attorney General to determine charges for copies of public records. At the discretion of the staff member responding to a request, fees may be waived when there are a minimal number of responsive documents.
If the cost of a request is expected to exceed $40, a staff member will send an estimate letter to the requestor. The letter will include an itemized statement of any copying, personnel or mailing charges that will be incurred in fulfilling the request. Once the requestor confirms that he or she agrees to the estimated costs, a staff member will begin compiling the records. If a requestor does not respond within 10 days, the file will be closed.
Please include as much detailed information as possible when submitting a public information request. The more detailed information you provide us with, the quicker the department can provide the records to you.
Examples are as follows:
If you do not provide enough detail in your public information request description of the specific information or records you are requesting, the City of Austin may contact you asking for clarification for the necessary information needed to conduct the search for records.
What About Confidential Information?
Some public information is confidential by statute. If information is confidential by statute, a governmental body generally cannot release the information under the PIA. Governmental bodies also maintain information that is not confidential by statute. A governmental body has the option to withhold non-confidential information in certain circumstances.
Rights of Requestors
FAQ
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