Open Records

Texas Government Code, Chapter 552, gives you the right to access government records.  All government information is presumed to be available to the public, although certain exceptions may apply to the disclosure of information.  The City shall 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.

 

What can you request?

• The governmental body is only required to provide information that is already in existence.
• Under the Public Information Act, the governmental body is not required to…
  • prepare new information in response to a request.
  • inform a requestor if the requested information comes into existence after the request has been made
  • comply with a continuing request to supply information on a periodic basis.
  • prepare answers to questions and do legal research
    
• You may choose to inspect or to copy public information (or both)
  • You may also request information in an electronic medium
  • You will be charged for copies (as detailed in the Open Records Request Form )
    

What is the responsibility of the governmental body to respond to requests?

• The City shall promptly produce public information for inspection, duplication, or both on an application by any person to the City.
• The City complies with the request by:
  • Providing the public information for inspection or duplication within 10 working days
    • If the City cannot produce public information for inspection or duplication within 10 business days after the date the information is requested, the City must certify the 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.
    • The City may request a ruling from the Office of the Attorney General in regard to information that may not be released.
  • Sending copies of the public information by first class United States mail if the person requesting the information requests that copies be provided and pay the postage and any other applicable charges that the requestor has accrued.
• The City may not inquire into the purpose for which information will be used.
• The City may ask the requestor to clarify a request for information, if the request is unclear.  In addition, if a large amount of information is requested, the City may discuss how the scope of the request might be narrowed.
• The City is not responsible for how a requestor uses public information or for the release of information after it is removed from a record as a result of an update, a correction, or a change of status of the person to whom the information pertains.
• If the public information is requested in an electronic medium, the City shall provide a copy in the requested medium if:
  •  The City has the technological ability to produce a copy of the requested medium;
  • The City is not required to purchase any software or hardware to accommodate the requests
  • Provision of a copy of the information in the requested medium will not violate the terms of any copyright agreement between the City and a third party.

 

Feel free to call us, email us or stop by and visit to let us know how we can be of service.
972-317-6551 or HVPD@highlandvillage.org
Highland Village Police Department
1000 Highland Village Road
Highland Village, Texas 75077
 

Copyright ©2011 City of Highland Village, Texas
Highland Village Municipal Complex, 1000 Highland Village Road, Highland Village, TX 75077
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