What is the Freedom of Information Act?

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a law that grants the public the right to access federal government records. This includes any records kept by the federal government, even those that have been previously unpublished and unavailable to the public. FOIA was first enacted in 1966 and in Texas, the statute is found in Texas Government Code Chapter 552. In Texas, all government documents maintained by local, state, or federal government agencies are open for public inspection and copying. The intent of the Freedom of Information Act in Texas is to ensure that citizens are provided with access to government documents and that government information is accessible to the public. This includes the ability to view or obtain copies of documents relating to the activities of government agencies. The information sought must be reasonably related to the subject matter of the request and must be maintained by the agency in question. Typically, a written request must be made and the agency must respond within ten business days. Furthermore, the Texas Public Information Act (PIA) has been incorporated into the FOIA law and allows private citizens, businesses, and organizations the ability to access many records outside of those covered by FOIA. The PIA requires agencies to release records if requested, including documents related to budget and financial information, personnel records, and other documents related to operations and activities of the agency. In short, the Freedom of Information Act in Texas provides citizens and organizations with the right to access documents and records held by federal, state, and local government agencies. It is important to recognize that certain records are protected from public disclosure and cannot be obtained through FOIA.

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What is the Freedom of Information Act?

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