Texas Public Information Act (Open Records Requests)

Public Information Requests

The Public Information Act (PIA) gives the public the right to request access to government information, and all information is presumed to be available to the public unless a certain exception(s) apply to the disclosure of the information.  The request must ask for information already in existence. The PIA does not require NYOS Charter School to create new information, perform legal searches, or answer general questions.

NYOS Charter School is committed to fulfilling public records requests in accordance with the
Texas Public Information Act (PIA), Texas Government Code, Chapter 552. We value
transparency and strive to provide timely access to information while also protecting confidential
data as required by law.

To Request Information

Our goal is to handle your request accurately and as efficiently as possible.  To request documents from NYOS Charter School, we recommend using our  Online Request Form, which sends requests directly to the designated PIR office and is the most efficient method, which may help expedite our response time.

Or, you may submit your request by mail, in person or email to:

NYOS Charter School

Public Information Act Request
12333 N Lamar Blvd

Austin, TX 78753

[email protected]

If you need special accommodations pursuant to the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact our Public Information Office at (512) 583-6967 ext 3119.

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.

Rights of Requestors

You have the right to:

• Prompt access to information that is not confidential or otherwise protected;
• Receive treatment equal to all other requestors, including accommodation in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements;
• Receive certain kinds of information without exception, like the voting record of public officials, and other information;
• Receive a written statement of estimated charges when charges will exceed $40, in advance of work being started, and the opportunity to modify the request in response to the itemized statement;
• Choose whether to inspect the requested information (most often at no charge), receive copies of the information, or both;
• A waiver or reduction of charges if the governmental body determines that access to the information primarily benefits the general public;
• Receive a copy of the communication from the governmental body asking the Office of the Attorney General for a ruling on whether the information can be withheld under one of the accepted exceptions, or if the communication discloses the requested information, a redacted copy;
• Lodge a written complaint about overcharges for public information with the Attorney General's Office.  Complaints of other possible violations may be filed with the county or district attorney of the county where the governmental body, other than a state agency, is located.  If the complaint is against the county or district attorney, the complaint must be filed with the Office of the Attorney General.

Responsibilities of Governmental Bodies

All governmental bodies responding to information requests have the responsibility to:

• Establish reasonable procedures for inspecting or copying public information and inform requestors of these procedures;
• Treat all requestors uniformly and shall give to the requestor all reasonable comfort and facility, including accommodation in accordance with ADA requirements;
• Be informed about open records laws and educate employees on the requirements of those laws;
• Inform requestors of the estimated charges greater than $40 and any changes in the estimates above 20 percent of the original estimate, and confirm that the requestor accepts the charges, or has amended the request, in writing before finalizing the request;
• Inform the requestor if the information cannot be provided promptly and set a date and time to provide it within a reasonable time.
• Request a ruling from the Office of the Attorney General regarding any information the governmental body wishes to withhold, and send a copy of the request for ruling, or a redacted copy, to the requestor;
• Segregate public information from information that may be withheld and provide that public information promptly;
• Make a good-faith attempt to inform third parties when their proprietary information is being requested from the governmental body;
• Respond in writing to all written communications from the Office of the Attorney General regarding charges for the information.  Respond to the Office of the Attorney General regarding complaints about violations of the Act.

Procedures to Obtain Information

• Submit a written request by mail, email, or in person according to a governmental body's reasonable procedures.
• Include enough description and detail about the information requested to enable the governmental body to accurately identify and locate the information requested.
• Cooperate with the governmental body's reasonable efforts to clarify the type or amount of information requested.

A. Information to be released

• You may review it promptly, and 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.
• Keep all appointments to inspect records and to pick up copies.  Failure to keep appointments may result in losing the opportunity to inspect the information at the time requested.

Cost of Records

• You must respond to any written estimate of charges within 10 days of the date the governmental body sent it or the request is considered automatically withdrawn.
• If estimated costs exceed $100.00 (or $50.00 if a governmental body has fewer than 16 full-time employees) the governmental body may require a bond, prepayment, or deposit.
• You may ask the governmental body to determine whether providing the information primarily benefits the general public, resulting in a waiver or reduction of charges.
• Make a timely payment for all mutually agreed charges. A governmental body can demand payment of overdue balances exceeding $100.00 or obtain a security deposit before processing additional requests from you.
• Charges for copies of public information are set by the  Office of the Attorney General. In general, if the number of copies in your request is less than 50 pages, the charge will be $0.10 per page plus the cost of postage (or other delivery method, at your request). If the number of copies is more than 50 pages, the charge will be $0.10 per page plus personnel and overhead costs necessary to compile the documents, in addition to the postage.
• If the charge for fulfilling your requests exceeds $40.00, we will provide you with an itemized written estimate of the charges and indicate if a less costly alternative is available. You must respond in writing within 10 days after the estimate is sent that you will accept the costs, or that you desire any stated alternative, or your request will be considered withdrawn.

B. Information that may be withheld due to an exception

• By the 10th business day after a governmental body receives your written request, a governmental body must:
  1. Request an Attorney General opinion and state which exceptions apply;
  2. Notify the requestor of the referral to the Attorney General; and
  3. Notify third parties if the request involves their proprietary information.
• Failure to request an Attorney General opinion and notify the requestor within 10 business days will result in a presumption that the information is open unless there is a compelling reason to withhold it.
• Requestors may send a letter to the Attorney General arguing for release and may review arguments made by the governmental body.   If the arguments disclose the requested information, the requestor may obtain a redacted copy.
• The Attorney General must issue a decision no later than the 45th working day from the day after the Attorney General received the request for a decision.  The attorney general may request an additional 10 working-day extension.
• Governmental bodies may not ask the Attorney General to "reconsider" an opinion.

For complaints regarding failure to release public information, please contact your local County or District Attorney.

• You may also contact the Office of the Attorney General, Open Records Hotline, at 512-478-6736 or toll-free at 1-877-673-6839.
• For complaints regarding overcharges, please contact the AG Cost Rules Administrator at 512-475-2497.

If you need special accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact our ADA coordinators in the Office of Employee Relations at 512-414-9687 or 512-414-1481.

Standard Timeline for Fulfilling Requests