FAQ: Do I have to keep copies of records I produced to fulfill a public information request?

Recently TSLAC has received a flurry of questions from state agencies and local governments about retaining records related to public information requests. Some people have asked if the government must make extra copies of the requested records and retain the extra copies with the correspondence and documentation that initiates, processes, and responds to the request. The answer is…

Proposed Revisions to Local Schedule PS

As part of our effort to maintain up-to-date local government records retention schedules, we are currently working to update Local Schedule PS: Records of Public Safety Agencies. We will be presenting a draft to our Commission at a meeting later this year to begin the Local Schedule approval process, but before we begin the official…

eRecords Conference 2015: Implementing an Electronic Document Management System – A RIM Professional’s Guide

This is the fifth post of a multi-part recap of the 2015 e-Records Conference. Presentation materials from the e-Records Conference are available on the e-Records 2015 website. In today’s office environment, a whole host of factors drive the switch from paper to electronic records: the rapid increase in born digital and exclusive handling of many records…

FAQ: Why Use a Disposition Log?

Texas law authorizes state agencies and local governments in compliance to disposition a record under two conditions: (1) the record belongs to a record series on an approved records retention schedule and (2) its retention period has expired (Government Code §441.187; Local Government Records Act §202.001). As part of disposition, all Texas governments must use…

Body Camera Videos for Local Governments 101

Updated March 3, 2022   Senate Bill 158 (S.B. 158) took effect on September 1st of this year. This law amends Chapter 1701, subchapter N of the Occupations Code and authorizes Texas law enforcement agencies to apply for grants to help cover the costs of implementing a body camera program. Additionally, the law addresses some retention…