ETCOG is subject to the Texas Public Information Act

The Texas Public Information Act gives the public the right to request access to government information. Public information is available to the public at a minimum during the normal business

hours of ETCOG.  Section 552.002(a) of the Government Code defines “public information” as written, produced, collected, assembled, or maintained under a law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business.

SUBMITTING A REQUEST

Any information collected, assembled, or maintained by ETCOG is available to the public and can be acquired through submitting an open records request. Submit a written request during normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, via one of the following options:

• Email our Public Information Officer: Lindsay.Vanderbilt@etcog.org
• You may also submit your request through our online form.
• Send your request by mail to:
• Attn: Public Information Officer
  East Texas Council of Governments
  3800 Stone Road Kilgore, TX 75662

The request does not need to use any special language but should identify the information being requested as specifically as possible. The more specific you are, the more likely you are to get the information you are seeking without getting a lot of extra information. A request will require the requestor's name and contact information, such as an email address or phone number.

CHARGES FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION

ETCOG will charge the following fees for the services or materials, keeping consistent with Texas Administrative Code Rule 70.3:

Copy charge

• Standard paper copy - 10 cents per page. Each side that has recorded information is considered a page.
• Nonstandard copy - 50 cents per page for oversize paper copy (e.g.: 11 inches by 17 inches, not including maps and photographs using specialty paper.

Labor charge

• $15/hr. - The labor charge includes the actual time to locate, compile, manipulate data, and reproduce the requested information.
• A labor charge shall not be billed in connection with complying with requests that are for 50 or fewer pages of paper records unless the documents to be copied are located in two (2) or more separate buildings that are not physically connected with each other; or a remote storage facility.
• When confidential information pursuant to a mandatory exception of the Act is mixed with public information on the same page, a labor charge may be recovered for time spent to redact, blackout, or otherwise obscure confidential information in order to release the public information.

Overhead charge

• A charge shall be computed at 20% of the charge made to cover any labor costs associated with a particular request.

Computer resource charge

• $1.00 per clock hour per PC or computer used.

Miscellaneous supplies

• The actual cost of miscellaneous supplies, such as labels, boxes, and other supplies used to produce the requested information, will be added to the total charge for public information.

Postal and shipping charges

• Any related postal or shipping expenses which are necessary to transmit the reproduced information to the requesting party will be added.

These charges are subject to periodic reevaluation and updates. ETCOG will utilize the Public Information Cost Estimate Model provided by the Attorney General of the State of Texas. That cost estimate model can be found at this link: https://www2.texasattorneygeneral.gov/og/public-information-cost-estimate-model



You must respond to any written estimate of charges within 10 days of the date the governmental body sent it, or the request for information may be deemed withdrawn.

WHAT TYPE OF INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE THROUGH AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST?

Open record requests are made for records and documents that are collected, assembled, or maintained by ETCOG. The Public Information Act does not require a governmental body to answer questions. However, we are happy to assist requestors with their inquiries, provided they engage with our staff in a respectful manner.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO GET THE INFORMATION?

The amount of time it takes to fill a request depends on the type and amount of information requested. If ETCOG cannot give the requested information within 10 working days after receiving a request, ETCOG will tell the requestor the date and time the information will be available.

WILL GETTING THE INFORMATION COST ME ANYTHING?

The Office of the Attorney General sets what public agencies may charge for information. The rules may be found in the Texas Administrative Code, Title 1, Sections 70.1-70.11. If a request will likely incur a cost, the requestor will be told in writing and given a chance to withdraw or change the request before having to pay.