Issues Facing Texas Government Leaders and 2019-2021 Legislative Overview

The opening session of the 37th Annual University of Texas School of Law Nonprofit Organizations Institute on January 24 featured insights by The Texas Tribune executive editor Ross Ramsey and my presentation (view and print it here) regarding the state’s booming economy, changing demographics, state revenue needs and the challenges in the 2021 legislative session facing state leaders.  The economic impact of the Texas nonprofit sector was highlighted by a new study from the United Ways of Texas.  As state and local governments continue to maximize limited resources, they increasingly look to competent nonprofit organizations to perform privatized government functions and operate social service programs as contractors or grantees.  (View and print the entire presentation)

Nonprofits Receiving Public Funds Should Be Concerned About Senate Bill 943

S.B. 943, filed February 21 as the “Contracting Transparency” bill (companion bill is H.B. 2189 by Rep. Capriglione), should be reviewed closely by all nonprofit organizations, contractors and grantees that receive public funds in any form—via contract, grant, appropriation, pass-through or indirectly.  The bill, if passed, might subject your organization to the strict disclosure mandates and liabilities of the Texas Public Information Act, Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code.  Senator Watson has brought this issue back after his S.B. 408 failed in the 2017 legislative session because of widespread concern that it imposed PIA compliance responsibilities on thousands of local volunteer organizations and small businesses.

View the text and status of S.B. 943 at www.capitol.texas.gov . Print this article here.

Positive aspects of S.B. 943:

  • The bill is an improvement from 2017 in that it does not designate a recipient of public funds a government body (a flaw that caused opposition by private parties) in order to bring it within the Public Information Act (PIA), Chapter 552, Tex.Gov.Code.
  • Rather, the disclosures required in the bill focus on contracting information relating to the receipt or expenditure of public funds by an entity, as defined in Section 1 of the bill.
  • The longstanding §552.110 exception to disclosure based on a claim of proprietary information is retained but with the addition of proposed §552.1101 in Section 2 of the bill. However, many items relating to contracting and bidding are excepted from the 552.110 exception and limit disclosure objections.
  • The funds recipient or contractor can assert the proprietary privilege as currently done in Chapter 552, but within the proper time limit and with notice of the objection to the requestor.
  • The government body involved in the contracting relationship can also assert a competitive or bidding exception in denying disclosure to a requestor (Section 5 of the bill).

Issues of concern in the bill:

  • Whether a PIA request from anyone anywhere would have to be made to and through the government body involved, or could be sent by a requestor directly to the funds recipient or contractor, should be questioned. Section 7 of the bill should be read closely to determine if your organization comes under proposed §552.371 or §552.372.  A disclosure request will be handled either by the government body, which in turn requests contracting information from its funds recipient or contractor; or, the funds recipient/contractor itself may be required to receive and respond to the PIA request in the manner and time frame specified in Chapter 552.  How private funds recipient parties objecting to a disclosure request will secure an Attorney General open records opinion remains to be clarified since the access to A.G. services are normally reserved to government bodies or officials.

Proposed §552.375 provides that a funds recipient or contractor knowingly failing to comply with a proper PIA request can have contracts terminated or be denied eligibility for further contracting.  Notice of the agency’s right to do so must be included in contracts.

  • Section 6 specifically authorizes a complaining requestor to file a writ of mandamus to compel a “government body or an entity” to comply with the act—a stretch in that such a writ is traditionally thought to be used in extraordinary circumstances involving severe misconduct by a public agency or official, and not for a dispute surrounding public contracting information.  News media organizations will undoubtedly use the “hammer” of a mandamus filing in court to get what they want.
  • Permitting a requestor to submit a PIA disclosure request directly to a funds recipient or contractor will likely generate off-hand and spontaneous requests by a competitor, rival or angry member or employee, or even a customer of a business or nonprofit organization.  The better practice would be that requests be directed to the government body, which likely has procedures and staff in place to accept and manage a PIA request even where it might mean, in turn, requesting the information from its vendor or contractor.
  • Many local nonprofit organizations or volunteer-managed organizations will likely be subject to the PIA if the bill passes in its present form.  These grassroots groups had a key role in defeating the similar proposals in S.B. 408 in the House in 2017.

Related bills:

S. B. 988 (= H.B. 2192) is a related proposal regarding an award of attorney’s fees in a PIA disclosure case where documents or information was not properly or timely disclosed.

S.B. 944 (= H.B. 2191) defines a temporary custodian of government body information subject to the PIA as well as requirements to preserve such information.

Committee action expected:  SB 943 has been referred to the Senate Business and Commerce Committee, and a hearing is expected to draw many interested parties.  It’s best to express your opinions and concerns to your senator or representative prior to the hearing, or plan to appear even if you don’t intend to testify.

Print this article here.

© 2019 Richard W. Meyer. All rights reserved.

2019 Texas Legislature Preview for Associations and Nonprofits

The 86th Texas Legislature began its 140-day regular session on January 8. The race is on to monitor and react to those bills among the more than 6,000 to be filed that affect state associations, community-based nonprofits, foundations and groups that benefit from state funding or are regulated by state policies. Committees for the House and Senate will soon be appointed, and the real work will begin.

Sign up here for my regular updates during the session.  By the “60th day” of the session (March 8) when filing of bills ends, there will be a better view of specific bills of interest that deserve your attention.

As a preview of the 2019 session, see my January 18 presentation at the 36th Annual University of Texas School of Law nonprofit seminar entitled Advancing the Common Good in the Texas Legislative Process:  Do nonprofits have a special role and status in public affairs? Read or print the paper here.

As a bit of self-examination for any organization entering the policy and legislative arena, it’s proper to raise a few questions:

  • Are our activities truly advancing our stated charitable mission and the interests of our members and stakeholders?
  • Does our messaging to the public calm and elevate the debate on contested issues?
  • Do our proposals advance the common good?
  • Do we support policies and bills that benefit and not burden the thousands of community leaders and volunteers supporting local, community-based organizations?
  • How are our initiatives different from any other special interest group seeking favors from the legislature?
  • How are our activities perceived by the news media?
  • Is our organization competing for favors or public dollars with similar groups or private interests?

For a review of issues and bills from previous legislative sessions (many return again and again), see my Texas Legislative Summary postings going back to 2003.

The Importance of State Associations in Texas

State associations of all varieties play an important role in public life in modern America. Almost everyone is directly or indirectly a member of one, whether it is a statewide professional organization, an organized sports league, parent-teacher organization, conservation organization or business league. My overview of the scale and importance of the state association sector was presented at the August 2018 State Bar nonprofit governance course and is available here.

(Print paper here.)

Commentary on 2017 Texas Legislative Activity Affecting Nonprofits and State Associations

My August 24 presentation at the 15th Annual State Bar Governance of Nonprofit Organizations course is available here. I received a positive response from those attending and welcome your comments or questions regarding the paper.

The 85th Legislature’s First Special Session ended on August 14, and there were no developments of note regarding nonprofit organizations, foundations and state associations. Updates and items of interest will be posted here during the current “interim” period before the legislature returns in January 2019.

(Print the paper.)