Business Affairs Bulletin

Important Reminders

 

PUBLIC INFORMATION - IT'S THE LAW!

As employees of a state agency, University faculty and staff are subject to laws and stipulations under the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA). The complete text of the Act is available at: statutes.legis.state.tx.us/SOTWDocs/GV/htm/GV.552.htm

Dr. Calvin D. Jamison serves as the Custodian of Records for the University. Tysh Coleman is the point of contact with Peggy Zotter and Teresa Johnston serving in supporting roles. Ultimately, it is the Custodian of Records who is responsible for compliance with TPIA. Violations of TPIA carry both civil and criminal penalties. Compliance is not optional. Therefore, in the event your office is contacted to produce responsive documents to a request, please do so in a timely manner.

Below are some frequently asked questions concerning public information:

The Requestor’s Right of Access: The Public Information Act prohibits a governmental body from inquiring into a requestor’s reasons or motives for requesting information. See Section § 552.222.

A governmental body must treat all requests for public information uniformly: The officer for public information or agents thereof shall treat all requests for information uniformly without regard to the position or occupation of the requestor, the person on whose behalf the request is made, or the status of the individual as a member of the media. See Section § 552.223.

Timeframe a governmental body generally has to comply with a request for public information: There is often a misconception regarding the timing for a response under the Public Information Act. Although the Act allows 10 business days to produce records in response to a request, the Act states the governmental body must “promptly produce” the public information. In many circumstances, the records can be produced in less than 10 days. If the information is readily available, we must exercise good faith and produce it as soon as possible. See Section § 552.221 (a).

Requests for a substantial number of documents, requests that require manipulation of data, programming, in active use or in storage may take additional time: If it will take a governmental body more than 10 business days to provide/produce records, the governmental body must certify that fact in writing to the requestor. In the notice to the requestor, a specific date must be indicated advising when the information will be available for inspection or duplication. See Section § 552.221 (c).

For information on the process of requesting information at UT Dallas, please review utdallas.edu/businessaffairs/openrecords/

FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE INCREASED IN JULY

In 2007, the President of the United States signed an amendment to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that increased the federal minimum wage to $7.25 per hour effective July 24, 2009. For more information about changes to the minimum wage, contact Nancy Bowles in Human Resources Management at extension 2223.

 

REMEMBER TO UPDATE YOUR INFORMTAION IN HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

Have there been changes over the summer that should be reported for your personnel records? If you have moved, had a baby, earned a degree or married, remember to contact Human Resources Management. Provide your new information or changes to your name, address, emergency contact, education level, dependents and/or beneficiaries.