 ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS GREG ABBOTT | |
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September 5, 2006 Ms. Terri Bradley
OR2006-10317 Dear Ms. Bradley: You ask whether certain information is subject to required public disclosure under the Public Information Act (the "Act"), chapter 552 of the Government Code. Your request was assigned ID# 262261. The Rosenberg Police Department (the "department") received a request for a specified police report. You state that the department has released basic information from the responsive incident report. See Gov't Code § 552.108(c); see also Open Records Decision No. 127 (1976) (summarizing types of basic information). You claim that the remainder of the requested information is excepted from disclosure under section 552.108 of the Government Code. We have considered the exception you claim and reviewed the submitted information. Initially, we note that the submitted records involve an alleged violation of section 32.51 of the Penal Code, which provides that "[a] person commits an offense if the person obtains, possesses, transfers, or uses identifying information of another person without the other person's consent and with intent to harm or defraud another." Penal Code § 32.51(b). Under section 32.51(a), identifying information is defined to include "information that alone or in conjunction with other information identifies an individual, including an individual's . . . unique electronic identification number, address, and routing code, [and] financial institution account number[.]" Id. § 32.51(a)(1)(C). Article 2.29 of the Code of Criminal Procedure pertains to alleged violations of section 32.51 that occurred on or after September 1, 2005 and provides as follows: (a) A peace officer to whom an alleged violation of Section 32.51, Penal Code, is reported shall make a written report to the law enforcement agency that employs the peace officer that includes the following information: (1) the name of the victim; (2) the name of the suspect, if known; (3) the type of identifying information obtained, possessed, transferred, or used in violation of Section 32.51, Penal Code; and (4) the results of any investigation. (b) On the victim's request, the law enforcement agency shall provide the report created under Subsection (a) to the victim. In providing the report, the law enforcement agency shall redact any otherwise confidential information that is included in the report, other than the information described by Subsection (a). Crim. Proc. Code art. 2.29. For purposes of article 2.29, an offense is committed on or after September 1, 2005 if no "element of the offense occurs before that date." Act of Jun. 17, 2005, 79th Leg., R.S., ch. 294, § 1(b), 2005 Tex. Gen. Laws 885. In this instance, the submitted information pertains to an alleged identity theft. The requestor ins the victim of the alleged identity theft. However, because we are unable to determine whether any element of the alleged offense occurred prior to September 1, 2005, we must rule conditionally. Thus, if all elements of the alleged offense occurred on or after September 1, 2005, the submitted information is subject to article 2.29 and must be released, unless it contains confidential information. Section 552.108 of the Government Code does not make information confidential. See Open Records Decision No. 177 at 3 (1977) (statutory predecessor to section 552.108 subject to waiver). However, if the alleged offense did not occur on or after September 1, 2005, it is not subject to article 2.29 and we will address your arguments under section 552.108 of the Government Code. Section 552.108 of the Government Code excepts from disclosure "[i]nformation held by a law enforcement agency or prosecutor that deals with the detection, investigation, or prosecution of crime . . . if . . . release of the information would interfere with the detection, investigation, or prosecution of crime." Gov't Code § 552.108(a)(1). Generally, a governmental body claiming section 552.108 must reasonably explain how and why the release of the requested information would interfere with law enforcement. See id. § 552.301(e)(1)(A); Ex parte Pruitt, 551 S.W.2d 706 (Tex. 1977). You inform us the submitted information relates to an open and active criminal investigation. Based on your representations and our review, we find that section 552.108(a)(1) is applicable in this instance. See Houston Chronicle Publ'g Co. v. City of Houston, 531 S.W.2d 177 (Tex. Civ. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 1975) (court delineates law enforcement interests that are present in active cases). Therefore, with the exception of basic information, which you state has been released, the department may withhold the submitted information under section 552.108(a)(1) if any element of the alleged offense occurred before September 1, 2005. We note that the department has the discretion to release all or part of the information that is not otherwise confidential by law. Gov't Code § 552.007. In summary, if all elements of the alleged offense occurred on or after September 1 , 2005, the submitted information is subject to article 2.29 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and must be released to the requestor. However, if any element of the alleged offense occurred before September 1, 2005, the submitted information is not subject to article 2.29. In that case, the submitted information is subject to section 552.108 of the Government Code, and wit hteh exception of basic information, may be withheld under that exception. This letter ruling is limited to the particular records at issue in this request and limited to the facts as presented to us; therefore, this ruling must not be relied upon as a previous determination regarding any other records or any other circumstances. This ruling triggers important deadlines regarding the rights and responsibilities of the governmental body and of the requestor. For example, governmental bodies are prohibited from asking the attorney general to reconsider this ruling. Gov't Code § 552.301(f). If the governmental body wants to challenge this ruling, the governmental body must appeal by filing suit in Travis County within 30 calendar days. Id. § 552.324(b). In order to get the full benefit of such an appeal, the governmental body must file suit within 10 calendar days. Id. § 552.353(b)(3), (c). If the governmental body does not appeal this ruling and the governmental body does not comply with it, then both the requestor and the attorney general have the right to file suit against the governmental body to enforce this ruling. Id. § 552.321(a). If this ruling requires the governmental body to release all or part of the requested information, the governmental body is responsible for taking the next step. Based on the statute, the attorney general expects that, upon receiving this ruling, the governmental body will either release the public records promptly pursuant to section 552.221(a) of the Government Code or file a lawsuit challenging this ruling pursuant to section 552.324 of the Government Code. If the governmental body fails to do one of these things, then the requestor should report that failure to the attorney general's Open Government Hotline, toll free, at (877) 673-6839. The requestor may also file a complaint with the district or county attorney. Id. § 552.3215(e). If this ruling requires or permits the governmental body to withhold all or some of the requested information, the requestor can appeal that decision by suing the governmental body. Id. § 552.321(a); Texas Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Gilbreath, 842 S.W.2d 408, 411 (Tex. App.--Austin 1992, no writ). Please remember that under the Act the release of information triggers certain procedures for costs and charges to the requestor. If records are released in compliance with this ruling, be sure that all charges for the information are at or below the legal amounts. Questions or complaints about over-charging must be directed to Hadassah Schloss at the Office of the Attorney General at (512) 475-2497. If the governmental body, the requestor, or any other person has questions or comments about this ruling, they may contact our office. Although there is no statutory deadline for contacting us, the attorney general prefers to receive any comments within 10 calendar days of the date of this ruling. Sincerely, Amy L.S. Shipp
c: Mr. Jason Barr
POST OFFICE BOX 12548, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711-2548 TEL: (512) 463-2100 WEB:WWW.OAG.STATE.TX.US |