August 23, 2012

Ms. Barbara Leetun

Treasurer

Better Government for Hill County

P.O. Box 721

Hillsboro, Texas 76645

OR2012-13387

Dear Ms. Leetun:

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# 463428.

The Better Government for Hill County Political Action Committee (the "PAC") received a request for nine categories of information. You assert the PAC is not a governmental body subject to the Act. We have considered your arguments.

The Act applies to "governmental bodies" as that term is defined in section 552.003(1)(A) of the Government Code. You assert the PAC is not a governmental body, and, therefore, its records are not subject to the Act. Under the Act, the term "governmental body" includes several enumerated types of entities and "the part, section, or portion of an organization, corporation, commission, committee, institution, or agency that spends or that is supported in whole or in part by public funds[.]" Gov't Code § 552.003(1)(A)(xii). The phrase "public funds" means funds of the state or of a governmental subdivision of the state. Id. § 552.003(5). You state the PAC is a private organization that does not receive any public funds. Based on this representation and our review, we find the PAC is not a governmental body under section 552.003(1)(A)(xii) of the Government Code and the PAC need not respond to the present request for information.

This letter ruling is limited to the particular information 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 information or any other circumstances.

This ruling triggers important deadlines regarding the rights and responsibilities of the governmental body and of the requestor. For more information concerning those rights and responsibilities, please visit our website at http://www.oag.state.tx.us/open/index_orl.php, or call the Office of the Attorney General's Open Government Hotline, toll free, at (877) 673-6839. Questions concerning the allowable charges for providing public information under the Act must be directed to the Cost Rules Administrator of the Office of the Attorney General, toll free at (888) 672-6787.

Sincerely,

Michelle R. Garza

Assistant Attorney General

Open Records Division

MRG/som

Ref: ID# 463428

Enc. Submitted documents

c: Requestor

(w/o enclosures)

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