1. Attorney General vows to prosecute officials who violate public information laws November 30, 2003 - 12:00AM

2. The ongoing education of public officials is the key to open government, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said. But public officials from the Rio Grande Valley seem reluctant to learn, according to records kept by the Attorney Generals office. Few Valley public officials have attended the attorney generals annual conference on open government, which showcases aspects of the Public Information Act. Only three Brownsville officials attended last years conference, which drew 388 people from across the state. The Attorney Generals office also sponsors an ongoing series of seminars to educate public officials about the Public Information Act, Abbott said, noting that seminars are held during years in which the state Legislature does not convene. In 2001, the office held its last series of educational workshops in Lubbock, Tyler and Huntsville. The office has not hosted seminars this year or last year because the Legislature convened in back-to-back sessions. More than 8,000 public officials across the state have received applications to attend the Attorney Generals upcoming annual conference on open government set for Dec. 15-17 in Austin. But so far, only six Valley officials have applied four from Edinburg and two from Harlingen have sent their applications. In spite of his offices aggressive educational campaign, Abbott said public officials continue to violate the law. He said his office will prosecute officials who violate the states open records and public information laws. One of my strong commitments to the office is open government, Abbott said. Some people don’t know what open government requires, and some do and choose not to comply. This year, Abbott's office prosecuted Texas first conviction for a violation of the Texas Public Records Act. On Aug. 29, a Blanco County jury convicted Llano school Superintendent Jack Patton for his refusal to produce school credit card records requested by a local newspaper. A state district judge sentenced Patton to a 180-day suspended jail sentence, six months probation and a $1,000 fine. The misdemeanor charge carried a penalty of as much as six months in jail. With the conviction, Abbott wants to send a message to public officials across the state. In many small city governments, clerks often delay providing information that is readily available, citing such excuses as high photocopying costs and heavy workloads in a short-staffed office. But Abbott said such arguments are invalid. They can’t use cost as an excuse. They can charge a cost, such as cost per copy or labor cost, he said. The open government law exists and no one can hide behind it. Part of Abbott's job is to render legal opinions on public information cases. Government entities such as police departments often cite ongoing investigations in their challenges to public information requests, Abbott said. From January to October, his office received 210 written complaints. From January to August, the offices telephone hotline fielded 11,369 calls. Cases range from citizen complaints to government requests for Legal opinions. A staff of attorneys evaluates such requests often from the media but private citizens can lodge complaints, too. If the request involves information that is part of an investigation, Abbott said the law protects it from disclosure. Abbott's office also publishes a free notebook and produces a compact disc to offer information on the Public Information Act and the open meetings law. The office also has an Open Government Hotline at (877) OPENTEX. Attorney General vows to prosecute officials who violate public information laws By FERNANDO DEL VALLE Valley Morning Star