The Hidalgo County Public Affairs Division has implemented new policies and procedures for receiving Public Information Requests (PIR). The intent is to ensure that all PIRs are handled in a timely and uniform manner.

Pursuant to the Public Information Act, which is codified at chapters 552 of the Texas Government Code, effective immediately, all public information requests to Hidalgo County Public Affairs Division shall be made in writing to either of the following:

Email:                      public.info@co.hidalgo.tx.us

Facsimile:               (956) 292-7766

Mail:                       Public Information Director

                              302 West University Dr.

                              Edinburg, TX 78539

Attn:                       Public Information Request

The Public Affairs Division will no longer accept public information requests made to individual employees via writing, email or telephone calls. The Public Information Request Form is available on the Hidalgo County website under the Public Affairs Division tab on the menu bar. Here is a link to the form: http://co.hidalgo.tx.us/DocumentCenter/View/15319.

As a reminder, under the Public Information Act, a governmental body is not required to prepare new information in response to a request.  See A & T Consultants, Inc. v. Sharp, 904 S.W.2d 668, 676 (Tex. 1995); Fish v. Dallas Indep. Sch. Dist., 31 S.W.3d 678, 681 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2000, pet. denied); Attorney General Opinion H-90 (1973); Open Records Decision Nos. 452 at 2–3 (1986), 342 at 3 (1982), 87 (1975).

Additionally, a governmental body is not required to prepare answers to questions or to do legal research.  See Open Records Decision Nos. 563 at 8 (1990) (considering request for federal and state laws and regulations), 555 at 1–2 (1990) (considering request for answers to fact questions).

For more information regarding the Public Information Act, please visit: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/open/index.shtml