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Training urges Balch Springs appointees to treat texts, emails and social posts as public records
Summary
Caleb Smith told board members the Texas Public Information Act covers information collected or maintained for city business, including emails, texts and social-media posts, and urged prompt responses to records requests because the city has 10 days to respond.
Smith reviewed the Public Information Act and warned that communications about city business on personal devices can be public records, subject to requests. He said the definition of public information includes material collected or maintained in connection with city business and can take many forms, including digital messages and photos.
"Even if that's on your personal device, your personal email," Smith said, "it can be subject to the act." He urged members to promptly provide records to the city secretary's office when requested, noting the city has a statutory timeline (10 days) to respond to public-information requests. Smith recommended routing official communications through staff where practicable to simplify records retrieval and reduce the risk of inadvertent disclosure.
