Overview
Texas State Archives
Texas. Governor (1995-2000 :
Bush)
Governor George W. Bush
General Counsel legislation and other records
1981, 1990-2000, undated
bulk 1999
Duties of the Texas
Governor's General Counsel include providing statute interpretations; tracking
inmates on death row as their cases move through the judicial process,
including all appeals to the governor for commutations or stays of execution;
analyzing proposed legislation and regulations for validity and legal effect;
handling extradition and requisition matters; coordinating ethics guidelines
and training for the governor's office; and providing legal advice and handling
litigation filed against the governor or the Governor's Office, in conjunction
with actions of the Attorney General on the governor's behalf. Records are
legislation; agency rules, policies, and procedures; and calendars, 1981,
1990-2000, undated, bulk 1999, maintained by general counsel staff during
Governor George W. Bush's tenure in office.
These materials are written predominately in English.
1.3 cubic
ft.
The records are located at the George W. Bush Presidential Library in Dallas, Texas.
Restrictions on Access
Because of the possibility that portions of these records fall under Public Information Act
exceptions including, but not limited to, privacy (Texas Government Code, Section
552.101), certain legislative documents (§552.106), attorney client privilege
(§552.107), agency memoranda (§552.111), and home address, home phone number, social
security number, and personal family information of a government employee
(§552.117), an archivist must review these records before they can be accessed for
research. The records may be requested for research under the provisions of the
Public Information Act (V.T.C.A., Government Code, Chapter 552). The researcher may
request an interview with an archivist or submit a request by mail (Texas State
Library and Archives Commission, P. O. Box 12927, Austin, TX 78711), fax
(512-463-5436), email (Dir_Lib@tsl.state.tx.us), or see our web page (https://www.tsl.state.tx.us/requestgovernorbushrecords.html). Include
enough description and detail about the information requested to enable the
archivist to accurately identify and locate the information requested. (Note: The
Governor's Office has requested that the State Archives contact the Public
Information Coordinator for the Governor's Office when we receive a Public
Information Act request for these records.) If our review reveals information that
may be excepted by the Public Information Act, we are obligated to seek an open
records decision from the Attorney General on whether the records can be released.
The Public Information Act allows the Archives ten working days after receiving a
request to make this determination. The Attorney General has 45 working days to
render a decision. Alternately, the Archives can inform you of the nature of the
potentially excepted information and if you agree, that information can be redacted
or removed and you can access the remainder of the records.
Records series described in this finding aid have access restrictions
specific to each of them. The terms of access are found following the series'
descriptions.
Restrictions on Use
Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted. State records also include
materials received by, not created by, state agencies. Copyright remains with the
creator. The researcher is responsible for complying with U.S. Copyright Law (Title
17 U.S.C.).
Technical Requirements
None.
Agency History
The governor of Texas is the chief executive officer of the state, elected by the
citizens every four years. The duties and responsibilities of the governor include
serving as commander-in-chief of the state's military forces; convening special
sessions of the legislature for specific purposes; delivering to the legislature at
the beginning of each regular session a report on the condition of the state, an
accounting of all public money under the governor's control, a recommended biennial
budget, an estimate of the amounts of money required to be raised by taxation, and
any recommendations he deems necessary; signing or vetoing bills passed by the
legislature; and executing the laws of the state. The governor can grant reprieves
and commutations of punishment and pardons, upon the recommendation of the Board of
Pardons and Paroles, and revoke conditional pardons. He appoints numerous state
officials (with the consent of the Senate), fills vacancies in state and district
offices (except vacancies in the legislature), calls special elections to fill
vacancies in the legislature, fills vacancies in the United States Senate until an
election can be held, and serves as ex officio member of several state boards.
The office of governor was first established by the Constitution of 1845 and
superseded the office of president of the Republic of Texas. The position now exists
under authority of Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution of 1876 and Texas
Government Code, Chapter 401. To be elected governor, a person must be at least
thirty years old, a United States citizen, and a resident of Texas for at least five
years preceding the election. In 1972, the term of office was extended from two to
four years, effective in 1975. Since 1856 the governor has had the use of the
Governor's Mansion.
In 1999 there were 198 full time equivalent employees in the Office of the Governor.
Thirteen divisions outside of the Executive Office assist the governor in carrying
out his functions: Administration, Appointments, Budget & Planning,
Communications, General Counsel, Legislative, Policy, Scheduling, Criminal Justice
Division, Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities, Office of Film, Music,
Television and Multimedia Industries, Women's Commission, and Texas Council on
Workforce and Economic Competitiveness.
The General Counsel position within the Texas Office of the Governor was created in
October 1973 when the Executive Director of the Governor's Criminal Justice Division
appointed an individual as General Counsel, to assist him in providing statute
interpretations and in other matters relating to policies and procedures. Today the
Office of the General Counsel is a separate division in the Governor's Office.
During the Bush Administration, Alberto Gonzales served as General Counsel,
succeeded in 1998 by Margaret Wilson.
Duties of the General Counsel include providing statute interpretations; tracking
inmates on death row as their cases move through the judicial process, including all
appeals to the governor for commutations or stays of execution; handling pardon
requests sent to the governor; reviewing proposed settlements, land patents, grant
requests, contracts, easements, and deeds for the governor; analyzing proposed
legislation and regulations for validity and legal effect; assisting appointments
staff in determining eligibility and other legal issues related to proposed
appointments; handling extradition and requisition matters; coordinating ethics
guidelines and training for the governor's office; advising the governor on federal
programs administered by the state; coordinating the governor's criminal justice
policy with the governor's Policy Director; and providing legal advice and handling
litigation filed against the governor or the Governor's Office, in conjunction with
actions of the Attorney General on the governor's behalf.
(Sources include: Guide to Texas State Agencies, 9th and
10th eds., (1996 and 1999); the contents of the records; and versions of the
Governor's Office web site during Governor Bush's term available on the Internet
Archive at http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.governor.state.tx.us, accessed
on March 3, 2009.)
George W. Bush Biographical Sketch
George W. Bush served as governor of Texas from January 17, 1995 to December 21,
2000, resigning as governor in the middle of his second term to become president of
the United States.
He challenged the incumbent governor, Democrat Ann Richards, running on promises to
improve public education and to reform the juvenile justice system, welfare, and the
state's tort laws -- the system under which an injured person may sue for damages.
During the 74th Legislature in 1995, he worked with the Democrats who controlled
both houses of the Texas legislature and managed to get bills passed that dealt with
the four issues he had emphasized in his campaign. Bush was seen as pro-business and
a consensus-builder.
Bush advocated and signed the two largest tax cuts to date in Texas history, totaling
over $3 billion. To pay for the cuts, he sought (unsuccessfully) federal approval of
a plan to privatize Texas' social services. Education reform was a priority
throughout his terms, with legislation emphasizing local control of schools, higher
standards, and a revised curriculum. Controversy has followed, with charter schools
mired in financial scandals and protests against one test determining a child's
promotion. After winning reelection in 1998, Bush began his bid for the presidency
and was not as involved in the 76th Legislature in 1999.
George W. Bush was born July 6, 1946 in New Haven, Connecticut and grew up in Midland
and Houston, Texas. He graduated from Andover Academy, and received a bachelor's
degree from Yale University and a master's from Harvard Business School. He served
as a pilot in the Texas Air National Guard. In 1978, Bush was defeated in a run for
the U.S. Congress in West Texas. He was involved in energy exploration from the
1970s into the 1980s. From 1989 until his election as governor, Bush worked with the
Texas Rangers baseball organization, leading a group of partners in purchasing the
team, and then serving as managing general partner. He married Laura Welch in 1977;
they have two daughters.
(Sources include: Versions of the Governor's Office web site during Governor Bush's
term available on the Internet Archive at http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.governor.state.tx.us, accessed
on March 3, 2009.)
Scope and Contents of the Records
Duties of the Texas Governor's General Counsel include providing
statute interpretations; tracking inmates on death row as their cases move
through the judicial process, including all appeals to the governor for
commutations or stays of execution; analyzing proposed legislation and
regulations for validity and legal effect; handling extradition and requisition
matters; coordinating ethics guidelines and training for the governor's office;
and providing legal advice and handling litigation filed against the governor
or the Governor's Office, in conjunction with actions of the Attorney General
on the governor's behalf. Records are legislation; agency rules, policies, and
procedures; and calendars, maintained by general counsel staff during Governor
George W. Bush's tenure in office. Types of materials include legislative bills
and bill analyses, fiscal notes, notices of hearings, amendments, committee
agenda and minutes, notes, research, case summaries, statutes, witness lists,
open government impact statements, an Attorney General opinion, briefings,
comments, a comparison chart, schedules, correspondence, folder labels,
calendars, memoranda, rules, policies, procedures, clippings, articles,
publications, a retention schedule, and a directory, 1981, 1990-2000, undated,
bulk 1999.
Legislation maintained by Assistant
General Counsel James Hines covers bills related to open records, open
meetings, and the judiciary introduced during the 76th Legislature, Regular
Session, 1999. Agency rules, policies, and
procedures, 1981, 1990-2000, undated, concern ethics, extradition,
records retention, public information, media interviews, and general counsel
duties. Calendars kept by general counsel staff,
1998-2000, provide a record of meetings and events, including execution dates,
staff meetings, and personal appointments.
Organization of the Records
These records are organized into three series:
- Legislation, 1999, 0.65 cubic ft.
- Agency rules, policies, and procedures, 1981, 1990-2000, undated,
0.35 cubic ft.
- Calendars, 1998-2000, 0.3 cubic ft.
Index Terms
The terms listed here were used to catalog the
records. The terms can be used to find similar or related records.
Personal Names:
Hines, James.
Bush, George W. (George
Walker), 1946-
Corporate Names:
Texas. Office of
the Governor. Office of the General
Counsel.
Subjects:
Government information--Law
and legislation--Texas.
Legislation--Texas.
Public records--Law and
legislation--Texas.
Governors--Texas.
Government
attorneys--Texas.
Extradition--Texas.
Ethics--Texas.
Places:
Texas--Politics and
government--1951-
Document Types:
Calendars--Texas--Government
attorneys--1998-2000.
Rules--Texas--Governors--1981, 1990-2000.
Legislative
records--Texas--Governors--1999.
Memorandums--Texas--Governors--1995-2000.
Clippings--Texas--Ethics--1990-1994.
Functions:
Advising Texas
governors.
Related Material
The following materials are offered as possible
sources of further information on the agencies and subjects covered by the
records. The listing is not exhaustive.
Texas State
Archives
Texas Governor George W. Bush Senior Advisor's
Office records, Education bill files, 1998-1999, bulk 1999, 0.5 cubic
ft.
Texas Governor George W. Bush Policy Office
records, Bill files, 1994-1999, 54 cubic ft.
Texas Governor George W. Bush Legislative Office
records, Bill files, 1995-1999, 110 cubic ft.
Preferred Citation
(Identify the item and cite the series), Texas Governor George W. Bush
General Counsel legislation and other records. Archives and Information
Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Processing Information
Tonia J. Wood, March 2008
Finding aid updated by Tonia J. Wood, April 2013
Accession Information
Accession number: 2002/151
In December 2000, Governor George W. Bush designated the George Bush Presidential Library as
the repository for the records from his tenure as Governor of Texas, under
authority of Texas Government Code, Section 441.201. Shortly after he left
office, the records were shipped to the Bush Library in College Station, Texas.
Texas Attorney General John Cornyn ruled the records are state records subject
to the Texas Public Information Act and the management of the Texas State
Library and Archives Commission even after transfer to a federal facility
(Opinion No. JC-0498, May 3, 2002). In July 2002 the records were transferred
from the Bush Library to the Texas State Archives in Austin for preparation for
research use. In June 2003, a memorandum of understanding signed by
representatives of the National Archives and Records Administration, the Texas
State Library and Archives Commission, and George W. Bush replaced a January
2002 interim memorandum of understanding. The records were moved to the George
W. Bush Presidential Library in February 2013.
Detailed Description of the Records
Legislation,
1999,
0.65 cubic ft.
Duties of the Governor's General Counsel include analyzing
proposed legislation and regulations for validity and legal effect. Records are
legislation from the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, maintained by Assistant
General Counsel James Hines, who was also responsible for public information
requests during the latter portion of Governor Bush's tenure. Files mostly
contain various versions of legislative bills and bill analyses, but also may
include fiscal notes, notices of hearings, amendments, committee agenda and
minutes, notes, research, case summaries, statutes, witness lists, open
government impact statements, an Attorney General opinion, briefings, comments,
a comparison chart, schedules, correspondence, and folder labels, dating 1999.
Much of the legislation concerns open records, open meetings, and the
judiciary. Files containing more than routine copies of bills, analyses, fiscal
notes, amendments, etc. are described in the folder listing. See also Governor
George W. Bush Legislative Office bill files, Policy Office bill files, and
Senior Advisor's Office Education bill files for additional legislation
reviewed by the Governor's Office.
Arrangement
These records are divided between Senate and House files, and then
arranged in numerical order by bill number. Two general folders are filed
first.
Preferred Citation
(Identify the item), Legislation, Texas Governor George W. Bush
General Counsel legislation and other records. Archives and Information
Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Restrictions on Access
Because of the possibility that portions of these records fall under Public Information Act
exceptions including, but not limited to, certain legislative documents
(§552.106), attorney client privilege (§552.107), and agency memoranda
(§552.111), an archivist must review these records before they can be
accessed for research. The records may be requested for research under the
provisions of the Public Information Act (V.T.C.A., Government Code, Chapter
552). The researcher may request an interview with an archivist or submit a
request by mail (Texas State Library and Archives Commission, P. O. Box
12927, Austin, TX 78711), fax (512-463-5436), email
(Dir_Lib@tsl.state.tx.us), or see our web page (https://www.tsl.state.tx.us/requestgovernorbushrecords.html).
Include enough description and detail about the information requested to
enable the archivist to accurately identify and locate the information
requested. (Note: The Governor's Office has requested that the State
Archives contact the Public Information Coordinator for the Governor's
Office when we receive a Public Information Act request for these records.)
If our review reveals information that may be excepted by the Public
Information Act, we are obligated to seek an open records decision from the
Attorney General on whether the records can be released. The Public
Information Act allows the Archives ten working days after receiving a
request to make this determination. The Attorney General has 45 working days
to render a decision. Alternately, the Archives can inform you of the nature
of the potentially excepted information and if you agree, that information
can be redacted or removed and you can access the remainder of the
records.
Restrictions on Use
Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted. State records also include
materials received by, not created by, state agencies. Copyright remains
with the creator. The researcher is responsible for complying with U.S.
Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.).
Processed by
Tonia J. Wood, March 2008
[All folders may contain possibly excepted
information: certain legislative records, agency memoranda]
2002/151-408
General files:
2002/151-408
House and Senate standing committee hearing schedule,
April 25 and May 20,
1999
2002/151-408
Folder labels
2002/151-408
Senate:
2002/151-408
Senate Committee on State Affairs minutes and witness
list,
March 25,
1999
2002/151-408
Senate Jurisprudence Committee agenda,
April 12,
1999
2002/151-408
SB [Senate Bill] 57
2002/151-408
SB 136, Harris, Relating to donations of juror
reimbursements
2002/151-408
SB 183, Drew Nixon, Relating to the acceptance of
gifts by certain state agencies
2002/151-408
SB 191, Ogden, Relating to restrictions on certain
actions involving the executive head of a state agency or special
district
2002/151-408
SB 265, Duncan, Relating to the temporary assignment
of a district court judge to a court of appeals
2002/151-408
SB 277, Carona, Relating to rendition by the attorney
general of decisions requested under the open records law
2002/151-408
SB 279, Carona, Relating to the charge for providing
public information requested for an official purpose by a governmental
body
2002/151-408
SB 294, Harris, Relating to the appointment of probate
masters for certain courts
[Includes Senate Jurisprudence Committee
agenda, February 8, 1999.]
2002/151-408
SB 348, Haywood, Relating to the civil liability of
charitable organizations that are chambers of commerce
[Includes notes.]
2002/151-408
SB 424, Carona, Relating to the examination required
for certification as a court reporter
2002/151-408
SB 667, Carona, Relating to the repeal of the
exception to disclosure under the public information law of information
submitted by an ...historically underutilized business
2002/151-408
SB 747, Shapleigh, Relating to determining the type of
public information most often requested from state governmental
bodies
2002/151-408
SB 879, Wentworth, Relating to the requiring
governmental bodies to prominently display a sign that states the basic
requirements of the open records law
2002/151-408
SB 916, Wentworth, Relating to notices of open
meetings posted by the secretary of state
2002/151-408
SB 1001, 1007, Wentworth, Relating to multicounty
statutory probate courts and staffing of certain courts with statutory probate
court jurisdiction
2002/151-408
SB 1021, Rodney Ellis, Relating to records of probate
proceedings
2002/151-408
SB 1039, Wentworth, Relating to access to information
held by or for the judiciary
2002/151-408
SB 1040, Wentworth, Relating to the imposition of a
charge for making available for inspection certain public records
2002/151-408
SB 1041, Wentworth, Relating to the enforcement of the
public information law
[5 folders]
[Includes statutes from 18 states with
enforcement provisions.]
2002/151-408
SB 1042, 1043, 1044, 1045, Wentworth, Relating to
public information law changes and attorney general decision
requests
2002/151-408
SB 1046, Wentworth, Relating to the criteria the
Sunset Advisory Commission uses in its review of state agencies
2002/151-408
SB 1047, Wentworth, Relating to the application of the
open records law to information about a business prospect...
2002/151-408
SB 1078, Shapleigh, Relating to qualifications of
jurors serving in the El Paso municipal courts of record
2002/151-408
SB 1150, 1163, Wentworth, Relating to the statutory
probate court jurisdiction
2002/151-408
SB 1167, Wentworth, Relating to the use of recording
devices to preserve court proceedings
2002/151-408
SB 1366, Harris, Relating to court reporting
firms
2002/151-408
SB 1367, Harris, Relating to legislative access to
information
2002/151-408
SB 1436, Duncan, Relating to the authority of a judge
to hear pretrial matters in county other than one in which suit is
filed
2002/151-408
SB 1551, 1552, 1554, Rodney Ellis, Relating to probate
and decedents' estates
2002/151-408
SB 1639, Carona, Relating to the application of the
open meetings law and public information law to certain meetings and
information
2002/151-408
SB 1642, Drew Nixon, Relating to the requirement that
certain meetings of an appraisal review board be open to the public
2002/151-408
SB 1851, Wentworth, Relating to public access to
governmental information and decisions including revisions to the public
information law
[6 folders]
[Includes correspondence, comments, and
comparison charts.]
2002/151-408
SB 1860, Sibley, Relating to the validity of certain
devices or bequests
2002/151-408
House:
2002/151-408
HB [House Bill] 57, Cuellar, Relating to persons
authorized to administer oaths made in Texas
[Includes Committee on Judicial Affairs
agenda for March 1, 1999.]
2002/151-408
HB 115, Todd Smith, Relating to certain rights of a
trustee and settlor concerning a charitable trust
2002/151-408
HB 156, Wolens, Relating to the application of the
open meetings law for certain meetings at which a governmental body
receives...
[Includes correspondence.]
2002/151-408
HB 192, Longoria, Relating to the licensing of certain
persons as attorneys
2002/151-408
HB 413, Talton, Relating to the repeal of the
exception to disclosure under the public information law of information
submitted by...historically underutilized businesses
2002/151-408
HB 595, 596, Maxey, Relating to allowing governmental
body to discuss test questions in a closed meeting; application of open meeting
law and open records law to certain entities that are part of certain contracts
[Includes comments and internal
email.]
2002/151-408
HB 599, Gallego, Relating to the application of the
open meetings law to district judges performing management or administrative
functions
2002/151-408
HB 611, Janek, Relating to confidentiality of certain
personal information provided by a customer to a business
[2 folders]
[Includes executive summary and comments
submitted by finance-related organizations.]
2002/151-408
HB 836, Tracy King, Relating to access under the
public information law to birth and death indexes
[Includes Attorney General opinion
DM-146, memo, and notes.]
2002/151-408
HB 1142, Thompson, Relating to records of probate
proceedings
2002/151-408
HB 1220, Keel, Relating to the exception to disclosure
under the public information law of audit working papers and draft
audits
2002/151-408
HB 1274, Tillery, Relating to the administration of
oaths in this state by certain judges and clerks
2002/151-408
HB 1356, Bosse, Relating to possession of motor
vehicle, vessel or outboard motor
2002/151-408
HB 1379, Allen, Relating to information about a Texas
Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) inmate that is subject to public
disclosure or excepted from public disclosure
[Bill reviewed by Rose Hayden of
Governor's Office Criminal Justice Division. Includes briefing submitted by
TDCJ general counsel.]
2002/151-408
HB 1460, Dunman, Relating to lobbying activities in
connection with certain judicial rules
2002/151-408
HB 1461, Dunman, Relating to oversight of and public
access to the supreme court and court of criminal appeals
2002/151-408
HB 1507, Wolens, Relating to the practice of
law
[2 folders]
[Includes case summary and
article.]
2002/151-408
HB 1508, Palmer, Relating to the forfeiture of rights
and interests of certain heirs, devisees, legatees, owners and
donees
2002/151-408
HB 1605, Thompson, Relating to the transfer of cases
by statutory probate courts
[Includes case summary.]
2002/151-408
HB 1852, Thompson, Relating to the administration of
decedent's estates
2002/151-408
HB 2105, Capelo, Relating to judicial review of the
validity or applicability of state agency rules and decisions in contested
cases
2002/151-408
HB 2114, Danburg, Relating to the application of the
open meeting law to a board or committee of a sports and community venue
district
2002/151-408
HB 2168, Naishtat, Relating to the appointment of a
registered agent to accept service of process in this state on behalf of a
business entity
[Includes notes.]
2002/151-408
HB 2557, Glaze, Relating to the application of the
open meetings law and open records law to entities that are parties to
contracts
2002/151-408
HB 2580, Hartnett, Relating to the transfer of certain
proceedings to a statutory probate court
2002/151-408
HB 2581, Eiland, Relating to appeals of certain
interlocutory orders
2002/151-408
HB 2833, Sylvester Turner, Relating to determining the
types of public information most often requested from state governmental
bodies
2002/151-408
HB 3156, Wolens, Relating to nonsubstantive additions
to and corrections in enacted codes
2002/151-408
HB 3218, McCall, Relating to the disclosure of certain
information maintained or obtained by the comptroller of public
accounts
2002/151-408
HB 3604, Uresti, Relating to the imposition of
sanctions by a court on a person who signs a pleading or motion
2002/151-408
HB 3792, Chavez, Relating to the qualifications of
jurors serving in the El Paso municipal courts of record
2002/151-408
HJR [House Joint Resolution] 44, Ramsay, Relating to
the filling of a vacancy in the office of the governor or lieutenant
governor
[4 folders]
[Includes statutes, notes, and case
summaries.]
2002/151-408
HJR 52, Palmer, Relating to the forfeiture of rights
and interests of certain heirs, devisees, legatees, and donees
Agency rules, policies, and procedures,
1981,
1990-2000, undated,
0.35 cubic ft.
Duties of the General Counsel include providing statute
interpretations; handling extradition and requisition matters; coordinating
ethics guidelines and training for the governor's office; and providing legal
advice and handling litigation filed against the governor or the Governor's
Office, in conjunction with actions of the Attorney General on the governor's
behalf. Agency rules, policies, and procedures cover responsibilities of the
Governor's Office as well as functions specifically carried out by general
counsel staff. Types of records are memoranda, correspondence, rules, policies,
procedures, clippings, articles, publications, comments, a retention schedule,
and a directory, dating 1981, 1990-2000, undated. Subjects include records
retention, ethics, extradition, public information, lawsuit notification, media
interviews, and general counsel duties.
Arrangement
These records are arranged by topic as received from the
agency.
Preferred Citation
(Identify the item), Agency rules, policies, and procedures, Texas
Governor George W. Bush General Counsel legislation and other records. Archives
and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives
Commission.
Restrictions on Access
Because of the possibility that portions of these records fall under Public Information Act
exceptions including, but not limited to, attorney client privilege
(§552.107) and agency memoranda (§552.111), an archivist must review these
records before they can be accessed for research. The records may be
requested for research under the provisions of the Public Information Act
(V.T.C.A., Government Code, Chapter 552). The researcher may request an
interview with an archivist or submit a request by mail (Texas State Library
and Archives Commission, P. O. Box 12927, Austin, TX 78711), fax
(512-463-5436), email (Dir_Lib@tsl.state.tx.us), or see our web page
(https://www.tsl.state.tx.us/requestgovernorbushrecords.html).
Include enough description and detail about the information requested to
enable the archivist to accurately identify and locate the information
requested. (Note: The Governor's Office has requested that the State
Archives contact the Public Information Coordinator for the Governor's
Office when we receive a Public Information Act request for these records.)
If our review reveals information that may be excepted by the Public
Information Act, we are obligated to seek an open records decision from the
Attorney General on whether the records can be released. The Public
Information Act allows the Archives ten working days after receiving a
request to make this determination. The Attorney General has 45 working days
to render a decision. Alternately, the Archives can inform you of the nature
of the potentially excepted information and if you agree, that information
can be redacted or removed and you can access the remainder of the
records.
Restrictions on Use
Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted. State records also include
materials received by, not created by, state agencies. Copyright remains
with the creator. The researcher is responsible for complying with U.S.
Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.).
Processed by
Tonia J. Wood, March 2008
2002/151-408
Record retention schedule:
2002/151-408
Records custodian,
August 1995, January
1998
2002/151-408
Memo from Texas State Library and Archives Commission
with attachment,
September
1996
2002/151-408
June, August 1995;
April-May 1996
[Contains possibly excepted information:
agency memoranda; attorney-client privilege]
[File includes memos, procedures, and
correspondence concerning records management policy, designation of a records
administrator, and revisions to retention schedule for general counsel
records.]
2002/151-408
Retention schedule,
November
1994
2002/151-408
General counsel duties,
1999
2002/151-408
Extradition information:
2002/151-408
Extradition in a nutshell,
between 1997 and
2000
2002/151-408
National Association of Extradition Officials
directory,
June
1998
2002/151-408
Leslie W. Abramson, Extradition in America: Of uniform acts and governmental
discretion, Baylor Law Review,
Fall
1981
[2 copies; 2
folders]
2002/151-408
Extradition in Texas,
1991
2002/151-408
Ethics:
2002/151-408
1997-1999
[File contains two signed audio and
videotaping policy releases, cease and desist letters, and Office of
State-Federal Relations ethics policy.]
2002/151-408
Staff memos,
1996-1998
[Contains possibly excepted information:
agency memoranda; attorney-client privilege]
[Subjects include lobbying,
solicitation, and political activity.]
2002/151-408
Conflicts of interest,
1990-1994,
undated
[6 folders]
[File contains packet of information
including Public Citizen comments and clippings concerning ethics and
legislators' conflicts of interest.]
2002/151-408
Lawsuit notification,
1997-1998
[Contains possibly excepted information:
agency memoranda; attorney-client privilege]
2002/151-408
General, Using Westlaw.com,
June
1999
2002/151-408
Media interview rules,
1999 or
2000
2002/151-408
Public Information Act:
2002/151-408
Update,
February
2000
2002/151-408
Updates,
December 1999-January
2000
Calendars,
1998-2000,
0.3 cubic ft.
Duties of the General Counsel include tracking inmates on death
row as their cases move through the judicial process, including all appeals to
the governor for commutations or stays of execution, and providing legal advice
and handling litigation filed against the governor or the Governor's Office, in
conjunction with actions of the Attorney General on the governor's behalf.
Records are calendars, 1998-2000, maintained by the Governor's General Counsel
staff to provide a reminder for meetings and events. Four calendars are
spiral-bound monthly planners kept by General Counsel Margaret Wilson and
Assistant General Counsel James Hines. One desk pad monthly planner was
maintained by an unknown person in the General Counsel's Office. Calendars note
information including execution dates for death row inmates, meetings, and
personal appointments.
Arrangement
These records are arranged by staff member and then
chronologically.
Preferred Citation
(Identify the item), Calendars, Texas Governor George W. Bush
General Counsel legislation and other records. Archives and Information
Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Restrictions on Access
Because of the possibility that portions of these records fall under Public Information Act
exceptions including, but not limited to, privacy (Texas Government Code,
Section 552.101) and home address, home phone number, social security
number, and personal family information of a government employee (§552.117),
an archivist must review these records before they can be accessed for
research. The records may be requested for research under the provisions of
the Public Information Act (V.T.C.A., Government Code, Chapter 552). The
researcher may request an interview with an archivist or submit a request by
mail (Texas State Library and Archives Commission, P. O. Box 12927, Austin,
TX 78711), fax (512-463-5436), email (Dir_Lib@tsl.state.tx.us), or see our
web page (https://www.tsl.state.tx.us/requestgovernorbushrecords.html).
Include enough description and detail about the information requested to
enable the archivist to accurately identify and locate the information
requested. (Note: The Governor's Office has requested that the State
Archives contact the Public Information Coordinator for the Governor's
Office when we receive a Public Information Act request for these records.)
If our review reveals information that may be excepted by the Public
Information Act, we are obligated to seek an open records decision from the
Attorney General on whether the records can be released. The Public
Information Act allows the Archives ten working days after receiving a
request to make this determination. The Attorney General has 45 working days
to render a decision. Alternately, the Archives can inform you of the nature
of the potentially excepted information and if you agree, that information
can be redacted or removed and you can access the remainder of the
records.
Restrictions on Use
Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted. State records also include
materials received by, not created by, state agencies. Copyright remains
with the creator. The researcher is responsible for complying with U.S.
Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.).
Processed by
Tonia J. Wood, March 2008
[All calendars may contain possibly excepted
information: privacy; home addresses, home phone numbers, family information of
government employees]
2002/151-407
Margaret Wilson's monthly planners:
2002/151-407
1998
2002/151-407
1999
2002/151-407
James Hines's monthly planners:
2002/151-407
1999
2002/151-407
2000
Governor Bush Oversize Box 3
Unknown staff member's desk pad monthly calendar,
2000