Because of the possibility that portions of these records fall under the Public Information Act exceptions including violations of the privacy of individuals, these records must be reviewed by an archivist before they can be accessed for research. The records may be requested for research under the provisions of the Public Information Act (Texas Government Code, Chapter 552). The researcher may request an interview with an archivist or submit a request by mail, fax, or email including enough description and detail about the information requested to enable the archivist to accurately identify and locate the information requested. If our review reveals records covered by exceptions to the Public Information Act, we are obligated to seek an Open Records Opinion from the Attorney General before the files can be provided to the researcher. The Public Information Act allows the Archives ten business days after receiving the written request to make this determination.
Some restricted materials have already been segregated into Boxes 1999/136-85 thru 90. Transfer sheets have been placed in the original file locations. The contents of the boxes have not been listed.
Where necessary, records will be redacted or restricted to comply with the Public Information Act and the Attorney General's decision.
(Identify the item and cite the series), Records of Senator Chet Brooks, Senate, Texas Legislature. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Texas State Representative and Senator Chet Brooks was born on August 18, 1935. He attended San Angelo College, San Jacinto College, received his BA from the University of Texas in journalism and political science, and then attended the University of Houston. He worked as a newspaperman for the Houston Post and as a businessman. Brooks served in the Texas House of Representatives on behalf of Harris County from 1962 to 1966. In 1967 he began serving in the Texas Senate, again on behalf of Harris County (though his district eventually became District 11, parts of Galveston and Harris counties), where he remained through 1992. During his tenure in the Senate, Brooks served on a variety of committees, including those of Finance, Education, State Affairs and its Subcommittee on Nominations, and Special Committees on Nominations, Administration, and Rules. In addition, he chaired the Committee on Human Resources/Health and Human Resources/Health and Human Services (from at least 1977 to 1992), vice-chaired the Special Committee on Administration (1987-1992), and chaired the Special Committee of the Whole on Redistricting (1991-1992). He also served on the Legislative Budget Board, the Texas Coordinating Commission for State Health and Welfare Services, the Ad Hoc Committee on Federal Block Grants, the Joint Committee to Study the Needs of Autistic Citizens, and was President Pro Tempore of the Senate in 1972.
Records consist of correspondence, memoranda, reports, minutes, agenda, legislative bills, bill analyses, publications, newsletters, printed material, fiscal notes, legislative records, clippings, press releases, testimony, presentation materials, legal memoranda, maps, statements, photographs, brochures, invitations, drafts, notes, proclamations, blue line drawings, speeches, and audio cassettes ranging in date from 1966 to 1990 (bulk 1975-1989) that document the activities and interests of Chet Brooks during his tenure in the Texas Senate. Bill files include legislation on child care, regulation of various professions (particularly medical), mass-transit, home equity lending, health care, taxes, public smoking, motor vehicle regulation, judicial elections, 911 emergency number, nursing homes, health insurance, blood banks, infectious waste, peer review liability, child health, radioactive waste disposal sites, and education. Correspondence passed between Senator Brooks, various state and local officials, constituents, and the general public. Much of the correspondence regards issues and topics addressed by or falling under the purview of Brooks as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Human Resources; such subjects include redistricting, nursing homes, child support, seat-belts, appropriations, education, medical care and research, insurance, and health and safety. Committee files document Senator Brooks' work as: chair of the Senate Joint Committee on Educational Services to the Deaf in 1978 (to promote the economical delivery of educational services to the deaf provided by the state governmental educational institutions by means of a comprehensive review of governmental structure); chair of the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Standardized Medical Procedures in 1979 (established to determine and standardize the services offered by various medical personnel); and 1988 chair of the Texas Task Force on Waste Management Policy (focusing on hazardous wastes). Inmate correspondence contains letters written by inmates requesting recommendations for parole hearings, entrance into rehabilitation facilities/halfway houses, and for assistance in obtaining or changing medical care, dentures, better food, disciplinary charges, education, work assignments, and resolving other assorted complaints. Senator Brooks and his staff responded to each of these letters, though they were unable to help some individuals and found it inappropriate to interfere in other cases. General office files, a few subject files, and assorted correspondence comprise the final series.
To prepare this inventory, the described materials were cursorily reviewed to delineate series, to confirm the accuracy of contents lists, to provide an estimate of dates covered, and to determine record types.
These records are organized into five series:
The terms listed here were used to catalog the records. The terms can be used to find similar or related records.
Nancy Enneking, March 2001
Accession numbers: 1983/026, 1999/136
These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Office of Senator Brooks on October 4, 1982 and by the Secretary of the Senate on April 26, 1999.
Records consist of legislative bills, bill analyses, notes, correspondence, publications, reports, printed material, fiscal notes, legislative records, clippings, and memoranda documenting legislation created by, sponsored by, or of interest to Texas State Senator Chet Brooks from 1977 to 1988 (65th -70th Legislatures). Subjects of legislation include child care, regulation of various professions (particularly medical), mass-transit, home equity lending, health care, taxes, public smoking, motor vehicle regulation, judicial elections, 911 emergency number, nursing homes, health insurance, blood banks, infectious waste, peer review liability, child health, radioactive waste disposal sites, and education.
Records are grouped by legislative session; bill files are listed in numerical, but not necessarily consecutive, order.
(Identify the item), Bill files, Records of Senator Chet Brooks, Senate, Texas Legislature: Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession number: 1999/136
These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Office of the Secretary of the Senate on April 26, 1999.
Because of the possibility that portions of these records fall under the Public Information Act exceptions including violations of the privacy of individuals, these records must be reviewed by an archivist before they can be accessed for research. The records may be requested for research under the provisions of the Public Information Act (Texas Government Code, Chapter 552). The researcher may request an interview with an archivist or submit a request by mail, fax, or email including enough description and detail about the information requested to enable the archivist to accurately identify and locate the information requested. If our review reveals records covered by exceptions to the Public Information Act, we are obligated to seek an Open Records Opinion from the Attorney General before the files can be provided to the researcher. The Public Information Act allows the Archives ten business days after receiving the written request to make this determination.
Where necessary, records will be redacted or restricted to comply with the Public Information Act and the Attorney General's decision.
Nancy Enneking, September 1999
Records consist of correspondence, memoranda, reports, minutes, agenda, brochures, fiscal notes, state records transmittal forms, clippings, press releases, statements, publications, printed materials, bill copies, newsletters, bill analyses, amendments, statistics, summary of proceedings, legal memoranda, maps, drafts, notes, proclamations, blue line drawings, and photographs that comprise the correspondence files of Texas State Senator Chet Brooks, 1972-1990. Letters passed between Senator Brooks, various state and local officials, constituents, and the general public. Subjects of correspondence range from simple acknowledgement letters, thanks, and legislation, to constituent casework. Much of the correspondence regards issues and topics addressed by or falling under the purview of Brooks as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Human Resources; such subjects include redistricting, nursing homes, child support, seat-belts, appropriations, education, medical care and research, insurance, and health and safety.
Records have been subdivided into agency correspondence and
subject correspondence. A few assorted office files were intermixed in the
series and have been left as they were found. Agency correspondence is grouped
chronologically and then arranged alphabetically within each year. See the
(Identify the item), Correspondence files, Records of Senator Chet Brooks, Senate, Texas Legislature: Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession number: 1999/136
These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Secretary of the Senate on April 26, 1999.
Because of the possibility that portions of these records fall under the Public Information Act exceptions including violations of the privacy of individuals, these records must be reviewed by an archivist before they can be accessed for research. The records may be requested for research under the provisions of the Public Information Act (Texas Government Code, Chapter 552). The researcher may request an interview with an archivist or submit a request by mail, fax, or email including enough description and detail about the information requested to enable the archivist to accurately identify and locate the information requested. If our review reveals records covered by exceptions to the Public Information Act, we are obligated to seek an Open Records Opinion from the Attorney General before the files can be provided to the researcher. The Public Information Act allows the Archives ten business days after receiving the written request to make this determination.
Where necessary, records will be redacted or restricted to comply with the Public Information Act and the Attorney General's decision.
Nancy Enneking, September 1999
Records consist of agenda, minutes, meeting summaries, drafts, correspondence, memoranda, testimony, presentation materials, brochures, reports, printed material, clippings, notes, and audio cassettes that document Texas State Senator Brooks' chairmanship of and/or service on various legislative committees from 1978 to 1980 and 1984 to 1989. Senator Brooks chaired the Senate Joint Committee on Educational Services to the Deaf in 1978, the committee was established by House Bill 1880 (65th Legislature, Regular Session, 1977) to promote the economical delivery of educational services to the deaf provided by the state governmental educational institutions by means of a comprehensive review of governmental structure: He also chaired the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Standardized Medical Procedures in 1979 which was established to determine and standardize the services offered by various medical personnel. In 1988, Brooks chaired the Texas Task Force on Waste Management Policy, focusing on hazardous wastes.
Files are listed in chronological order by committee, with a few assorted files at the end.
(Identify the item), Committee files, Records of Senator Chet Brooks, Senate, Texas Legislature: Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession numbers: 1983/026, 1999/136
These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Office of Senator Brooks on October 4, 1982 and by the Secretary of the Senate on April 26, 1999.
Because of the possibility that portions of these records fall under the Public Information Act exceptions including violations of the privacy of individuals, these records must be reviewed by an archivist before they can be accessed for research. The records may be requested for research under the provisions of the Public Information Act (Texas Government Code, Chapter 552). The researcher may request an interview with an archivist or submit a request by mail, fax, or email including enough description and detail about the information requested to enable the archivist to accurately identify and locate the information requested. If our review reveals records covered by exceptions to the Public Information Act, we are obligated to seek an Open Records Opinion from the Attorney General before the files can be provided to the researcher. The Public Information Act allows the Archives ten business days after receiving the written request to make this determination.
Where necessary, records will be redacted or restricted to comply with the Public Information Act and the Attorney General's decision.
Nancy Enneking, December 1999
Records consist of correspondence between Texas prison inmates and Texas State Senator Chet Brooks, 1966-1985. Letters were written by inmates requesting recommendations for parole hearings and entrance into rehabilitation facilities/halfway houses and for assistance in obtaining or changing medical care, dentures, better food, disciplinary charges, education, work assignments, and resolving other assorted complaints. Senator Brooks and his staff responded to each of these letters, though they were unable to help some individuals and found it inappropriate to interfere in other cases.
Letters are arranged in roughly chronological order and then in several alphabetic runs, according to the name of the inmate (one run is reversed). Some files bear the inmate's numbers.
(Identify the item), Inmate files, Records of Senator Chet Brooks, Senate, Texas Legislature: Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession number: 1999/136
These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Secretary of the Senate on April 26, 1999.
Because of the possibility that portions of these records fall under the Public Information Act exceptions including violations of the privacy of individuals, these records must be reviewed by an archivist before they can be accessed for research. The records may be requested for research under the provisions of the Public Information Act (Texas Government Code, Chapter 552). The researcher may request an interview with an archivist or submit a request by mail, fax, or email including enough description and detail about the information requested to enable the archivist to accurately identify and locate the information requested. If our review reveals records covered by exceptions to the Public Information Act, we are obligated to seek an Open Records Opinion from the Attorney General before the files can be provided to the researcher. The Public Information Act allows the Archives ten business days after receiving the written request to make this determination.
Where necessary, records will be redacted or restricted to comply with the Public Information Act and the Attorney General's decision.
Nancy Enneking, September 1999
Records comprise correspondence, minutes, agenda, personal data sheets, financial statements, clippings, photographs, memoranda, printed material, invitations, drafts, and speeches that range in date from 1967 to 1990 (bulk 1980-1989) and document the management and organization of Texas State Senator Brooks' office. The records are general office files, a few subject files, and assorted correspondence maintained by Senator Brooks and his staff. The subject files found in this series contain an assortment of files of subjects of predominantly local/district concern and files regarding Brooks' speeches, newsletters, and Senate staff. The assorted office files contain general, thanks, sympathy, congratulations, invitation, and local/district correspondence as well a general legislative and staff information. Some files have been numbered according to a system used by Senator Brooks' staff; where such numbers appear, they have been noted in the lists of box contents.
The set of subject files, listed first below, are organized alphabetically and contain a variety of printed materials, correspondence, minutes, and clippings. The assorted files thereafter are listed in roughly chronological order.
(Identify the item), Office files, Records of Senator Chet Brooks, Senate, Texas Legislature: Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession number: 1999/136
These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Secretary of the Senate on April 26, 1999.
Because of the possibility that portions of these records fall under the Public Information Act exceptions including violations of the privacy of individuals, these records must be reviewed by an archivist before they can be accessed for research. The records may be requested for research under the provisions of the Public Information Act (Texas Government Code, Chapter 552). The researcher may request an interview with an archivist or submit a request by mail, fax, or email including enough description and detail about the information requested to enable the archivist to accurately identify and locate the information requested. If our review reveals records covered by exceptions to the Public Information Act, we are obligated to seek an Open Records Opinion from the Attorney General before the files can be provided to the researcher. The Public Information Act allows the Archives ten business days after receiving the written request to make this determination.
Where necessary, records will be redacted or restricted to comply with the Public Information Act and the Attorney General's decision.
Nancy Enneking, September 1999