1. (a) A governmental body, officer for public information, or other person or entity that files a suit seeking to withhold information from a requestor may not file suit against the person requesting the information. The requestor is entitled to intervene in the suit.

2. (b) The governmental body, officer for public information, or other person or entity that files the suit shall demonstrate to the court that the governmental body, officer for public information, or other person or entity made a timely good faith effort to inform the requestor, by certified mail or by another written method of notice that requires the return of a receipt, of:

   1. (1) the existence of the suit, including the subject matter and cause number of the suit and the court in which the suit is filed;
   2. (2) the requestor's right to intervene in the suit or to choose to not participate in the suit;
   3. (3) the fact that the suit is against the attorney general in Travis County district court; and
   4. (4) the address and phone number of the office of the attorney general.

3. (c) If the attorney general enters into a proposed settlement that all or part of the information that is the subject of the suit should be withheld, the attorney general shall notify the requestor of that decision and, if the requestor has not intervened in the suit, of the requestor's right to intervene to contest the withholding. The attorney general shall notify the requestor:

   1. (1) in the manner required by the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, if the requestor has intervened in the suit; or
   2. (2) by certified mail or by another written method of notice that requires the return of a receipt, if the requestor has not intervened in the suit.
4. (d) The court shall allow the requestor a reasonable period to intervene after the attorney general attempts to give notice under Subsection (c)(2).

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 578, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1995;

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 1035, Sec. 24, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 13.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1997;

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1231, Sec. 9, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1377 (S.B. 1182), Sec. 11, eff. September 1, 2009.