Attorney General Ken Paxton today issued an opinion regarding the right of university regents to access records in the possession of the university that a regent believes are necessary to review in order to fulfill his/her duties as a regent.
Consistent with the opinions of three recent attorneys general, Paxton concluded that a university cannot prohibit individual regents from access to and copies of university records unless a state or federal law requires otherwise.
The ruling notes that access to records is a necessary part of a board member’s fulfillment of his or her duties. As a previous opinion said, “a governmental body cannot adopt a policy that prevents a member of the body from performing the duties of office.”
To view the opinion, visit:
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/opinions/opinions/51paxton/op/2015/kp0021.pdf - PDF
To view previous attorneys general opinions on this matter, visit:
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/opinions/opinions/50abbott/op/2004/htm/ga0138.pdf - PDF
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/opinions/opinions/49cornyn/op/1999/htm/jc0120.pdf - PDF
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/opinions/opinions/47mattox/op/1983/htm/jm0119.pdf - PDF