(a) The department requires prepayment of all charges prior to release of public information, unless the charges total $100 or less. The requestor will be contacted by a department representative once the cost of filling the request is determined. Each component of the total charge will be indicated on the department's billing form in order to provide full disclosure to the requestor. The prepayment requirement may be waived by the department in appropriate circumstances.
(b) The department will waive the charge for a public information request that would result in a total charge of $40.00 or less, except any remote document retrieval costs will be charged to the requestor.
(c) The department will furnish public information without charge or at a reduced charge if the department determines that a waiver or reduction in fees is in the public interest.

Source Note: The provisions of this §1.404 adopted to be effective August 23, 1996, 21 TexReg 7657; amended to be effective August 30, 2000, 25 TexReg 8376; amended to be effective June 29, 2008, 33 TexReg 4866; amended to be effective September 30, 2021, 46 TexReg 6403