What are the responsibilities and job description for the TPIAS (Texas Public Information Act Specialist) position at City of Midland?
This person shall be responsible for assisting with the City of Midland’s (the “City’s”) efforts to comply with the Texas Public Information Act (Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code) (the “TPIA”) and with performing any other duties assigned by the City Attorney from time to time.
REQUIRED CONTACTS:
Must have the ability to effectively communicate with the general public, attorneys, and City employees. Must possess both good telephone and public relations skills.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Ability to sit, stand, climb stairs/steps, stoop, reach, push, pull, walk for long distances and move about a building and be able to lift items weighing up to 20 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Possess the ability to work non-traditional hours when necessary. Perform tasks timely in a fast-paced environment.
- Receive requests submitted to the City under the TPIA
- Forward requests to the appropriate City departments and follow up with City departments until responsive documents are received
- Adhere to deadlines set out under the TPIA
- Maintain database of all requests received under the TPIA
- Review all materials responsive to requests made under the TPIA to ascertain how each request should be handled
- Review and redact confidential information in documents, videos, and audio recordings as needed using various types of software
- Prepare and submit written requests for opinions to be sent to the Texas Attorney General and send written responses to individuals who have requested information
- Receive and review opinions from Texas Attorney General and release information to requestors as instructed
- Handle highly confidential information discretely and maintain complete confidentiality of all records
- Perform any other duties assigned by the City Attorney from time to time.
REQUIRED CONTACTS:
Must have the ability to effectively communicate with the general public, attorneys, and City employees. Must possess both good telephone and public relations skills.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Ability to sit, stand, climb stairs/steps, stoop, reach, push, pull, walk for long distances and move about a building and be able to lift items weighing up to 20 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Possess the ability to work non-traditional hours when necessary. Perform tasks timely in a fast-paced environment.
Knowledge, Abilities, and Skills
- Skill in the use of personal computers, printers, fax machines and other various office machines is required. Must be able to read, analyze, and interpret professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. The selected individual must be able to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Minimum Education, Experience, and Certification
- Experience in handling requests under the TPIA is highly preferred. The ability to prioritize and organize well, work quickly and accurately, and be consistently detailed oriented is essential. Must possess strong proficiency in MS Office products, including Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Also, proficiency in Adobe Acrobat is required. A minimum of a high school diploma or GED and associate degree is required. Texas Paralegal Certification or associate degree as a Paralegal is preferred. A valid Texas Driver’s License is required.