KXAN testifies on crime victim data during House open government hearing
Austin (KXAN) — On Wednesday, KXAN Senior Investigative Producer David Barer spoke to members of the Texas House Committee on Delivery of Government Efficiency about obtaining data while investigating the state's crime victim compensation delays.
'An important issue we found is victims were telling us they were waiting up to eight months or more to get a first payment on a claim,' Barer said of KXAN's three years of reporting on the Texas Attorney General's CVC division, noting the use of budget-related data obtained from the state agency.
KXAN's analysis of that data revealed recent victim claims were being averaged with sexual assault exam reimbursements, the latter of which are actually handled directly with medical providers in just days. So the attorney general's combining of the two types of claims presented a skewed narrative that payments were happening faster than reality.
'The AG's office has now acknowledged that, and they're addressing it now through the appropriations process,' Barer explained. 'But that is one example of many that I could give you of reporting that relied on searchable-sortable records that we obtained through the Public Information Act, and I know from experience that not all government bodies provide this even when they're able to and explicitly asked to do so.'
Barer shared his account with lawmakers at the encouragement of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, which advocates for greater access to public information. It was among testimony surrounding House Bill 4218, which aims to codify the ability to obtain searchable-sortable records if such a format is available.
'If government information is maintained in a searchable-sortable format, it needs to be provided in that format in a public information request,' said Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, who authored the bill.
Capriglione told committee members some agencies deliberately turn searchable-sortable data — like an Excel spreadsheet — into a PDF, which 'is not as useful to a requestor who is trying to sort and analyze a large amount of information.'
'In that case what you're seeing is a government entity going above and beyond to make it difficult for the public to be able to access that information,' he said.
HELD UP: KXAN uncovers backlog, turnover with Texas' Crime Victims' Compensation Division
The measure falls under the topics tackled by the newly-created DOGE committee, which Capriglione also chairs. Its directive includes tackling inefficiencies in government services.
Capriglione said reducing 'data in its native format also reduces the workload on government employees,' because it eliminates the need to create additional documents in separate formats.
'Clarifying this issue will save time and taxpayer money,' he added.
HB 4218 was left pending in committee. Its Senate companion, SB 50 filed by Sen. Judith Zafirini, D-Laredo, awaits a hearing in that chamber's 'Business & Commerce' committee.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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