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In Sum

IT enactments from Texas' 80th Legislature

Procurement

HB 66

Requires the Department of Information Resources (DIR) to select, if feasible, software that reduces personal computer power consumption to be used on a portion of the state agencies' 109,000 computers and the state universities' 193,000 computers. According to the legislature's analysis of the bill, the unused power could save the state an average of $20 per computer per year.

HB 119

Requires competitive bidding and a written contract for any state agency purchase of more than $5,000.  If that contract is not based on at least three catalog offers, another state agency must document the reason.

HB 2714

Requires that agencies considering bids for computer equipment prefer manufacturers with a program to recycle the computers of other manufacturers, and prohibits agencies from buying computer equipment from manufacturers that do not have such programs.

HB 2918

Transfers aspects of technology procurement remaining at the Texas Building and Procurement Commission (TBPC) to DIR.

HB 3560

Renames the TBPC the Texas Facilities Commission and retains its building and facilities-related duties and powers, but transfers the TBPC procurement responsibilities to the comptroller.

SB 608

Prohibits agencies from accepting a bid or awarding contracts to a person or business convicted of violating federal law in connection with a federal contract for relief after hurricanes Rita and Katrina. Some people and organizations took advantage of the vulnerable hurricane circumstances to perpetrate fraudulent activities, according to the bill.

 

TexasOnline

HB 321

Establishes a Health and Human Services Commission pilot to gauge the feasibility of importing electronic eligibility information from a regional care provider for the poor. Using an electronic database may improve process efficiency and save money by keeping patient information current, according to the bill.

SB 687

DIR TexasOnline bill; defines point of sale transactions, allows agencies to use TexasOnline for payment tracking systems and allows DIR to adopt rules requiring greater consistency between TexasOnline and agencies' Web sites.

HB 3430

Requires the comptroller to establish a central, publicly searchable Internet database for all state expenditures; requires state agencies to give expenditures to the comptroller for use in the database. The increased access to information makes government more accountable to citizens for it's spending, according to the bill.

HB 1254

Allows the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to adjust permit applicant fees to encourage electronic reporting, in consultation with DIR. The use of electronic services improves the TCEQ's efficiency and effectiveness, according to the bill.

HB 1739

Requires doctors to submit death certificates electronically. Doctors who don't renew their licenses online, may not have to comply with the law until September 1, 2008. Providing for such filing may bring efficiency to the reporting process and increase the accuracy of death records, according to the legislature's analysis of the bill.

SB 29

Requires DIR and TexasOnline to revise the online license application and renewal forms for certain health professions so state boards, agencies or associations that license health professionals can collect information about the applicant and the applicant's practice. Under current law, there's a lack of comprehensive information regarding Texas health professionals, according to the bill.

HB 84

Mandates that 85-year-old licensed individuals be re-tested for their vision and driving abilities. Prohibits the electronic renewal of a license for a person 79 or older. 

 

Administration

HB 674

Allows the DIR to accept gifts, grants, services or properties for relevant agency duties. During hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the DIR was offered help from private companies, but was not allowed to accept it under to law. This statute changes that.

HB 3575

Requires the Health and Human Services Commission to develop a transition plan to make the Texas Integrated Eligibility Redesign System (TIERS) and the System of Application, Verification, Referral and Reporting (SAVERR) fully functional, and requires the Texas State Auditor's Office, in consultation with DIR, to conduct an independent verification program to determine whether the transition plan can be met.

HB 590

Prohibits state workers from accepting gifts that influence the employee's conduct. Requires agencies to adopt and distribute an ethics policy by January 1, 2008. Requires the Attorney General to develop a model ethics policy as an example for agencies by November 1, 2007.

30F.doc">HB 3430

Requires the comptroller to establish a central, publicly searchable Internet database for all state expenditures; requires state agencies to give expenditures to the comptroller for use in the database. The increased access to information makes government more accountable to citizens for it's spending, according to the bill.

HB 1254

Allows the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to adjust permit applicant fees to encourage electronic reporting, in consultation with DIR. The use of electronic services improves the TCEQ's efficiency and effectiveness, according to the bill.

HB 1739

Requires doctors to submit death certificates electronically. Doctors who don't renew their licenses online, may not have to comply with the law until September 1, 2008. Providing for such filing may bring efficiency to the reporting process and increase the accuracy of death records, according to the legislature's analysis of the bill.

SB 29

Requires DIR and TexasOnline to revise the online license application and renewal forms for certain health professions so state boards, agencies or associations that license health professionals can collect information about the applicant and the applicant's practice. Under current law, there's a lack of comprehensive information regarding Texas health professionals, according to the bill.

HB 84

Mandates that 85-year-old licensed individuals be re-tested for their vision and driving abilities. Prohibits the electronic renewal of a license for a person 79 or older. 

 

Administration

HB 674

Allows the DIR to accept gifts, grants, services or properties for relevant agency duties. During hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the DIR was offered help from private companies, but was not allowed to accept it under to law. This statute changes that.

HB 3575

Requires the Health and Human Services Commission to develop a transition plan to make the Texas Integrated Eligibility Redesign System (TIERS) and the System of Application, Verification, Referral and Reporting (SAVERR) fully functional, and requires the Texas State Auditor's Office, in consultation with DIR, to conduct an independent verification program to determine whether the transition plan can be met.

HB 590

Prohibits state workers from accepting gifts that influence the employee's conduct. Requires agencies to adopt and distribute an ethics policy by January 1, 2008. Requires the Attorney General to develop a model ethics policy as an example for agencies by November 1, 2007.

HB 675

Designates the commissioner of insurance as an ex officio member of the DIR board and allows an ex officio member to designate a senior manager within the member's agency to serve in the member's place, rather than specifically designating the information resources manager.

 

Telecommunications

HB 735

Discontinues the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund at the end of fiscal year 2008. The fund accumulates taxes imposed on all telephone bills in Texas, and has historically distributed the money through a grant program to purchase equipment and improve infrastructure for programs. However, the grant program was terminated in 2003, allowing the assessments to be spent for other uses. 

SB 757

Requires greater coordination between the Telecommunications Planning and Oversight Council (TPOC) and the DIR board of directors. Consolidates two TPOC reports into other existing DIR reports. 

 

Data Sharing

HB 921

Requires the Health Care Policy Council, in consultation with DIR, to generate standards for the secure sharing of information among state agencies. With the DIR, the council will evaluate how information is shared among agencies, and agencies must include implementation of reported standards in their strategic plans.

SB 622

Adds data related to emergency management to the Texas Natural Resources Information System - a centralized information system incorporating all Texas natural and socioeconomic data. Also requires a report from the Texas Geographic Information Council (TGIC) be provided to DIR, the governor and Legislature on the progress of each TGIC member toward GIS goals.

 

Strategic Initiatives

HB 1788

Consolidates state agencies' information resources planning, analysis and reporting requirements to provide a more complete understanding of the state's activities and direction.

HB 1789

Defines and requires the use of IT project management practices and mandates that state agencies use IT project management practices consistent with DIR guidelines.

 

ERP

HB 3106

Transfers enterprise resource planning authority, including the statewide uniform accounting project, from DIR to the comptroller.

 

Security

SB 136

Requires the Texas School Safety Center to establish an Internet safety course to educate students of the danger of providing personal information on a Web site because schools don't have a cohesive approach to educate students about the dangers of certain Web sites, according to the bill.

 

Open Records

SB 175

Clarifies public information law referring to "business day," and makes conforming changes to other sections currently using the term "working day."