Senate Committee on Business and Commerce - 86th R.S. (2019)

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Committee Members

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Charges

• Information Technology: Review the state's major information technology infrastructure. Examine cybersecurity preparedness and reporting requirements for state and local governments and political subdivisions. Identify opportunities for expanded partnership and coordination between state and local officials. Compare state and local government prevention and response efforts with those of private businesses facing similar threats. Make recommendations for cost-effective ways to strengthen and protect consumer data and personal information against privacy breaches and ransomware threats.

• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Examine current state and local laws regulating unmanned aerial vehicles. Identify any legislative changes needed to streamline regulation in a manner that promotes commerce and innovation while protecting public safety and the privacy and property rights of Texans.

• Electricity: Assess the electricity market in Texas. Examine changes in customer demand, such as on-site storage, distributed generation, and electric vehicles. Study the usage of "non-wires alternatives," including energy storage, and recommend legislative changes if needed. Identify barriers to the electric market at the state or local level. Make recommendations to maintain grid reliability and encourage the continued success of the electric market.

• Health Care Costs: Study the cost of health care in Texas. Make recommendations to increase access to affordable quality health care. Explore potential opportunities and recommend best practices to continue to curb rising health care costs. Study and report on ways to increase consumer health care options, provide flexibility in the market, and decrease the uninsured rate in Texas, including 1115 and 1332 waivers.

• Monitoring: Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Business and Commerce passed by the 86th Legislature, as well as relevant agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction. Specifically, make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, or complete implementation of the following:
  
  
  
  • SB 14 86th R.S., relating to broadband service or facilities provided by an electric cooperative;
  
  
  • SB 1264 86th R.S., relating to consumer protections against certain medical and health care billing by certain out-of-network providers;
  
  
  • HB 2536 86th R.S., relating to transparency related to drug costs; and
  
  
  • SB 1004 85th R.S., relating to the deployment of network nodes in public right-of-way.
  
  

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Notes

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