HBA-CDB S.B. 974 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 974
By: Shapleigh
State Affairs
4/28/1999
Engrossed


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Throughout the 1990s, government, businesses, and individuals have turned
increasingly to the Internet to obtain and disseminate information,
products, and services.  Electronic access to government services increases
efficiency and lowers costs related to accessing information for the
citizens of Texas, particularly in rural areas of the state.  

In the last two Strategic Plans for Information Resources Management, the
Department of Information Resources has recommended a web-based application
enabling Texas businesses to file and renew all state-required licenses and
permits and make electronic payment of any associated fees over the
Internet.  To realize this objective, state government needs to develop and
implement an authentication and security system, digital signatures, and
electronic indexing of government information and services. 

H.B. 2736 creates a task force and demonstration project to assess the
current and future feasibility of establishing a common, Internet-based
electronic system through which state agencies and local governments can
electronically send and receive applications for business licenses and
permits, including when an electronic signature is necessary, and receive
any required payments. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 2054, Government Code, by adding
Section 2054.062, as follows:  
 
Sec. 2054.062.  ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC; TASK FORCE AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.  (a)
Requires the Department of Information Resources (department) to establish
a task force to assess the current and future feasibility of establishing a
common electronic system using the Internet through which state agencies
and local governments can electronically perform the enumerated tasks.   

(b)  Requires the department and the task force to implement a
demonstration project showing the extent to which transactions described by
this section can currently be accomplished.   

(c)  Sets forth the composition of the task force.  

(d)  Provides that Chapter 2110 (State Agency Advisory Committees) does not
apply to the task force.   

(e)  Requires the department to report the findings of the task force and
the results of the demonstration project to the presiding officer of each
house of the legislature and to the chairs of the committees of each house
of the legislature that have primary oversight jurisdiction over the
department not later than November 1, 2000.   
 
(f)  Provides that the task force is abolished and this section expires
September 1, 2001. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.