HBA-BSM H.B. 2772 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2772
By: Chavez
State Affairs
3/21/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Texas Online is a web based portal currently used for conducting business
transactions with the state.  State and local governments can use the
common electronic system of Texas Online to send documents to the public,
receive applications for licenses and permits, and documents for filing,
and to accept payments.  A single website may make it easier for Texas
citizens to contact their state agencies.  However, the use of Texas Online
is not mandatory for state agencies, and many agencies use their own
websites.  House Bill 2772 makes the use of Texas Online  mandatory for all
state agencies.   

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2772 amends the Government Code to require all state agencies to
use the common electronic system already established, known as Texas
Online, or its successor, for all agency services and functions provided to
the public through the Internet, including: 

 _financial transactions;
 
 _applications for licenses, permits, registrations, and other related
documents from the public; 
 
 _electronic procurement;
 
 _electronic reporting;
 
 _digital signatures; and
 
 _any other service or function that the Department of Information
Resources determines is appropriate. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.