HBA-AMW S.B. 1146 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1146
By: Shapleigh
Environmental Regulation
4/27/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The 76th Legislature authorized the Electronic Government Task Force to
create the TexasOnline Internet portal to provide a single point of access
to electronic government services in Texas for citizens and businesses.
One of the key goals for TexasOnline is to provide a public portal that
allows users to quickly locate and access the variety of electronic
services and information offered by state and local government. Currently,
the portal has information links to business, education, and health sites,
but no single, coordinated information link to issues related to
environmental protection or quality or to the development, conservation, or
preservation of natural resources.  Senate Bill 1146  requires the creation
of an information link for state agencies with jurisdiction over
environmental and natural resource matters. 

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

Senate Bill 1146 amends the Government Code to require state agencies with
jurisdiction over matters related to environmental protection or quality or
to the development, conservation, or preservation of natural resources to
develop a single information link through the TexasOnline portal in
cooperation with the Department of Information Resources (DIR).  The bill
provides that the link access information and services related to the
agencies' authority and duties, including access to agency rules and other
public information.  The bill requires DIR to coordinate the efforts of the
agencies in developing the information link.  The bill authorizes DIR, if
DIR has a program management office, to delegate the coordination of
efforts in developing the information link to that office. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.