HBA-AMW S.B. 1230 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1230
By: Ellis, Rodney
State Affairs
4/24/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Texas Information Resources Management Act requires state agencies and
universities to submit biennial operating plans (BOPs) to the Department of
Information Resources (DIR).  A BOP is a tool for a state agency or
university to use in planning for the appropriate use of information
resources to support its mission, goals, and objectives.  Currently, the
Legislative Budget Board (LBB) contracts with DIR to evaluate and review
strategic plans for information resources management and BOPs for state
agencies. However, LBB may not have the flexibility to make BOPs consistent
with legislative appropriations requests or to align the administration of
state agency strategic plans for information resources with LBB's existing
oversight of state agency strategic plans.  Senate Bill 1230 transfers from
DIR to LBB oversight of state agency BOPs and strategic plans for
information resources management. 

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 1230 amends the Government Code to transfer from the Department
of Information Resources (DIR) to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB)
certain responsibilities regarding state agency (agency) operating plans
and strategic plans for information resources management (strategic plan).
The bill transfers from DIR to LBB the authority to prescribe the format
for agency strategic plans and to evaluate the plan. The bill authorizes
LBB to report to the agency, the governor, the state auditor, and the
presiding officer of each house of the legislature that an agency strategic
plan or plan amendment is not best suited to the agency's execution of its
own duty.  The bill adds LBB to the entities to which an agency is required
to send its strategic plan and repeals law relating to the approval or
disapproval of an agency's strategic plan by DIR. 

The bill requires each agency to submit to LBB, rather than DIR, a biennial
operating plan (BOP) each state fiscal biennium in accordance with the
directions of LBB and removes the deadline for submitting the plan.  The
bill transfers from DIR to LBB the authority to evaluate the BOPs of
agencies and to provide instructions to agencies regarding preparation of a
BOP.  The bill requires each agency to send a copy of its BOP and of any
amendments to the plan, as approved by LBB, to DIR not later than the 30th
day after the date LBB approves the plan or amendment.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.