By: Smith, Ashley H.B. No. 206
73R1796 JRD-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the participation of the Central Education Agency in
1-3 state telecommunications management and coordination.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Sections 10.02(c), (d), and (e), State Purchasing
1-6 and General Services Act (Article 601b, Vernon's Texas Civil
1-7 Statutes), are amended to read as follows:
1-8 (c) The commission, Department of Information Resources,
1-9 Central Education Agency, and comptroller shall jointly develop
1-10 functional requirements for a statewide system of
1-11 telecommunications services for all state agencies. Existing
1-12 networks, as configured on the effective date of this subsection,
1-13 of institutions of higher education are exempt.
1-14 (d) The commission, Department of Information Resources,
1-15 Central Education Agency, and comptroller shall develop requests
1-16 for information and proposals for a statewide system of
1-17 telecommunications services for all state agencies.
1-18 (e) The commission, Department of Information Resources,
1-19 Central Education Agency, and comptroller shall negotiate rates and
1-20 execute contracts with telecommunications service providers for
1-21 services. Those entities may acquire transmission facilities by
1-22 purchase, lease, or lease-purchase, which shall be done on a
1-23 competitive bid basis if possible. Those entities may develop,
1-24 establish, and maintain carrier systems necessary to the operation
2-1 of the telecommunications system. The commission may own, lease,
2-2 or lease-purchase any or all of the facilities or equipment
2-3 necessary to provide telecommunications services.
2-4 SECTION 2. Section 9A(b), Information Resources Management
2-5 Act (Article 4413(32j), Revised Statutes), is amended to read as
2-6 follows:
2-7 (b) The department, comptroller, Central Education Agency,
2-8 and <State Purchasing and> General Services Commission shall
2-9 develop a statewide telecommunications operating plan for all
2-10 agencies that implements a statewide network and includes technical
2-11 specifications that are binding on the managing and operating
2-12 agency.
2-13 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-14 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-15 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-16 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-17 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-18 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-19 passage, and it is so enacted.