BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 960 By: Puente 04-04-95 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Under current law, counties may not sell or market the software they either develop themselves or contract a private entity to develop for them. Cities have been given the right to sell or market the software they develop. This enables them to enjoy a return from the often large investment needed for the development of software. Under current law, software developed by a county may be obtained as public information. This discourages counties from making the necessary investment to develop useful software. PURPOSE House Bill 960 would authorize counties to sell and market county-developed computer software. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1: Amends Chapter 270 of the Government Code by adding Section 270.007. Subsection (a) would allow counties to sell or license software they have either developed themselves or have contracted to have developed for them. Subsection (b) provides that the county may market the software. Subsection (c) stipulates that software subject to this section is not subject to the provisions of the open records law governing the cost of making copies. Subsection (d) specifies that documentation of the software system is included in this provision. SECTION 2: Emergency Clause. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION HB 960 was considered by the County Affairs Committee in a public hearing on 2/22/95. Representative Puente opened. The following people testified for HB 960: Donald Lee, representing The Conference of Urban Counties; and Dennis Lindquist, representing Bexar County as the Director of Information Services; and Mark Mendez, representing the Tarrant County Commissioners Court; and Steve Jennings, representing Harris County. Representative Puente closed. HB 960 was left pending. HB 960 was laid out as pending business and considered in a public hearing on 3/29/95. HB 960 was reported favorably with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed, by a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, 1 absent.