BILL ANALYSIS



C.S.H.B. 1249
By: Danburg
5-5-95
Committee Report (Substituted)


BACKGROUND

Most states or legislatures operate their own computerized bill
tracking systems, which may or may not be accessible to the public. 
If accessible, they usually require payment of user fees and
attract interest groups and lobbyists.  In a few states, the only
computerized bill tracking system, either for legislators or for
the public, is a fee-based system operated by a private vendor.  In
other cases, a vendor system co-exists with a system run by the
legislature, especially if the legislative system is not publicly
accessible or the vendor system provides extra enhancements.  The
trend in state government is toward increasing public access to
bill tracking information.

In January, 1995, Texas joined other states in providing free
legislative information through the Internet.  The information
maintained by the Texas Legislative Council is made available to
the public through the Internet (at "capitol.tlc.texas.gov").

PURPOSE

H.B. 1249 clarifies in the Government Code that the Texas
Legislative Council has the authority to make legislative
information available to the public through the Internet.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly
grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer,
department, agency, or institution.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 323, Government Code, by adding Section
323.0145       ELECTRONIC AVAILABILITY OF LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION
               THROUGH THE INTERNET as follows:

           (a) Defines "Internet" and "legislative information."

           (b) Provides that the council may make legislative
           information available to the public through the
           Internet.  The council may conifer the needs of persons
           with disabilities when making decisions regarding
           availability.

           (c) Provides that the council may make any documentation
     describing the           electronic formats of legislative
                              information available to the public.

           (d) Provides that the access to legislative information
           under this section (1) is in addition to the public's
           access through other electronic or print distribution;
           (2) does not alter, diminish or relinquish any copyright
           or other proprietary interest or entitlement of the
           State of Texas or a private entity under contract with
           the state; and (3) does not effect Section 323.014.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1995.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.


COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

The substitute simply amends SECTION 1 (b) to provide that the
council may consider the needs of persons with disabilities when
making decisions regarding the formats in which legislative
information is made available.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

Pursuant to posting of public notice, the Committee on State
Affairs convened in a public hearing on April 11, 1995 to consider
HB 1249.  The Chair laid out HB 1249 and recognized Rep. Hochberg
to explain the bill.  The following persons testified neutrally on
the bill: Wayne McDilda representing the Department of Information
Resources; and Carolyn Purcell representing the Department of
Information Resources.  The Chair left HB 1249 pending.  In a
formal meeting on April 27, 1995, the Chair laid out HB 1249.  Rep.
Danburg laid out Committee Amendment #1 which was adopted without
objection.  The Chair directed the staff to incorporate the
amendment into a complete committee substitute.  The substitute was
adopted without objection. The bill was reported favorably as
substituted with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed,
and be sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars by a
record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, 0 absent.