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.