IMF S.B. 1914 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS STATE AFFAIRS S.B. 1914 By: Sibley (Turner, Sylvester) 5-20-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Currently, Texas law prescribes that each telecommunications service purchased by the state must be purchased through the bid process. A telecommunications provider for the state, the General Services Commission (GSC) obtains telecommunications services in such large volume that the best value can be obtained through negotiations with qualified information systems vendors who have filed catalogues. S.B. 1914 would amend the definition of "automated information systems" to include services obtained from telecommunications providers by GSC. This change would allow GSC to purchase telecommunications services through the catalogue purchase process. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1914 would redefine automated information system in regards to the General Services Commission to include any service provided by a telecommunications provider. 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 Section 2157.001, Government Code, to redefine "automated information system" as, among other items, a telecommunications apparatus or device that serves as a component of a communications network, and, for the General Services Commission, as telecommunications provider for the state, the term includes any service provided by a "telecommunications provider", as that term is defined in Article 1446c-0, V.T.C.S., as amended. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.