SRC-AXB S.B. 1045 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1045
By: Wentworth
State Affairs
4/7/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, governmental entities spend an inordinate amount of staff time
and resources in responding to open records requests.  Placing certain
information on the Internet can cut down significantly on the response time
for information requests.  S.B. 1045 creates an open records steering
committee responsible for determining the feasibility of providing
governmental information through the Internet. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1045 creates the open records steering committee to study
and report on the feasibility of providing government information through
electronic means. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 552A, Government Code, by adding Sections
552.009 and 552.010, as follows: 

Sec.  552.009.  OPEN RECORDS STEERING COMMITTEE:  ADVICE TO COMMISSION;
ELECTRONIC AVAILABILITY OF PUBLIC INFORMATION.  Sets forth the open records
steering committee's (ORSC) composition. Provides that the General Services
Commission (GSC) representative is ORSC's presiding officer.  Sets forth
ORSC meeting requirements.  Requires ORSC to advise GSC regarding
performance of duties. Requires certain ORSC members to study the types of
public information to be made available through electronic means.  Requires
ORSC to report its findings and recommendations to certain authorities. 

Sec.  552.010.  STATE GOVERNMENTAL BODIES:  FISCAL AND OTHER INFORMATION
RELATING TO MAKING INFORMATION ACCESSIBLE.  Requires each state
governmental body to report certain information to the Legislative Budget
Board (board).  Sets forth required methods for the board to design and
phase in reporting requirements.  Requires ORSC and the state auditor to
assist the board in designing reporting requirements, and requires the
board to share information with ORSC. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 552.274(a), Government Code, to require the
submission of certain information by each state agency by December 1,
rather than September 1 of each odd-numbered year. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 2(d), Chapter 428, Acts of the 73rd Legislature,
Regular Session, 1993, to require the GSC to provide a copy of the updated
report to each state agency by March 1 of each even-numbered year.
Effective date:  90 days after adjournment.