By Uher                                               H.B. No. 2646
         76R7598 MCK-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the technology access clause in certain state
 1-3     contracts.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 2157.005(b), Government Code, is amended
 1-6     to read as follows:
 1-7           (b)  The clause must [shall] clearly state, as a condition
 1-8     for the expenditure of state funds in the purchase of an automated
 1-9     information system, that the technology, as furnished by the vendor
1-10     or with the addition of readily available and reasonably priced
1-11     products from other vendors, must:
1-12                 (1)  [will] provide reasonable accommodation
1-13     [equivalent access] for effective use by both visual and nonvisual
1-14     means;
1-15                 (2)  [will] present information, including prompts used
1-16     for interactive communications, in formats intended for both visual
1-17     and nonvisual use; and
1-18                 (3)  [can] be integrated into networks for obtaining,
1-19     retrieving, and disseminating information used by individuals who
1-20     are not blind or visually impaired.
1-21           SECTION 2.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-22           (b)  The General Services Commission and the Department of
1-23     Information Resources shall develop a technology access clause to
1-24     comply with Section 2157.005, Government Code, as amended by this
 2-1     Act, not later than January 1, 2000.
 2-2           (c)  The change in law made by this Act to Section 2157.005,
 2-3     Government Code, applies only to a contract that is entered into or
 2-4     renewed on or after the date the technology access clause required
 2-5     by Section 2157.005, Government Code, as amended by this Act, is
 2-6     developed.  A contract entered into before that date is governed by
 2-7     the law in effect at the time the contract was entered into, and
 2-8     that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
 2-9           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-10     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-11     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-12     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-13     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.