AN ACT 1-1 relating to the creation of a task force and demonstration project 1-2 regarding the provision of certain state agency and local 1-3 government services to the general public and to regulated entities 1-4 through the Internet. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 2054, Government Code, is 1-7 amended by adding Section 2054.062 to read as follows: 1-8 Sec. 2054.062. ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN STATE OR 1-9 LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC; TASK FORCE AND 1-10 DEMONSTRATION PROJECT. (a) The department shall establish a task 1-11 force to assess the current and future feasibility of establishing 1-12 a common electronic system using the Internet through which state 1-13 agencies and local governments can electronically: 1-14 (1) send documents to members of the public and 1-15 persons who are regulated by a state agency or local government; 1-16 (2) receive applications for licenses and permits and 1-17 receive documents for filing from members of the public and persons 1-18 who are regulated by a state agency or local government that, when 1-19 a signature is necessary, can be electronically signed by the 1-20 member of the public or regulated person; and 1-21 (3) receive required payments from members of the 1-22 public and persons who are regulated by a state agency or local 1-23 government. 1-24 (b) The department and the task force shall implement a 2-1 demonstration project showing the extent to which transactions 2-2 described by Subsection (a) can currently be accomplished. 2-3 (c) The task force is composed of: 2-4 (1) a representative of each of the following state 2-5 officers or agencies: 2-6 (A) the secretary of state; 2-7 (B) the comptroller; 2-8 (C) the Texas Department of Economic 2-9 Development; 2-10 (D) the General Services Commission; 2-11 (E) the Texas Natural Resource Conservation 2-12 Commission; 2-13 (F) the Texas Department of Insurance; 2-14 (G) the Public Utility Commission of Texas; and 2-15 (H) the department; 2-16 (2) representatives of local governments appointed by 2-17 the governor in the number determined by the governor; 2-18 (3) three representatives of businesses that are 2-19 regulated by a state agency or local government, appointed by the 2-20 governor; and 2-21 (4) three public members appointed by the governor. 2-22 (d) Chapter 2110 does not apply to the task force. 2-23 (e) The department shall report the findings of the task 2-24 force and the results of the demonstration project to the presiding 2-25 officer of each house of the legislature and to the chairs of the 2-26 committees of each house of the legislature that have primary 3-1 oversight jurisdiction over the department not later than November 3-2 1, 2000. 3-3 (f) The task force is abolished and this section expires 3-4 September 1, 2001. 3-5 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 3-6 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 3-7 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-8 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-9 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-10 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. _______________________________ _______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I hereby certify that S.B. No. 974 passed the Senate on April 22, 1999, by a viva-voce vote. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate I hereby certify that S.B. No. 974 passed the House on May 22, 1999, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Approved: _______________________________ Date _______________________________ Governor