By Shapleigh S.B. No. 974 76R7191 JRD-F A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the creation of a task force and demonstration project 1-3 regarding the provision of certain state agency and local 1-4 government services to the general public and to regulated entities 1-5 through the Internet. 1-6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-7 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 2054, Government Code, is 1-8 amended by adding Section 2054.062 to read as follows: 1-9 Sec. 2054.062. ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN STATE OR 1-10 LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC; TASK FORCE AND 1-11 DEMONSTRATION PROJECT. (a) The department shall establish a task 1-12 force to assess the current and future feasibility of establishing 1-13 a common electronic system using the Internet through which state 1-14 agencies and local governments can electronically: 1-15 (1) send documents to members of the public and 1-16 persons who are regulated by a state agency or local government; 1-17 (2) receive applications for licenses and permits and 1-18 receive documents for filing from members of the public and persons 1-19 who are regulated by a state agency or local government that, when 1-20 a signature is necessary, can be electronically signed by the 1-21 member of the public or regulated person; and 1-22 (3) receive required payments from members of the 1-23 public and persons who are regulated by a state agency or local 1-24 government. 2-1 (b) The department and the task force shall implement a 2-2 demonstration project showing the extent to which transactions 2-3 described by Subsection (a) can currently be accomplished. 2-4 (c) The task force is composed of: 2-5 (1) a representative of each of the following state 2-6 officers or agencies: 2-7 (A) the secretary of state; 2-8 (B) the comptroller; 2-9 (C) the Texas Department of Economic 2-10 Development; 2-11 (D) the General Services Commission; 2-12 (E) the Texas Natural Resource Conservation 2-13 Commission; 2-14 (F) the Texas Department of Insurance; 2-15 (G) the Public Utility Commission of Texas; and 2-16 (H) the department; 2-17 (2) representatives of local governments appointed by 2-18 the department in the number determined by the department; and 2-19 (3) three representatives of businesses that are 2-20 regulated by a state agency or local government, appointed by the 2-21 department. 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 2-27 oversight jurisdiction over the department not later than November 3-1 1, 2000. 3-2 (f) The task force is abolished and this section expires 3-3 September 1, 2001. 3-4 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 3-5 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 3-6 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-7 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-8 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-9 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.