SRC-JBJ H.B. 1476 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1476
77R5946 JJT-DBy: Chisum (Shapleigh)
State Affairs
5/8/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The 76th Legislature authorized the Electronic Government Task Force to
create the TexasOnline Internet portal (Internet portal) to provide a
single point of access to electronic government services in Texas for
citizens and businesses.  Currently, the portal has information links to
business, education, and health sites, but no single, organized information
resource on issues related to environmental protection and quality or to
the development, conservation, or preservation of natural resources.  H.B.
1476 requires state agencies with jurisdiction over environmental and
natural resource matters, in mutual cooperation with the Department of
Information Resources, to develop a single information link, through the
Internet portal, to provide access to information on certain natural
resource and environmental issues. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 2054F, Government Code, by adding Section
2054.127, as follows: 

Sec. 2054.127.  ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCIES INTERNET
PORTAL.  (a)  Requires state agencies that have jurisdiction over matters
related to environmental protection or quality or to the development,
conservation, or preservation of natural resources, to develop, in mutual
cooperation with the Department of Information Resources (department), a
single information link, through the TexasOnline portal, to provide
electronic access to information and services related to the agencies'
authority and duties, including access to agency rules and other public
information. 

(b)  Requires the department to coordinate the efforts of the agencies in
developing the information link to ensure that the efforts produce a link
that is compatible with efforts of the task force conducted under Section
2054.062.  Authorizes the department, if the department has a program
management office, to delegate the coordination of efforts under this
section to that office. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.