SRC-BWC S.B. 645 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 645 77R5804 SMH-DBy: Shapiro State Affairs 2/20/2001 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, state agencies use of the Internet portal are not facilitated in order to make government more efficient and consumer friendly. As proposed, S.B. 645 requires 22 occupational licensing authorities to offer services online through a central government site. 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 2054, Government Code, by adding Subchapter I, as follows: SUBCHAPTER I. ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FOR OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING TRANSACTIONS Sec. 2054.251. DEFINITIONS. Defines "licensing authority" and "occupational license." Sec. 2054.252. APPLICABILITY. Sets forth a list of licensing authorities that are required to participate in the system established under Section 2054.253. Authorizes additional licensing authorities to participate in the system established under Section 2054.253, subject to the approval of the Department of Information Resources (department). Sec. 2054.253. ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FOR OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING. Requires the department to administer a common electronic system using the Internet through which a licensing authority can electronically perform certain tasks. Authorizes the department to implement this section in phases. Requires each licensing authority that participates in the system established under this section to comply with the schedule established by the department. Authorizes the department to use any Internet portal established under a demonstration project administered by the department. Authorizes the department to contract, which is payable only from fees collected under Subsection (e), with a private vendor to implement this section. Requires the department to charge certain fees in amounts sufficient to cover the cost of implementing this section. Sec. 2054.254. STEERING COMMITTEE. Provides that the steering committee for electronic occupational licensing transactions consists of a representative of each of the following, appointed by its governing body: each licensing authority listed by Section 2054.252(a) and the department. Authorizes that the governing body of a licensing authority described by Section 2054.252(b) to appoint a representative to the committee, who serves at the will of the authority that appointed the member. Provides that the representative of the department is the presiding officer of the committee. Requires the committee to meet as prescribed by committee procedures or at the call of the presiding officer. Requires the committee to advise the department regarding the department's implementation of Section 2054.253. Provides that Chapter 2110 (State Agency Advisory Committees) does not apply to the size, composition, or duration of the committee. Authorizes any reimbursement of the expenses of a member of the committee to be paid only from funds available to the governmental entity the member represents. SECTION 2. Requires each licensing authority listed by Section 2054.252(a), Government Code, as added by this Act and the Department of Information Resources (TDIR) to appoint the members of the steering committee for electronic occupational licensing transactions, not later than January 1, 2002. Requires the TDIR to adopt a schedule for implementing Section 2054.253, Government Code, as added by this Act. Requires the schedule, not later than September 1, 2002, to permit the initial group of licensing authorities to perform the functions described by Section 2054.253(a), Government Code, as added by this Act. Requires the TDIR, not later than January 1, 2003, to report to the presiding officer of each house of the legislature and to the presiding officers of the committees of each house of the legislature that have primary oversight jurisdiction over the department or over a licensing authority listed by Section 2054.252(a), Government Code, as added by this Act, on the department's progress in implementing Section 2054.253, Government Code, as added by this Act. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2001.