SRC-BWC S.B. 1146 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1146 77R946 JJT-DBy: Shapleigh State Affairs 3/30/2001 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE In recent years, the Internet has permeated the public and private sector as more organizations recognize its potential for supplying easy access to information and services. One-stop Internet sites, or portals are useful gateways to information and services from multiple agencies or other sources. Texas introduced its TexasOnline portal in July 2000. The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, along with 16 other agencies which protect the environment and manage natural resources, offers significant amounts of information on the Internet. However, citizens and businesses still find it difficult to determine which agency is responsible for specific functions, issues, or information. As proposed, S.B. 1146 requires all state agencies that have jurisdiction over matters related to environmental protection, quality, development, conservation, or preservation to develop, in cooperation with each other, a single information link through the TexasOnline portal. 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. 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. 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.