SRC-SEW S.B. 1340 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1340 77R4531 MXM-DBy: Ellis, Rodney State Affairs 3/28/2001 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, in smaller state agencies, information technology purchasing, training, and maintenance is haphazard and inconsistent because those agencies lack the resources for full-time information technology management. One approach to solving this problem is called "seat management"-- an arrangement in which an agency contracts with a private vendor for complete responsibility for personal computer resources. Seat management contracts address the a la carte purchasing of computer goods and services by those agencies. Seat management provides one-stop shopping for desktop, networking, and other information technology services, often at lower cost than the total price of the same components acquired separately. As proposed, S.B. 1340 creates a seat management division in the Department of Information Resources to study information technology procurement in smaller agencies and to recommend whether to establish a statewide program to coordinate information technology purchasing among smaller state agencies. This bill also requires the recommendations to be presented to the legislature by November 1, 2002. 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. SEAT MANAGEMENT DIVISION Sec. 2054.251. DEFINITIONS. Defines "division" and "seat management." Sec. 2054.252. CREATION. Requires the Department of Information Resources (department) to create a seat management division (division) for certain purposes. Sec. 2054.253. TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP STUDIES. Requires the department to select 10 to 12 state agencies to participate in a pilot study and requires each agency to study the total cost of all personal computers and related systems used by the agency, including both owned and leased systems. Sets forth guidelines for information to be included in the study. Requires the department, including the division, on request to assist an agency in complying with this section. Requires each agency to report on the results of its study to the department, including the division. Sec. 2054.254. STUDY AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON USE OF PRIVATE CONTRACTORS TO IMPLEMENT SEAT MANAGEMENT. (a) Requires the division to analyze the results of the studies under Section 2054.253 for certain purposes. Requires the division, as part of this feasibility study, to analyze seat management, through which a state agency transfers its personal computer equipment and services responsibilities to a private vendor as described by this subsection. Sets forth guidelines concerning hiring a single private vendor. Requires the division to study different types of contracts that could be used to implement seat management. Requires the division, not later than November 1, 2002, to report its recommendations to certain parties. Sets forth guidelines concerning the recommendations. Sec. 2054.255. PERSONAL COMPUTER INVENTORY REPORTING BY STATE AGENCIES. Requires each state agency, not later than September 1, 2002, and September 1, 2003, to provide the division with an inventory of all personal computers used by that agency as of June 1, 2002, and June 1, 2003, respectively. Sec. 2054.256. EXPIRATION. Provides that this subchapter expires September 2, 2003. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.