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.