By Maxey                                               H.B. No. 292
         77R1175 JRD-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to directing the telecommunications infrastructure fund
 1-3     board to provide for the development and availability of
 1-4     information technologies and telecommunications services necessary
 1-5     for the provision of telemedicine services to rural areas.
 1-6           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-7           SECTION 1. Section 57.0455, Utilities Code, is amended to
 1-8     read as follows:
 1-9           Sec. 57.0455.  MASTER PLAN FOR INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT.
1-10     (a)  The board shall adopt a master plan for infrastructure
1-11     development.  The plan must:
1-12                 (1)  cover a five-year period;
1-13                 (2)  be updated annually; and
1-14                 (3)  describe the project, timeline, and resource
1-15     allocation targets for each year included in the plan.
1-16           (b)  The plan must provide for developing and ensuring the
1-17     availability of information technologies and telecommunications
1-18     services necessary for the provision of telemedicine services to
1-19     rural areas of the state.
1-20           (c)  The board shall publish each proposed amendment to the
1-21     plan and each proposed annual update in the Texas Register in
1-22     accordance with Subchapter B, Chapter 2002, Government Code.
1-23           SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.