By Lucio                                               S.B. No. 428
         77R2371 BDH-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the creation of an electronic grants management system.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  (a)  The Department of Information Resources
 1-5     shall conduct a study to determine the costs and benefits of
 1-6     establishing a statewide electronic grants management system
 1-7     designed to:
 1-8                 (1)  increase the awareness of grant availability;
 1-9                 (2)  provide a single location for accessing grant
1-10     information;
1-11                 (3)  provide a searchable database of grant
1-12     opportunities organized by criteria that include grant topic,
1-13     customer group, and amount of grant;
1-14                 (4)  allow electronic submission of grant applications;
1-15                 (5)  simplify grant application and grant management
1-16     processes; and
1-17                 (6)  improve tracking and monitoring of pending and
1-18     awarded grants.
1-19           (b)  The study must identify:
1-20                 (1)  any state agencies that offer grants; and
1-21                 (2)  consumer groups affected by the grants, including
1-22     groups that apply for the grants and groups served by grant funds.
1-23           (c)  The study must consider whether available grant-tracking
1-24     computer software can be used in an electronic grants management
 2-1     system in this state.
 2-2           (d)  The study must consider the possibility of using the
 2-3     following methods to lower the costs of providing an  electronic
 2-4     grants management system:
 2-5                 (1)  public-private partnerships;
 2-6                 (2)  cost-reimbursement options, including convenience
 2-7     fees or subscription fees; and
 2-8                 (3)  any other innovative options, as determined by the
 2-9     Department of Information Resources.
2-10           (e)  The Department of Information Resources may request from
2-11     the Electronic Grants Technical Assistance Workshop information
2-12     related to opportunities for improving grant management through:
2-13                 (1)  improved technology; and
2-14                 (2)  sharing state information resources.
2-15           (f)  Not later than September 1, 2002, the Department of
2-16     Information Resources shall provide to the governor, the lieutenant
2-17     governor, and the legislature a report of the findings of the study
2-18     conducted under this Act.
2-19           (g)  On completion of the study required by this Act, the
2-20     Department of Information Resources shall by rule design and
2-21     implement a  statewide electronic grants management system based on
2-22     the findings of the study.
2-23           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-24     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-25     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-26     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-27     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.