SRC-VRA C.S.S.B. 1403 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1403
78R13539 MXM-DBy: Lucio
Government Organization
5/1/2003
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The program management office within the Department of Information
Resources issued a report relating to the costs and benefits of
establishing an electronic grants management system for a state grant
program.  Due to limited technical information, the agency was unable to
issue a report that provided a detailed technical perspective on the costs
and benefits associated with implementing an integrated electronic grants
management system.  C.S.S.B. 1403 directs the Texas State Library and
Archives Commission and the Department of Information Resources to
establish an electronically searchable central database for all grants
awarded by state agencies. 

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 Subchapter A, Chapter 441, Government Code, by adding
Section 441.010, as follows: 
 
Sec. 441.010.  ELECTRONICALLY SEARCHABLE CENTRAL GRANT DATABASE. (a)
Defines "department" and "grant." 
 
(b)  Requires the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC), in
cooperation with the Department of Information Resources (DIR), to
establish an electronically searchable central database accessible through
TSLAC's on-line access system that will allow a person to access certain
information. 
 
(c)  Requires DIR to provide a link on TexasOnline to the database
established under Subsection (b).  Provides that in this subsection,
"TexasOnline" has the meaning assigned by Section 2054.003. 

(d)  Requires each state agency that will award a grant to report to
TSLAC, concurrently with any other action the agency takes to inform the
public or any person about the grant opportunity, information related to
the grant that TSLAC requires in a form prescribed by TSLAC so that TSLAC
may include information about the grant in the electronically searchable
central database established under Subsection (b). 
 
(e)  Requires the governor to appoint an advisory committee composed of
nine representatives from the Electronic Grants Technical Assistance
Workgroup to perform certain tasks. 

(f)  Requires the advisory committee appointed under Subsection (e) to
meet in Austin.  Provides that a state agency that is represented on the
committee by a person who is not based in the Austin area is responsible
for any travel expenses incurred by its representative. 
 
(g)  Requires TSLAC to appoint an advisory committee composed of five
public  members to annually evaluate the operation of the electronically
searchable central database.  

(h)  Provides that Chapter 2110 does not apply to an advisory committee
formed under this section. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.