Honorable Glenn Lewis, Chair, House Committee on County Affairs
FROM:
John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB526 by Smith, Todd (Relating to reports on the vulnerability of local government computer systems and electronic data to harm or unauthorized access.), As Introduced
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend Chapter 205, Local Government Code, to allow a local government records management officer to prepare or have prepared a report assessing the extent to which a computer, computer program, computer network, computer system, computer software, or data processing of the local government or a contractor of the local government is vulnerable to harm, unauthorized access, alteration, damage, or erasure. The report would not be subject to public disclosure, although the records management officer would be required to also prepare a summary of the report for release to the public. No information which might compromise the security of systems reported on may be included in the summary. The full report may be submitted to specified governing bodies. The bill would take effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of the members of both houses; otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2003.
Local Government Impact
Counties that would choose to prepare a vulnerability report would incur costs related to creating the report and summary and any possible distribution costs. The costs would vary depending on the extensiveness of the computer and related systems and programs and the number of copies of the report and summary reproduced and distributed. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission contacted several local government officials. Cost estimates ranged from $1,000 for the City of College Station (population 67,890) to $40,000 for Travis County (population 812,280).
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller Of Public Accounts, 306 Library & Archives Commission, 313 Department Of Information Resources