BILL ANALYSIS
Defense Affairs & State-Federal Relations
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The Critical Infrastructure Protection Council (the Council) was created by the 78th Texas Legislature to serve as the operational advisory group for homeland security at the state level. The Council is composed of the Governor (or the governor’s designee) and representatives of 13 state agencies.
Although called upon on numerous occasions to provide assistance to the Council, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) is not designated in statute as a member of the Council. The TWDB’s Strategic Mapping program continuously maintains four layers of data – digital aerial photos, transportation, political boundaries, and surface water – as well as three static layers (digital elevation models, elevation contours (hypsography), and soil surveys).
HB 907 would add the Texas Water Development Board to the Critical Infrastructure Protection Council.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
This bill updates the name of the Department of State Health Services and adds the Texas Water Development Board to the Critical Infrastructure Protection Council.
EFFECTIVE DATE
This act shall take effect immediately if it receives the necessary vote, otherwise it will take effect on September 1, 2005.