BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                        C.S.H.B. 66

                                                                                                                                     By: Leibowitz

                                                                                                                           Government Reform

                                                                                                        Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Commercially available software exists that can reduce power usage of a personal computer and reportedly can save an average of $20 per PC per year.  The state has the potential to save on its energy bill through the use of such power management software.  The state currently maintains approximately 109,000 networked personal computers at state agencies and approximately another 193,000 exist at state universities.

 

This bill would require the Department of Information Resources (department) to select a power management software program for state computer networks and personal computers.  The department would determine if the power management software would benefit a state agency and if so, purchase or lease the power management software for the agency's networked personal computers.

 

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 amends the Government Code to require the Department of Information Resources (department) to research and select power management software to be used, if technically feasible, by state agencies in order to reduce the amount energy required to operate their computer networks and personal computers.  Each state agency that would benefit, as determined by the department, by providing cost savings in the fiscal biennium ending August 31, 2009, is required to purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire and use the software. 

 

Institutions of higher education must also comply if the department, in consultation with the Information Technology Council for Higher Education, determines that it would provide cost savings.  To make this determination, the department must perform the analysis described by Section  2054.121(c) of the Government Code.  The analysis must also consider the security of electronic data, including data protected from public disclosure by state or federal law.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2007.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

 

This substitute differs from the original by adding that the Department of Information Resources will consult with the Information Technology Council for Higher Education to determine the software's benefits for the state institutions of higher education, rather than each individual institution.  The substitute also requires the use of energy saving software by a state agency; whereas the original only requires the state agency to purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire the energy saving software.