By: Delisi H.B. No. 921
 
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 921:
 
  By:  Smith of Harris C.S.H.B. No. 921
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the sharing of information among state agencies.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Section 2054.096(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
       (a)  Each agency strategic plan must be consistent with the
state strategic plan and include:
             (1)  a statement of the state agency's goals,
objectives, and programs as found in the agency's legislative
appropriations request;
             (2)  a description of the agency's major data bases and
their applications;
             (3)  a description of the agency's information
resources management organizations, policies, and practices;
             (4)  a description of interagency computer networks in
which the agency participates;
             (5)  a statement of the strategic objectives of the
agency relating to information resources management for the next
five fiscal years, beginning with the fiscal year during which the
plan is submitted, with a description of how those objectives help
achieve the agency's programs and goals, and a description of how
those objectives support and promote the goals and policies of the
state strategic plan;
             (6)  a description of any information resources
technology projects proposed by the agency, including:
                   (A)  a statement of how the projects relate to
similar projects, as identified by the department, implemented or
proposed by other agencies;
                   (B)  a description of any proposed plans for
coordinating the projects with other agencies;
                   (C)  a statement of how projects proposed or
described under this subsection will provide a return on investment
according to guidelines developed by the department; and
                   (D)  a detailed description of the past
performance of projects implemented under this subsection;
             (7)  the status of the agency's quality assurance
initiatives for:
                   (A)  security; and
                   (B)  major information resources projects;
             (8)  a description of measures taken by the agency to
comply with department rules and standards;
             (9)  a statement of how the agency has implemented any
applicable data sharing standards developed under Subchapter B,
Chapter 113, Health and Safety Code; and
             (10) [(9)]  other planning components that the
department may prescribe.
       SECTION 2.  Chapter 113, Health and Safety Code, as added by
Chapter 1016, Acts of the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005,
is amended by designating Sections 113.001 through 113.014 as
Subchapter A and adding a heading for Subchapter A to read as
follows:
SUBCHAPTER A. TEXAS HEALTH CARE POLICY COUNCIL
       SECTION 3.  Chapter 113, Health and Safety Code, as added by
Chapter 1016, Acts of the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005,
is amended by adding Subchapter B to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER B. INTERAGENCY INFORMATION SHARING PILOT PROGRAM
       Sec.  113.051. DEFINITION. In this subchapter,
"participating agency" means a state agency that provides social
services, mental health services, substance abuse services, or
health services.
       Sec. 113.052.  DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATION SHARING
STANDARDS; PUBLICATION. (a) The council, in consultation with the
Department of Information Resources, shall develop standards for
sharing information electronically among participating agencies.
       (b)  The data sharing standards developed by the council
under this section must:
             (1)  require a participating agency to comply with any
federal or state law relating to confidentiality of the information
maintained or received by the agency;
             (2)  ensure the protection of personally identifiable
information from inappropriate release; and
             (3)  include strategies for sharing information and
procedures for transferring information.
       (c)  The Department of Information Resources shall publish
the standards for data sharing on the department's Internet website
and shall notify the presiding officer of each house of the
legislature of the publication of the data sharing standards.
       (d)  The presiding officer of the council may appoint work
groups consisting of council members and representatives of
participating agencies for any purpose consistent with the duties
of the council under this subchapter.
       (e)  The council shall identify other state agencies with
relevant expertise and related projects, and may appoint
representatives of those agencies to work groups as appropriate.
       Sec. 113.053.  SHARING INFORMATION AMONG PARTICIPATING
AGENCIES. In developing, procuring, and maintaining electronic and
information resource systems, a participating agency shall conform
to common client information interchange standards developed by the
council whenever possible and practicable to allow for the sharing
of information among participating agencies to identify and
coordinate the provision of necessary services to individuals in
the state.
       Sec. 113.054.  EVALUATION OF INTERAGENCY INFORMATION
SHARING.  The council, in consultation with the Department of
Information Resources, shall:
             (1)  analyze and compare how participating agencies
with common clients manage and exchange information relating to
those clients;
             (2)  identify and rank in order of priority
opportunities to improve an individual's interaction with multiple
participating agencies; and
             (3)  emphasize the development of standards that
facilitate data sharing without requiring a participating agency to
make significant custom modifications to the agency's information
system or to incur significant expense.
       Sec. 113.055.  EXPIRATION.  This subchapter expires
September 1, 2013.
       SECTION 4.  The Texas Health Care Policy Council shall
publish the standards required by Section 113.052, Health and
Safety Code, as added by this Act, not later than September 1, 2008.
       SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2007.