80R2174 MCK-D

By: Delisi 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 the data sharing standards developed under Subchapter N; and

(10) [(9)] other planning components that the department may prescribe.

SECTION 2. Section 2054.102(c), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c) The department shall provide the Legislative Budget Board with a list of agencies that have not complied with department standards, including data sharing standards developed under Subchapter N, with provisions of the state strategic plan, or with corrective action plans. An agency identified on a list under this subsection shall develop a corrective action plan approved by the department that specifies the manner in which deficiencies will be corrected before components of or amendments to the agency's biennial operating plan may be approved by the Legislative Budget Board.

SECTION 3. Chapter 2054, Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapter N to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER N. INTERAGENCY SHARING OF INFORMATION

Sec. 2054.501. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "committee" means the Client Information Interchange Standards Committee.

Sec. 2054.502. DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATION SHARING STANDARDS; PUBLICATION. (a) The department shall develop standards for sharing information electronically among state agencies.

(b) The data sharing standards developed by the department under this section must:

(1) require a state 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 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) In developing the data sharing standards under this section, the department shall consult with the committee.

Sec. 2054.503. SHARING INFORMATION AMONG STATE AGENCIES. In developing, procuring, and maintaining electronic and information resource systems, a state agency shall conform to common client information interchange standards developed by the department whenever possible to allow for the sharing of information among state agencies to identify and coordinate the provision of necessary services to individuals in the state.

Sec. 2054.504. CLIENT INFORMATION INTERCHANGE STANDARDS COMMITTEE. (a) The Client Information Interchange Standards Committee is composed of:

(1) the governor or the governor's designee;

(2) the comptroller or the comptroller's designee; and

(3) the administrative head of the following agencies or that person's designee:

(A) the Department of Information Resources;

(B) the Health and Human Services Commission;

(C) the Texas Department of Criminal Justice;

(D) the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas;

(E) the Texas Workforce Commission;

(F) the Texas Education Agency; and

(G) any other state agency the committee determines necessary.

(b) The representative of the Department of Information Resources serves as the presiding officer of the committee.

(c) The committee shall meet at least quarterly at the call of the presiding officer.

(d) Service on the committee by a state officer or employee is an additional duty of the member's office or employment. A member of the committee is not entitled to additional compensation for service on the committee but is entitled to reimbursement of travel expenses incurred by the member while conducting the business of the committee, as provided by Chapter 660 and the General Appropriations Act.

(e) The Department of Information Resources shall provide the staff and administrative support necessary for the committee to perform its duties.

(f) The committee shall:

(1) analyze and compare how state 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 state agencies; and

(3) advise the Department of Information Resources on the development of standards that facilitate data sharing without requiring a state agency to make significant custom modifications to the agency's information system or to incur significant expense.

(g) This section, Section 2054.501, and Section 2054.502(d) expire September 1, 2013.

SECTION 4. The Department of Information Resources shall publish the standards required by Section 2054.502, Government 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.