By: Geren H.B. No. 1705
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the Department of Information Resources, including the
  abolition of the telecommunications planning and oversight
  council, the electronic commerce network, and the electronic
  procurement marketplace and standards for certain school district
  software.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
  ARTICLE 1. PROVISIONS RELATING TO ABOLITION OF THE
  TELECOMMUNICATIONS PLANNING AND OVERSIGHT COUNCIL
         SECTION 1.01.  Section 2054.091(d), Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (d)  The executive director shall appoint an advisory
  committee to assist in the preparation of the state strategic plan.
  The members of the advisory committee appointed by the executive
  director must be approved by the board and must include officers or
  employees of state government. [The telecommunications planning
  and oversight council shall appoint one of its members to serve as a
  member of the advisory committee.]
         SECTION 1.02.  The heading to Subchapter H, Chapter 2054,
  Government Code, is amended to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER H. TELECOMMUNICATIONS PLANNING [AND OVERSIGHT COUNCIL]
         SECTION 1.03.  Sections 2054.203(a), (c), and (d),
  Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The department shall comprehensively collect and manage
  telecommunications network configuration information about
  existing and planned telecommunications networks throughout state
  government.  [The department shall provide the information
  collected under this section to the telecommunications planning and
  oversight council in a manner consistent with state and federal
  security restrictions.]
         (c)  The [telecommunications planning and oversight council
  in consultation with the] department shall establish plans and
  policies for a system of telecommunications services.
         (d)  The [telecommunications planning and oversight council
  in consultation with the] department shall develop a statewide
  telecommunications operating plan for all state agencies.  The plan
  shall implement a statewide network and include technical
  specifications [that are binding on the department].
         SECTION 1.04.  Section 2054.204, Government Code, is
  transferred to Subchapter E, Chapter 2054, Government Code,
  renumbered as Section 2054.0925, Government Code, and amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 2054.0925 [2054.204].  TELECOMMUNICATIONS IN STATE
  STRATEGIC PLAN. (a)  The [department shall consult with the
  telecommunications planning and oversight council regarding
  telecommunications elements of the] plan under Section 2054.092[.  
  The plan] must address matters relating to a state
  telecommunications network that will effectively and efficiently
  meet the long-term requirements of state government for voice,
  video, and computer communications, with the goal of achieving a
  single centralized telecommunications network for state
  government.
         (b)  The telecommunications elements of the plan under
  Section 2054.092 must recognize that all state agencies, including
  institutions of higher education, are a single entity for purposes
  of purchasing and the determination of tariffs.
         (c)  The telecommunications elements of the plan under
  Section 2054.092 must incorporate efficiencies obtained through
  the use of shared transmission services and open systems
  architecture as they become available, building on existing systems
  as appropriate.  [In developing the plan under Section 2054.092,
  the telecommunications planning and oversight council and the
  department shall make use of the technical expertise of state
  agencies, including institutions of higher education.]
         SECTION 1.05.  Section 2054.205, Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 2054.205.  DEVELOPMENT OF SYSTEM.  (a)  The
  [telecommunications planning and oversight council in consultation
  with the] department shall develop functional requirements for a
  statewide system of telecommunications services for all state
  agencies.  Existing networks, as configured on September 1, 1991,
  of institutions of higher education are exempt from the
  requirements.
         (b)  The department [in consultation with the
  telecommunications planning and oversight council] shall develop
  requests for information and proposals for a statewide system of
  telecommunications services for all state agencies.
         SECTION 1.06.  Section 2054.2051, Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 2054.2051.  OVERSIGHT OF SYSTEMS. (a)  The
  [telecommunications planning and oversight council in consultation
  with the] department shall develop service objectives for the
  consolidated telecommunications system and the centralized capitol
  complex telephone system.
         (b)  The [telecommunications planning and oversight council
  in consultation with the] department shall develop performance
  measures to establish cost-effective operations and staffing of the
  consolidated telecommunications system and the centralized capitol
  complex telephone system.
         (c)  The department [telecommunications planning and
  oversight council] shall review the status of all projects related
  to and the financial performance of the consolidated
  telecommunications system and the centralized capitol complex
  telephone system, including:
               (1)  a comparison between actual performance and
  projected goals at least once every three months; and
               (2)  any benefit of contracting with private vendors to
  provide some or all of the systems at least once each year.
         [(d)     The telecommunications planning and oversight council
  shall make recommendations to the board on ways to improve the
  operation of the consolidated telecommunications system and the
  centralized capitol complex telephone system based on its review of
  their performance and on concerns raised by using entities.]
         SECTION 1.07.  Section 2054.207, Government Code, is
  transferred to Section 2054.055, Government Code, redesignated as
  Subsection (b-1), and amended to read as follows:
         (b-1) [Sec.   2054.207.     REPORT TO LEGISLATURE.   The
  department shall consult with the telecommunications planning and
  oversight council regarding information that must be included in
  the performance report under Section 2054.055.]  The report under
  this section shall address consolidated telecommunications system
  performance, centralized capitol complex telephone system
  performance, telecommunications system needs, and recommended
  statutory changes to enhance system capability and
  cost-effectiveness.  In this subsection, "centralized capitol
  complex telephone system" and "consolidated telecommunications
  system" have the  meanings assigned by Section 2054.2011.
         SECTION 1.08.  (a)  On the effective date of this Act, the
  telecommunications planning and oversight council is abolished.
         (b)  A rule, form, plan, policy, or order of the
  telecommunications planning and oversight council is continued in
  effect as a rule, form, plan, policy, or order of the Department of
  Information Resources until superseded by a rule or other
  appropriate action of the Department of Information Resources.
         SECTION 1.09.  (a)  The following provisions of the
  Government Code are repealed:
               (1)  Section 2054.201;
               (2)  Section 2054.202;
               (3)  Section 2054.2025; and
               (4)  Section 2170.060.
         (b)  In accordance with Section 311.031, Government Code,
  Section 2054.2025, Government Code, is continued in effect for the
  limited purpose of applying in relation to an act performed before
  the effective date of this Act.
  ARTICLE 2. PROVISIONS RELATING TO OTHER PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY
  THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES
         SECTION 2.01.  Section 2054.003(12), Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
               (12)  "Project" means an initiative that:
                     (A)  provides [a program to provide] information
  resources technologies and creates products, services, or results
  [support to functions] within or among elements of a state agency;
  and
                     (B)  [, that ideally] is characterized by
  well-defined parameters, specific objectives, common benefits,
  planned activities, a scheduled completion date, and an established
  budget with a specified source of funding.
         SECTION 2.02.  Section 2054.095(b), Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  Except as otherwise modified by the Legislative Budget
  Board or the governor, instructions under Subsection (a) must
  require each state agency's strategic plan to include:
               (1)  a description of the agency's information
  resources management organizations, policies, and practices,
  including the extent to which the agency uses its project
  management practices, as defined by Section 2054.152 [internal
  quality assurance procedures];
               (2)  a description of how the agency's information
  resources programs support and promote its mission, goals, and
  objectives and the goals and policies of the state strategic plan
  for information resources; and
               (3)  other planning components that the department may
  prescribe.
         SECTION 2.03.  Sections 2054.1015(b) and (c), Government
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The department may require a state agency to provide to
  the department a planned procurement schedule for commodity items
  if the department determines that the information in the schedule
  can be used to provide a benefit to the state.  If required by the
  department, a [A] state agency must provide a planned procurement
  schedule for commodity items to the department before the agency's
  operating plan may be approved under Section 2054.102.
         (c)  The department shall use information contained in the
  schedules to plan future vendor solicitations of commodity items or
  for any other activity that provides a benefit to the state.
         SECTION 2.04.  Section 2054.152, Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 2054.152.  DEFINITION.  In this subchapter, "project
  management practices" includes the documented and repeatable
  activities through which [methods that] a state agency applies 
  [uses to apply] knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to satisfy
  project activity requirements.
         SECTION 2.05.  Section 2170.004, Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 2170.004.  CONTRACTS WITH ENTITIES OTHER THAN STATE
  AGENCIES. The department may contract for use of the consolidated
  telecommunications system with:
               (1)  each house of the legislature;
               (2)  a legislative agency;
               (3)  an agency that is not a state agency as defined by
  Section 2151.002;
               (4)  a political subdivision, including a county,
  municipality, or district; [and]
               (5)  a private institution of higher education
  accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, as defined by
  Section 61.003, Education Code, that:
                     (A)  engages in distance learning, as defined by
  Section 57.021, Utilities Code; and
                     (B)  receives federal funds for distance learning
  initiatives; and
               (6)  an assistance organization, as defined by Section
  2175.001.
         SECTION 2.06.  Subchapter I, Chapter 39, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 39.205 to read as follows:
         Sec. 39.205.  SOFTWARE STANDARDS. (a) The Department of
  Information Resources, in cooperation with the commissioner, shall
  adopt performance and interoperability standards for software used
  by school districts for financial accounting or attendance
  reporting.
         (b)  Standards adopted under this section must ensure that
  the software will enable a school district to share and report
  information in a timely manner for purposes of financial
  management, operational decision-making, and transparency of
  district operations to the public.
         (c)  The Department of Information Resources:
               (1)  shall include compliance with standards adopted
  under this section as a requirement in any solicitation for
  software anticipated to be used for a purpose described by
  Subsection (a);
               (2)  shall require a vendor awarded a contract in
  response to a solicitation described by Subdivision (1) to certify
  that the software complies with the standards adopted under this
  section; and
               (3)  may negotiate state contract pricing for software
  that complies with the standards adopted under this section.
         SECTION 2.07.  The following provisions of the Government
  Code are repealed:
               (1)  Section 2054.051(d);
               (2)  Section 2054.0551;
               (3)  Section 2054.123;
               (4)  Section 2171.0521; and
               (5)  Chapter 2177.
  ARTICLE 3. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS
         SECTION 3.01.  Section 2151.0041(c), Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (c)  Unless otherwise provided by the legislature by law, on
  September 1, 2011:
               (1)  the powers and duties transferred to the
  comptroller under Section 2151.004(d) and under House Bill 3560,
  Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, are
  transferred to the Texas Facilities Commission;
               (2)  a reference in law to the comptroller relating to a
  power or duty transferred under this subsection means the Texas
  Facilities Commission;
               (3)  a rule or form adopted by the comptroller relating
  to a power or duty transferred under this subsection is a rule or
  form of the Texas Facilities Commission and remains in effect until
  altered by the commission;
               (4)  all obligations, contracts, proceedings, cases,
  negotiations, funds, and employees of the comptroller relating to a
  power or duty transferred under this subsection are transferred to
  the Texas Facilities Commission;
               (5)  all property and records in the custody of the
  comptroller relating to a power or duty transferred under this
  subsection and all funds appropriated by the legislature for
  purposes related to a power or duty transferred under this
  subsection are transferred to the Texas Facilities Commission; and
               (6)  Section 122.0011, Human Resources Code, and the
  following provisions of the Government Code expire:
                     (A)  Sections 2151.004(c) and (d);
                     (B)  Section 2155.0011;
                     (C)  Section 2155.086;
                     (D)  Section 2155.087;
                     (E)  Section 2156.0011;
                     (F)  Section 2157.0011;
                     (G)  Section 2158.0011;
                     (H)  Section 2161.0011;
                     (I)  Section 2163.0011;
                     (J)  Section 2170.0011;
                     (K)  Section 2171.0011;
                     (L)  Section 2172.0011;
                     (M)  Section 2176.0011; and
                     (N)  [Section 2177.0011; and
                     [(O)]  Section 2262.0011.
         SECTION 3.02.  Section 2155.264, Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 2155.264.  AGENCY SOLICITATION OF BIDS OR PROPOSALS FOR
  ACQUISITION OVER $15,000.  A state agency that proposes to make a
  purchase or other acquisition that will cost more than $15,000
  shall solicit bids or proposals from each eligible vendor on the
  master bidders list that serves the agency's geographic region. A
  state agency may also solicit bids or proposals through the use of
  on-line electronic transmission [or the electronic commerce
  network].
         SECTION 3.03.  Section 2156.003, Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 2156.003.  SOLICITATION OF BIDS THROUGH BIDDERS LIST;
  BID INVITATIONS.  (a)  The comptroller [commission] shall
  electronically maintain a bidders list [that is integrated into the
  electronic procurement marketplace established by the Department
  of Information Resources]. If the comptroller [commission]
  determines that it is in the state's best interest, the comptroller
  [commission] may also maintain the list on paper. The comptroller
  [commission] may add or delete names from the list according to
  applicable standards provided by Section 2156.007.
         (b)  An [In addition to any requirements of Chapter 2177, an]
  invitation to bid on an item to be purchased may be sent
  electronically to a vendor on the bidders list who has expressed a
  desire to bid on that type of item.
         (c)  The comptroller [commission] may use the bidders list in
  making a purchase by any purchase method.
         SECTION 3.04.  Section 2156.005, Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 2156.005.  BID SUBMISSION AND OPENING; PUBLIC
  INSPECTION.  (a)  A bidder must submit a sealed bid to the
  comptroller [commission] or to the state agency making a purchase.
  The bid must be identified on the envelope as a bid.
         (b)  Subsection (a) does not apply to bids submitted through
  the use of facsimile transmission or[,] on-line electronic
  transmission[, or the electronic commerce network]. The
  comptroller [commission] may adopt rules to ensure the
  identification, security, and confidentiality of bids submitted
  through the use of facsimile transmission or[,] on-line electronic
  transmission[, or the electronic commerce network].
         (c)  The comptroller [commission] or other state agency
  making a purchase shall open bids at the time and place stated in
  the invitation to bid.
         (d)  The comptroller [commission] shall keep a tabulation of
  all bids received by the comptroller [commission] available for
  public inspection under rules adopted by the comptroller
  [commission]. State agencies making purchases shall adopt the
  comptroller's [commission's] rules related to bid opening and
  tabulation.
         SECTION 3.05.  Section 2156.063, Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 2156.063.  SOLICITATION OF BIDS.  The comptroller
  [commission] and each state agency making a purchase shall solicit
  bids under this subchapter by:
               (1)  direct mail;
               (2)  telephone;
               (3)  telegraph;
               (4)  facsimile transmission; or
               (5)  on-line electronic transmission[; or
               [(6)  posting on the electronic commerce network].
         SECTION 3.06.  Section 81.057, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 81.057.  EXEMPTION FROM CERTAIN PURCHASING RULES. The
  commission is not required to follow any purchasing procedures
  prescribed by or under Subchapter E, Chapter 2155, Government Code,
  [the following laws] when the commission makes a purchase in
  connection with the remediation of surface locations or well
  plugging[:
               [(1)  Subchapter E, Chapter 2155, Government Code; and
               [(2)     Subchapters B and C, Chapter 2177, Government
  Code].
         SECTION 3.07.  The following provisions are repealed:
               (1)  Section 2155.508(c), Government Code; and
               (2)  Section 271.083(c), Local Government Code.
  ARTICLE 4.  EFFECTIVE DATE
         SECTION 4.01.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.