81R1243 MCK-D

By: Hinojosa S.B. No. 266

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to an open document format for electronic state documents and the sharing of information electronically among state agencies.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 2054.091, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:

(e) The state strategic plan for information resources management must make obtaining information resources technology that complies with open standards and open formats requirements a goal of the state.

SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 2054, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 2054.133 to read as follows:

Sec. 2054.133. OPEN DOCUMENT FORMAT. (a) The department, in consultation with the Client Information Interchange Standards Committee, shall:

(1) define open standards and open formats that meet the needs of the state and share the definitions with the Client Information Interchange Standards Committee not later than September 1, 2010;

(2) issue a policy statement that identifies open standards and open formats technology features specifically desired by the state; and

(3) publish and make use of planning processes and procurement processes for information resources technologies and commodity items, as defined by Section 2157.068, that emphasize open standards and open formats technology and share the information with the public, state agencies, and the Client Information Interchange Standards Committee not later than September 1, 2010.

(b) This section expires September 1, 2011.

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, 2015.

SECTION 4. Section 2157.068, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsection (j) to read as follows:

(j) In contracting for commodity items under this section, the department shall give a preference to commodity items that comply with open standards and open formats requirements.

SECTION 5. Section 2157.125, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:

(e) In evaluating proposals for the purchase of an automated information system, the department shall give a preference to a system that complies with open standards and open formats requirements.

SECTION 6. 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, 2010.

SECTION 7. 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, 2009.