AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The state has successfully promoted online transparency at the local and state level.   In 2009, the comptroller of public accounts of the State of Texas began offering incentives for local governments and school districts to post important data online.  Comptroller Susan Combs reported $4.8 million in savings only two years after the launch of this program.  At the state level, S.B. 701, 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, required state agencies to post high-value data sets on a generally accessible, easy-to-find agency website.  This bill passed unanimously in both chambers and was signed by the governor on June 17, 2011. 

 

S.B. 279 furthers the state's work toward online transparency.  The bill amends the Government Code to require state agencies and institutions of higher education to provide the Department of Information Resources (DIR) with a description and link to data that is currently available online.  DIR will post this information in a data inventory on the state's web portal, Texas.gov.

 

S.B. 279 amends current law relating to certain information about high-value data sets provided by state agencies to the Department of Information Resources.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 2054.1265, Government Code, by adding Subsection (f), as follows:

 

(f) Requires a state agency that posts a high-value data set on the Internet website maintained by or for the agency to provide the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) with a brief description of the data set and a link to the data set. Requires DIR to post the description and link on the state electronic Internet portal.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2013.