BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 279

By: Watson

Technology

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, state agencies are required to post high-value data sets on a generally accessible agency website.

SB 279 furthers online transparency by requiring 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 and requires DIR to post the description and link on the state electronic Internet portal.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

SB 279 amends the Government Code to require 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. It requires DIR to post the description and link on the state electronic Internet portal.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.