MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

1:00 p.m.

Betty King Committee, Room, 2E.20

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Government Organization was held on Wednesday, June 18, 2014, in the Betty King Committee Room, 2E.20, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair

 

Senator Charles Schwertner, Vice Chair

Senator Brian Birdwell

 

 

Senator Sylvia Garcia

 

 

Senator Ken Paxton

 

 

Senator José Rodríguez

 

 

Senator Larry Taylor

 

 

 

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Senator Zaffirini called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.

 

The Chair recognized the clerk to call roll.

 

A quorum was established at 1:04 p.m. The following business was transacted:

 

The Chair laid out the proposed committee rules for consideration, and Senator Birdwell moved their adoption. There being no objection, it was so ordered. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

The Chair invited committee members to make opening remarks and to introduce their respective staff members. Accordingly, Senator Birdwell introduced Andrea Johnson; Senator Rodríguez, Luis Figueroa; Senator Paxton, Tom Smith; and Senator Garcia, Isabel Longoria.

 

Senator Zaffirini introduced the Senate Government Organization Committee staff for the
83rd Legislative Interim, namely, Rachel McClure, Committee Director; Krista Kyle, Policy Analyst and Staff Attorney; and Jorge Ramirez, Committee Clerk. She also introduced her Chief of Staff, Sean Griffin.

 

The Chair made opening remarks and explained that the purpose of the hearing was to address interim charges one and three:

 

Interim Charge One: Examine state agencies' mandated reporting practices, the necessity and utility of these reports, and reporting processes to the legislature and to the public. Make recommendations on eliminating unnecessary and duplicative reports, reducing state costs through the use of technology, and improving transparency to the legislature and citizens.

 

Interim Charge Three: Monitor the implementation of SB 1597, relating to the development of state agency information security plans to improve the security of agency information systems and to proactively protect the state against cybercrime and similar security threats.

 

The following invited witnesses testified regarding reporting:

 

Panel 1: Examine state agencies’ mandated reporting practices, the necessity and utility of these reports, and reporting processes to the legislature and to the public.

 

a.       Nanette Pfiester, Program Planning and Research Specialist, State and Local Records Management, Texas State Library and Archives Commission

b.      Patrick Moore, Analyst, Agency Performance Review Team, Legislative Budget Board

 

Panel 2: Examine state agencies’ mandated reporting practices, and make recommendations on improving transparency to the citizens.

 

a.       Talmadge Heflin, Director, Center for Fiscal Policy, Texas Public Policy Foundation

b.      Jorge Renaud, Policy Analyst, Texas Criminal Justice Coalition

c.       Bob Kafka, Organizer, ADAPT

d.      René Lara, Legislative and Political Director, Texas American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations

e.       Kelley Shannon, Executive Director, Freedom of Information Foundation

 

Panel 3: Examine state agencies’ mandated reporting practices and make recommendations on improving transparency to the legislature and citizens.

 

a.       Beth Hallmark, Creative Director and Manager, Comptroller of Public Accounts

b.      John McGeady, Assistant Director, Legislative Budget Board

c.                                                                                                       Susan Brown, Assistant Commissioner, Planning and Accountability, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

 

The following witnesses testified regarding cybersecurity:

 

Panel 4: Monitor the implementation of SB 1597, relating to the development of state agency information security plans to improve the security of agency information systems and to proactively protect the state against cybercrime and similar security threats.

 

a.   Brian Engle, Chief Information Security Officer, Department of Information Resources

b.   Mary Dickerson, Member, Texas Cybersecurity, Education and Economic Development Council

c    Ann Delenela, Director of Security, Electric Reliability Council of Texas

d.   Kenneth Wisian, Deputy Adjutant General, Office of the Adjutant General

 

At 3:39 p.m. the Chair closed invited testimony and opened the floor for public testimony.

 

No witnesses provided public testimony. The Chair closed public testimony at 3:39 p.m.

 

There being no further business, at 3:39 p.m. Senator Birdwell moved that the committee stand in recess, subject to the call of the Chair. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair

 

 

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Jorge Ramirez, Clerk