BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1890

By: Elkins

Government Transparency & Operation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Modernizing a legacy application­, a computer program based on older and less efficient technology, is considered by some to be expensive and complex. However, interested parties assert that failure to modernize aging legacy applications can compromise critical business functions and procedures and may be even more costly as technical support expertise becomes scarce. The 83rd Legislature passed H.B. 2738 directing the Department of Information Resources to conduct a study regarding state agency technology efficiency that, among other things, identified legacy systems maintained by state agencies and included an inventory of the systems maintained by state agencies; the annual cost and availability of resources to maintain the systems; and the security risks related to the use of the systems. H.B. 1890 seeks to provide for a legacy modernization strategy.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

H.B. 1890 amends the Government Code to require the Department of Information Resources (DIR), in collaboration with state agencies other than institutions of higher education, to develop a legacy system modernization strategy to guide the state in legacy system modernization efforts. The bill requires the strategy to plan for legacy system modernization statewide and at the agency level, establish a statewide application development framework, facilitate standardization and collaboration among state agencies, and promote the use of common technology solutions and collective purchasing by the state.

H.B. 1890 requires DIR to implement a shared data reporting and business analytics service, with appropriate security isolation, for state agencies other than institutions of higher education and authorizes DIR to launch the service as a pilot program with a limited number of state agencies in order to validate a solution before implementing a statewide service. The bill requires DIR to develop and implement a shared application portfolio management program for state agencies that includes best practices and tools to assist state agencies in managing applications and authorizes DIR to launch the program as a pilot program with a limited number of state agencies in order to validate solutions before offering the program on a statewide basis. The bill authorizes DIR to contract for and offer the program to certain other entities.

H.B. 1890 requires a state agency, with available funds, to identify information security issues and develop a plan to prioritize the remediation and mitigation of those issues. The bill requires DIR, on request, to facilitate collaborative efforts among state agencies to develop this plan and specifies that the plan, along with any information or communication prepared or maintained for use in the preparation of the plan, is confidential and is not subject to disclosure under state public information law. The bill requires state agencies, in considering and implementing new applications or remediation strategies, to prioritize standardization and consolidation by emphasizing shared solutions, including those delivered as a service through the Internet. The bill authorizes DIR to contract for and offer shared solutions to certain other entities, including solutions delivered as a service through the Internet. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.