BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3707

By: Gonzales, Larry

Government Transparency & Operation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties explain that the current law authorizing a state agency to consider advanced Internet-based computing service options when making purchases for a major information resources project was originally intended to refer to cloud computing, but until recently the term was not clearly defined. H.B. 3707 seeks to amend the applicable law to address this issue.

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. 3707 amends the Government Code to replace references to an advanced Internet-based computing service in statutory provisions relating to state purchasing of automated information systems for major information resources projects with references to a cloud computing service. The bill defines "cloud computing service" as having the meaning assigned by Special Publication 800-145 issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology, as the definition in the publication existed on January 1, 2015.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.