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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a joint interim committee to study and |
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make recommendations regarding the storage of biometric |
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identifiers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. INTERIM COMMITTEE; STUDY; REPORT. (a) A joint |
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interim committee is created to study and review the methods by |
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which state agencies store biometric identifiers. |
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(b) The study must consider: |
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(1) the level of security currently provided by state |
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agencies to biometric identifiers stored by the agencies; |
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(2) what changes, if any, should be made to ensure that |
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biometric identifiers are stored in a manner that provides the |
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greatest level of security; and |
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(3) if the committee determines that an increase in |
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the level of security provided to biometric identifiers stored by |
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state agencies is warranted, whether additional funds are necessary |
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to increase security to an acceptable level. |
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(c) The committee is composed of: |
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(1) three senators appointed by the lieutenant |
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governor, one of whom the lieutenant governor shall designate as |
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cochair of the committee; and |
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(2) four state representatives appointed by the |
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speaker of the house of representatives, one of whom the speaker |
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shall designate as cochair of the committee. |
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(d) The committee shall convene at least twice at the call |
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of the cochairs. |
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(e) The committee has all other powers and duties provided |
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to a special or select committee by the rules of the senate and |
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house of representatives, by Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government |
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Code, and by policies of the senate and house committees on |
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administration. |
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(f) Not later than December 1, 2016, the committee shall |
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report the committee's findings and recommendations to the members |
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of the legislature. The committee shall include in its |
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recommendations specific statutory and rule changes that appear |
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necessary from the results of the committee's study. |
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(g) Not later than the 60th day after the effective date of |
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this Act, the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of |
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representatives shall appoint the members of the committee created |
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under this section. |
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(h) The Texas Legislative Council shall provide any |
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necessary staff and resources to the committee created under this |
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section. |
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SECTION 2. ABOLITION OF COMMITTEE. The committee is |
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abolished and this Act expires March 1, 2017. |
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SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2015. |