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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the security of the electric grid. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) The Electric Grid Security Advisory |
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Committee is created. The committee is composed of the following |
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members: |
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(1) two members appointed by the governor; |
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(2) two members appointed by the lieutenant governor; |
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and |
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(3) two members appointed by the speaker of the house |
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of representatives. |
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(b) Each member of the committee must have professional |
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experience or technical training in: |
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(1) cybersecurity; |
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(2) electromagnetic interference; |
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(3) electric power generation or transmission; |
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(4) electromagnetic pulse hardening; |
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(5) physical security and controls; |
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(6) space physics and weather; |
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(7) supervisory controls and data acquisition; or |
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(8) emergency preparedness. |
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(c) The governor shall designate a member of the committee |
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to serve as presiding officer. |
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(d) The committee shall convene at the call of the presiding |
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officer. |
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(e) The committee shall study the Texas electric grid and |
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the computer systems and networks related to it. The study must: |
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(1) evaluate and summarize the current state of the |
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electric grid and associated computer systems and networks; |
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(2) consider potential security threats to the |
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electric grid and associated computer systems and networks; |
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(3) assess whether further efforts are needed to |
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secure the electric grid and associated computer systems and |
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networks against damage, including the threat of electromagnetic |
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pulse or other attacks and natural threats, including solar flares; |
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and |
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(4) recommend measures to secure the electric grid and |
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associated computer systems and networks against damage. |
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(f) The committee may share its findings with any state |
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agency it considers important to the security of the electric grid |
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or associated computer systems or networks. To the extent allowed |
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by law, a state agency with which the committee shares information |
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is encouraged to implement any recommendations that the agency |
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determines will improve the security of the state's electric grid |
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or associated computer systems or networks. |
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(g) ERCOT shall cooperate with the committee to provide any |
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information and resources the committee considers important to the |
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study. |
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(h) A member of the committee is not entitled to |
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compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for the member's |
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travel expenses as provided by Chapter 660, Government Code, and |
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the General Appropriations Act. |
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(i) A vacancy on the task force shall be filled for the |
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unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment. |
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(j) The committee is not subject to Chapter 2110, Government |
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Code. |
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(k) Not later than December 1, 2018, the committee shall |
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prepare a report of its findings, including any recommendations for |
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legislation resulting from the findings, and shall submit the |
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report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of |
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the house of representatives. |
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(l) The committee's work relates to sensitive matters of |
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security. Notwithstanding any other law, the meetings, work, and |
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findings of the committee are not subject to the requirements of |
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Chapter 551 or 552, Government Code. Each member of the committee |
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shall sign a nondisclosure agreement stating that the member will |
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not disclose to the public any sensitive or identifiable |
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information related to grid security measures or plans. |
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(m) The committee is abolished and this section expires on |
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December 31, 2018. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter Z, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 39.917 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 39.917. INFORMATION RELATED TO GRID SECURITY. The |
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independent organization certified under Section 39.151 shall |
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collect and compile information related to the security of the |
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electric grid. The information is confidential and is not subject |
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to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code. |
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SECTION 3. The governor, the lieutenant governor, and the |
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speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint members to |
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the Electric Grid Security Advisory Committee, as required by this |
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Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, |
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but not later than the 120th day after the effective date of this |
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Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |