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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. 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. GRID SECURITY COUNCIL. (a) The governor shall |
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appoint members of the grid security council. Council membership |
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must include at least one representative of each of the following: |
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(1) the commission; |
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(2) the independent organization certified under |
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Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power region; |
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(3) the Texas Military Department; |
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(4) the Texas Division of Emergency Management; |
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(5) the State Office of Risk Management; and |
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(6) power generation companies. |
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(b) The council shall monitor economic, environmental, |
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regulatory, and technological developments that may affect the |
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security of the electric grid. |
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(c) Not later than the November 1 preceding each regular |
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session of the legislature, the council shall prepare and submit a |
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report to the legislature analyzing: |
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(1) the developments listed in Subsection (b); and |
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(2) the progress made towards implementing the |
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council's previous grid security recommendations. |
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(d) The governor shall designate a member of the council to |
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serve as presiding officer. |
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(e) A member of the council is not entitled to compensation. |
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SECTION 2. (a) The grid security council shall evaluate |
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security vulnerabilities of the electric grid and strategies for |
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securing the grid against: |
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(1) cyber threats; |
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(2) physical threats; |
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(3) weather threats; |
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(4) solar storm threats; |
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(5) threats of sabotage; and |
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(6) threats relating to electromagnetic pulses. |
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(b) Not later than November 1, 2020, the council shall |
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prepare and submit a report to the legislature with recommendations |
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for addressing the threats identified in Subsection (a) of this |
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section. The council's report shall include recommendations for: |
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(1) state agency rule changes; |
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(2) legislation; and |
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(3) management changes at the Public Utility |
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Commission of Texas, the Texas Military Department, the Texas |
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Division of Emergency Management, and the State Office of Risk |
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Management. |
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SECTION 3. The first report described by Section 39.917(c), |
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Utilities Code, as added by this Act, is due November 1, 2022. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |