By: Price, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Perry) H.B. No. 1960
         (In the Senate - Received from the House April 23, 2019;
  April 24, 2019, read first time and referred to Committee on
  Business & Commerce; May 3, 2019, reported adversely, with
  favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 9,
  Nays 0; May 3, 2019, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 1960 By:  Nichols
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the creation of the governor's broadband development
  council.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle F, Title 4, Government Code, is amended
  by adding Chapter 490H to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 490H. GOVERNOR'S BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
         Sec. 490H.001.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:
               (1)  "Broadband" means a service that provides advanced
  telecommunications capability and Internet access.
               (2)  "Council" means the governor's broadband
  development council.
               (3)  "Unserved area" means a census block without
  access to broadband capable of providing: 
                     (A)  a download speed of at least 25 megabits per
  second; and
                     (B)  an upload speed of at least three megabits
  per second.
         Sec. 490H.002.  COMPOSITION. (a) The council is composed of
  the following 17 voting members:
               (1)  two representatives of separate Internet service
  provider industry associations, including at least one
  representative of an association that primarily represents small
  providers, as defined by Section 56.032, Utilities Code, appointed
  by the governor;
               (2)  one representative of the health information
  technology industry, appointed by the governor;
               (3)  two representatives of unaffiliated nonprofit
  organizations that advocate for elderly persons statewide,
  appointed by the governor;
               (4)  two representatives of unaffiliated nonprofit
  organizations that have a demonstrated history of working with the
  legislature and the public to identify solutions for expanding
  broadband to rural, unserved areas of this state, appointed by the
  governor;
               (5)  one representative of an agricultural advocacy
  organization in this state, appointed by the governor;
               (6)  one representative of a hospital advocacy
  organization in this state, appointed by the governor;
               (7)  one representative of a medical advocacy
  organization in this state, appointed by the governor;
               (8)  one county official who serves in an elected
  office of a county with a population of less than 35,000, appointed
  by the governor;
               (9)  one municipal official who serves in an elected
  office of a municipality with a population of less than 20,000
  located in a county with a population of less than 60,000, appointed
  by the governor;
               (10)  one representative of an institution of higher
  education that has its main campus in a county with a population of
  less than 60,000, appointed by the governor;
               (11)  one representative of a school district with a
  territory that includes only counties with a population of less
  than 60,000, appointed by the governor;
               (12)  one representative from a library association,
  appointed by the governor;
               (13)  one member of the house of representatives,
  appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and
               (14)  one state senator, appointed by the lieutenant
  governor.
         (b)  A member of the council appointed under Subsection (a)
  serves for a five-year term.
         (c)  A vacancy on the council is filled in the same manner as
  the original appointment.
         Sec. 490H.003.  COUNCIL PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor
  shall designate the presiding officer of the council.
         Sec. 490H.004.  MEETINGS.  (a)  The council shall convene at
  least once every quarter.
         (b)  The council shall convene at the call of the presiding
  officer.
         Sec. 490H.005.  ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. The office of the
  governor shall provide administrative support to the council.
         Sec. 490H.006.  DUTIES. (a)  The council shall:
               (1)  research the progress of broadband development in
  unserved areas;
               (2)  identify barriers to residential and commercial
  broadband deployment in unserved areas;
               (3)  study technology-neutral solutions to overcome
  barriers identified under Subdivision (2); and
               (4)  analyze how statewide access to broadband would
  benefit:
                     (A)  economic development;
                     (B)  the delivery of educational opportunities in
  higher education and public education;
                     (C)  state and local law enforcement;
                     (D)  state emergency preparedness; and
                     (E)  the delivery of health care services,
  including telemedicine and telehealth.
         (b)  The council may research another matter related to
  broadband only if a majority of the council approves researching
  the matter.
         (c)  For the purpose of performing its duties under this
  section, the council may consult with a representative of an
  institution of higher education who has published scholarly
  research on broadband.
         Sec. 490H.007.  ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than November 1 of
  each year, the council shall prepare and deliver an electronic
  report of its findings and recommendations to the governor, the
  lieutenant governor, and each member of the legislature.
         Sec. 490H.008.  EXPIRATION. This chapter expires September
  1, 2029.
         SECTION 2.  The first report described by Section 490H.007,
  Government Code, as added by this Act, is due November 1, 2020.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
 
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