By: Hall, et al.  S.B. No. 1606
         (In the Senate - Filed March 11, 2021; March 24, 2021, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Business & Commerce;
  May 6, 2021, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
  Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 6, 2021, sent
  to printer.)
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1606 By:  Hancock
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the resilience of the electric grid and certain
  municipalities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle B, Title 2, Utilities Code, is amended
  by adding Chapter 44 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 44. GRID RESILIENCE
         Sec. 44.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "All hazards" means:
                     (A)  terrestrial weather including wind,
  hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, ice storms, extended cold weather
  events, heat waves, and wildfires;
                     (B)  seismic events including earthquakes and
  tsunamis;
                     (C)  physical threats including terrorist attacks
  with direct fire, drones, explosives, and other methods of physical
  sabotage;
                     (D)  cyber attacks including malware attacks and
  hacking of unprotected or compromised information technology
  networks;
                     (E)  manipulation of operational technology
  devices including sensors, actuators, and drives;
                     (F)  electromagnetic threats through man-made
  radio frequency weapons, high altitude nuclear electromagnetic
  pulse, and naturally occurring geomagnetic disturbances;
                     (G)  electric generation supply chain
  vulnerabilities including insecure or inadequate fuel
  transportation or storage; and
                     (H)  insider threats caused by compromised or
  hostile personnel working within government or the utility
  industry.
               (2)  "Micro-grid" means a group of interconnected loads
  and distributed energy resources inside clearly defined electrical
  boundaries that act as a single controllable entity with respect to
  the grid.
               (3)  "Security commission" means the Texas Grid
  Security Commission.
         Sec. 44.002.  TEXAS GRID SECURITY COMMISSION. (a) The Texas
  Grid Security Commission is composed of the following members:
               (1)  a representative of the Texas Division of
  Emergency Management appointed by the chief of that division;
               (2)  a representative of the State Office of Risk
  Management appointed by the risk management board;
               (3)  a representative of the independent organization
  certified under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power region appointed
  by the chief executive officer of that organization;
               (4)  a representative of the Texas Military Department
  appointed by the adjutant general of that department;
               (5)  a representative of the Texas Military
  Preparedness Commission appointed by that commission;
               (6)  a representative of the Office of State-Federal
  Relations appointed by the director of that office;
               (7)  a representative of the Department of Information
  Resources appointed by the executive director of that department;
               (8)  a representative of power generation companies
  appointed by the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency
  Management;
               (9)  two representatives of transmission and
  distribution utilities appointed by the chief of the Texas Division
  of Emergency Management;
               (10)  three individuals with expertise in critical
  infrastructure protection appointed by the chief of the Texas
  Division of Emergency Management, to represent the public interest; 
               (11)  one representative appointed by the chief of the
  Texas Division of Emergency Management from each of the following
  essential services sectors:
                     (A)  law enforcement;
                     (B)  emergency services;
                     (C)  communications;
                     (D)  water and sewer services;
                     (E)  health care;
                     (F)  financial services;
                     (G)  food and agriculture;
                     (H)  transportation; and
                     (I)  energy;
               (12)  an expert in the field of higher education
  appointed by the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency
  Management; and
               (13)  an expert in the field of electricity markets and
  regulations appointed by the chief of the Texas Division of
  Emergency Management.
         (b)  The chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management
  may invite members or former members of the United States Air
  Force's Electromagnetic Defense Task Force to the security
  commission.
         (c)  The Texas Division of Emergency Management shall
  designate a member of the security commission to serve as presiding
  officer.
         (d)  The security commission shall convene at the call of the
  presiding officer.
         (e)  The security commission shall report to the chief of the
  Texas Division of Emergency Management.
         (f)  A vacancy on the security commission is filled by
  appointment for the unexpired term in the same manner as the
  original appointment.
         (g)  To the extent possible, individuals appointed to the
  security commission must be residents of this state. 
         (h)  The presiding officer of the security commission or the
  chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management may invite
  subject matter experts to advise the security commission, including
  individuals recognized as experts in the fields of electricity
  markets, cybersecurity of grid control systems, electromagnetic
  pulse mitigation, terrestrial and solar weather, and micro-grids.
  The presiding officer may invite an individual for this purpose
  regardless of whether the individual is a resident of this state. 
         Sec. 44.003.  GRID RESILIENCE INFORMATION. (a) Each of the
  following members of the security commission shall apply for a
  secret security clearance or an interim secret security clearance
  to be granted by the federal government:
               (1)  the representative of the independent
  organization certified under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT region;
               (2)  the representative of the Texas Division of
  Emergency Management; and
               (3)  the representative of the State Office of Risk
  Management.
         (b)  A member of the security commission listed under
  Subsection (a) who is granted an applicable security clearance
  under that subsection is a member of the information security
  working group.
         (c)  The information security working group shall determine:
               (1)  which information received by the security
  commission that is used in determining the vulnerabilities of the
  electric grid or that is related to measures to be taken to protect
  the grid is confidential and not subject to Chapter 552, Government
  Code;
               (2)  which members of the security commission may
  access which types of information received by the security
  commission; and
               (3)  which members, other than members of the working
  group, should apply for a secret security clearance or interim
  clearance granted by the federal government.
         (d)  Information that the information security working group
  determines is confidential under Subsection (c) shall be stored and
  maintained by the independent organization certified under Section
  39.151 for the ERCOT power region.
         (e)  The security commission must maintain a reasonable
  balance between public transparency and security for information
  determined to be confidential under Subsection (c). 
         (f)  Nothing in this section abrogates any rights or remedies
  under Chapter 552, Government Code.
         Sec. 44.004.  GRID RESILIENCE EVALUATION. (a) The security
  commission shall evaluate, using available information on past
  blackouts in ERCOT, all hazards to the ERCOT electric grid,
  including threats that can cause future blackouts.
         (b)  The security commission may create groups or teams to
  address each hazard as necessary. The security commission must
  assess each hazard both on the likelihood of occurrence of the
  hazard and the potential consequences of the hazard.
         (c)  The security commission shall identify methods by which
  this state can support an overall national deterrence policy as
  proposed by the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, including by:
               (1)  identifying means to ensure that all hazards
  resilience for electric utilities supports critical national
  security functions in this state; and 
               (2)  engaging the Texas National Guard to be trained as
  first responders to cybersecurity threats to the ERCOT electric
  grid and other critical infrastructure.
         (d)  The security commission shall evaluate nuclear
  generation sites in this state, the resilience of each nuclear
  reactor to all hazards, and the resilience to all hazards of
  off-site power for critical safety systems that support the reactor
  and spent fuel. The security commission may communicate with the
  Nuclear Regulatory Commission to accomplish the evaluation.
         (e)  The security commission shall evaluate current Critical
  Infrastructure Protection standards established by the North
  American Electric Reliability Corporation and standards set by the
  National Institute of Standards and Technology to determine the
  most appropriate standards for protecting grid infrastructure in
  this state.
         (f)  The security commission shall investigate the steps
  that local communities and other states have taken to address grid
  resilience. The security commission may request funding to conduct
  site visits to these locations as required.
         (g)  The security commission shall identify universities
  based in this state that have expertise in cybersecurity and other
  matters that can contribute to the security commission's goal of
  mitigating all hazards to the grid in this state.
         (h)  In carrying out the security commission's duties under
  this section, the security commission may solicit information from:
               (1)  defense contractors with experience protecting
  defense systems from electromagnetic pulse;
               (2)  electric utilities that have developed
  electromagnetic pulse protections for the utilities' grid assets;
               (3)  the United States Department of Homeland Security;
  and
               (4)  the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United
  States from Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack.
         Sec. 44.005.  GRID RESILIENCE RECOMMENDATIONS. Based on the
  findings of the evaluations and investigations conducted under
  Section 44.004, the security commission shall develop resilience
  recommendations for critical components of the ERCOT electric grid.
         Sec. 44.006.  PLAN FOR ALL HAZARDS RESILIENCE. (a) Not
  later than January 1, 2022, the security commission shall prepare
  and deliver to the legislature a plan for protecting the ERCOT
  electric grid from all hazards, including a catastrophic loss of
  power in the state.
         (b)  The plan must include:
               (1)  weatherizing recommendations to prevent blackouts
  from extreme cold weather events, an analysis of whether these
  recommendations would induce cyber vulnerabilities, and an
  analysis of the associated costs for these recommendations;
               (2)  recommendations for installing, replacing, or
  upgrading industrial control systems and associated networks, or
  the use of compensating controls or procedures, in critical
  facilities to address cyber vulnerabilities and associated costs
  for these recommendations;
               (3)  recommendations for installing, replacing, or
  upgrading extra high-voltage power transformers and supervisory
  control and data acquisition systems to withstand 100
  kilovolts/meter E1 electromagnetic pulses and 85 volts/kilometer
  E3 electromagnetic pulses and associated costs for these
  recommendations;
               (4)  long-term resilience provisions for supporting
  industries including:
                     (A)  nuclear reactors, materials, and waste;
                     (B)  fuel supply;
                     (C)  health care;
                     (D)  communications;
                     (E)  water and sewer services;
                     (F)  food supply; and
                     (G)  transportation; and
               (5)  any additional provisions considered necessary by
  the security commission.
         (c)  The security commission may consult with the Private
  Sector Advisory Council in developing the plan.
         Sec. 44.007.  GRID RESILIENCE REPORT. (a) Not later than
  January 1 of each year, the security commission shall prepare and
  deliver a nonclassified report to the legislature, the governor,
  and the commission assessing natural and man-made threats to the
  electric grid and efforts to mitigate the threats. 
         (b)  In preparing the report, the security commission may
  hold confidential or classified briefings with federal, state, and
  local officials as necessary.
         Sec. 44.008.  MICRO-GRIDS. The security commission shall
  establish resilience standards for micro-grids and certify a
  micro-grid that meets the standards. The standards must be
  developed for both alternating current and direct current
  micro-grids.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 380, Local Government Code, is amended
  by adding Section 380.004 to read as follows:
         Sec. 380.004.  FIVE STAR GOLD RESILIENT COMMUNITIES. (a)
  The Texas Grid Security Commission shall establish resilience
  standards for municipalities in the following essential service
  areas:
               (1)  emergency services;
               (2)  communications systems;
               (3)  clean water and sewer services;
               (4)  health care systems;
               (5)  financial services;
               (6)  energy systems; and
               (7)  transportation systems.
         (b)  Standards for energy systems under Subsection (a) must
  include provisions to ensure that energy, electric power, and fuel
  supplies are protected and available for recovery in the event of a
  catastrophic power outage.
         (c)  On the application of a municipality for the
  designation, the Texas Grid Security Commission may designate a
  municipality that meets the resilience standards in the applicable
  service area as:
               (1)  a Resilient Emergency Services Community;
               (2)  a Resilient Communications Systems Community;
               (3)  a Resilient Clean Water and Sewer Services
  Community;
               (4)  a Resilient Health Care Systems Community;
               (5)  a Resilient Financial Services Community;
               (6)  a Resilient Energy Community; or
               (7)  a Resilient Transportation Community.
         (d)  The Texas Grid Security Commission may designate a
  municipality that meets the resilience standards in five of the
  seven service areas as a Five Star Gold Resilient Community.
         (e)  A municipality may not use a resilient community
  designation in advertising, marketing, or economic development
  initiatives unless the Texas Grid Security Commission has awarded
  the municipality with the designation in the applicable service
  area or as a Five Star Gold Resilient Community.
         SECTION 3.  Not later than January 1, 2023, the Texas Grid
  Security Commission shall prepare and deliver a report to the
  legislature on the progress of implementing resilience
  recommendations developed under Section 44.005, Utilities Code, as
  added by this Act.
         SECTION 4.  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, 2021.
 
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