By: Carona S.B. No. 845
(Darby, Gonzales, Elkins)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the use of e-mail and website technology by the Texas
Department of Licensing and Regulation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 51.207, Occupations Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 51.207. USE OF TECHNOLOGY. (a) The commission shall
develop and implement a policy requiring the executive director and
department employees to research and propose appropriate
technological solutions to improve the department's ability to
perform its functions. The technological solutions must:
(1) ensure that the public is able to easily find
information about the department on the Internet;
(2) ensure that persons who want to use the
department's services are able to:
(A) interact with the department through the
Internet; and
(B) access any service that can be provided
effectively through the Internet; and
(3) be cost-effective and developed through the
department's planning processes.
(b) The department shall provide on its Internet website a
link to an Internet website that allows the public to track
legislation affecting the programs administered by the department,
which may be a website that provides legislative information
administered by the Texas Legislature.
(c) The department may satisfy any requirement under this
chapter or another law governing a program subject to regulation by
the department to provide notice by delivering the notice by e-mail
to the recipient's last known e-mail address if the recipient has
previously authorized the department to deliver the notice by
e-mail. An e-mail address used under this subsection is
confidential and is not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552,
Government Code.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.