BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 1398 By: Hall Homeland Security & Public Safety Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Interested parties contend that Texas' power grid security needs to be assessed and evaluated regarding its vulnerabilities to an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) event, whether that event be man-made or natural. S.B. 1398 seeks to address this concern. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS S.B. 1398 requires the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to instruct the independent organization certified under provisions relating to essential organizations established to perform specified functions to commission a study on the security of the Texas electric grid and the computer systems and networks related to it. The bill requires the independent organization, on or before September 1, 2015, to name persons to conduct the study who have expertise in: electromagnetic pulse disturbances; cybersecurity; geomagnetic disturbances; electric power transmission and distribution system security; and terrorism. The bill requires the independent organization, through the study, to: identify the critical infrastructure that is at risk from electromagnetic, geomagnetic, terrorist, and cyber-attack threats; evaluate technologies available to improve the resiliency of critical infrastructure against electromagnetic, geomagnetic, terrorist, or cyber-attack threats; evaluate measures to secure the electric grid and associated computer systems and networks against damage against electromagnetic, geomagnetic, terrorist, and cyber-attack threats; and assess the projected cost of enhancements to critical infrastructure that are necessary to secure adequately against electromagnetic, geomagnetic, terrorist, and cyber-attack threats. The bill establishes that information collected by the independent organization for the study that is related to the security of the electric grid is confidential and not subject to disclosure under state public information law. S.B. 1398 requires the PUC, not later than December 1, 2016, to provide a report on the results of the study to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each standing committee of the senate and the house of representatives with primary jurisdiction over the electric grid and emergency management. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
S.B. 1398
By: Hall
Homeland Security & Public Safety
Committee Report (Unamended)
S.B. 1398
By: Hall
Homeland Security & Public Safety
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Interested parties contend that Texas' power grid security needs to be assessed and evaluated regarding its vulnerabilities to an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) event, whether that event be man-made or natural. S.B. 1398 seeks to address this concern.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS S.B. 1398 requires the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to instruct the independent organization certified under provisions relating to essential organizations established to perform specified functions to commission a study on the security of the Texas electric grid and the computer systems and networks related to it. The bill requires the independent organization, on or before September 1, 2015, to name persons to conduct the study who have expertise in: electromagnetic pulse disturbances; cybersecurity; geomagnetic disturbances; electric power transmission and distribution system security; and terrorism. The bill requires the independent organization, through the study, to: identify the critical infrastructure that is at risk from electromagnetic, geomagnetic, terrorist, and cyber-attack threats; evaluate technologies available to improve the resiliency of critical infrastructure against electromagnetic, geomagnetic, terrorist, or cyber-attack threats; evaluate measures to secure the electric grid and associated computer systems and networks against damage against electromagnetic, geomagnetic, terrorist, and cyber-attack threats; and assess the projected cost of enhancements to critical infrastructure that are necessary to secure adequately against electromagnetic, geomagnetic, terrorist, and cyber-attack threats. The bill establishes that information collected by the independent organization for the study that is related to the security of the electric grid is confidential and not subject to disclosure under state public information law. S.B. 1398 requires the PUC, not later than December 1, 2016, to provide a report on the results of the study to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each standing committee of the senate and the house of representatives with primary jurisdiction over the electric grid and emergency management.
EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Interested parties contend that Texas' power grid security needs to be assessed and evaluated regarding its vulnerabilities to an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) event, whether that event be man-made or natural. S.B. 1398 seeks to address this concern.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
S.B. 1398 requires the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to instruct the independent organization certified under provisions relating to essential organizations established to perform specified functions to commission a study on the security of the Texas electric grid and the computer systems and networks related to it. The bill requires the independent organization, on or before September 1, 2015, to name persons to conduct the study who have expertise in: electromagnetic pulse disturbances; cybersecurity; geomagnetic disturbances; electric power transmission and distribution system security; and terrorism. The bill requires the independent organization, through the study, to: identify the critical infrastructure that is at risk from electromagnetic, geomagnetic, terrorist, and cyber-attack threats; evaluate technologies available to improve the resiliency of critical infrastructure against electromagnetic, geomagnetic, terrorist, or cyber-attack threats; evaluate measures to secure the electric grid and associated computer systems and networks against damage against electromagnetic, geomagnetic, terrorist, and cyber-attack threats; and assess the projected cost of enhancements to critical infrastructure that are necessary to secure adequately against electromagnetic, geomagnetic, terrorist, and cyber-attack threats. The bill establishes that information collected by the independent organization for the study that is related to the security of the electric grid is confidential and not subject to disclosure under state public information law.
S.B. 1398 requires the PUC, not later than December 1, 2016, to provide a report on the results of the study to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each standing committee of the senate and the house of representatives with primary jurisdiction over the electric grid and emergency management.
EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.