86R2935 BRG-D
By: Tinderholt H.B. No. 400
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the security of the electric grid.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is
amended by adding Section 39.917 to read as follows:
Sec. 39.917. GRID SECURITY COUNCIL. (a) The governor shall
appoint members of the grid security council. Council membership
must include at least one representative of each of the following:
(1) the commission;
(2) the independent organization certified under
Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power region;
(3) the Texas Military Department;
(4) the Texas Division of Emergency Management;
(5) the State Office of Risk Management; and
(6) power generation companies.
(b) The council shall monitor economic, environmental,
regulatory, and technological developments that may affect the
security of the electric grid.
(c) Not later than the November 1 preceding each regular
session of the legislature, the council shall prepare and submit a
report to the legislature analyzing:
(1) the developments listed in Subsection (b); and
(2) the progress made towards implementing the
council's previous grid security recommendations.
(d) The governor shall designate a member of the council to
serve as presiding officer.
(e) A member of the council is not entitled to compensation.
SECTION 2. (a) The grid security council shall evaluate
security vulnerabilities of the electric grid and strategies for
securing the grid against:
(1) cyber threats;
(2) physical threats;
(3) weather threats;
(4) solar storm threats;
(5) threats of sabotage; and
(6) threats relating to electromagnetic pulses.
(b) Not later than November 1, 2020, the council shall
prepare and submit a report to the legislature with recommendations
for addressing the threats identified in Subsection (a) of this
section. The council's report shall include recommendations for:
(1) state agency rule changes;
(2) legislation; and
(3) management changes at the Public Utility
Commission of Texas, the Texas Military Department, the Texas
Division of Emergency Management, and the State Office of Risk
Management.
SECTION 3. The first report described by Section 39.917(c),
Utilities Code, as added by this Act, is due November 1, 2022.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.