Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB475 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	S.B. No. 475
	1	+	86R21765 BRG-F
	2	+	By: Hancock S.B. No. 475
	3	+	(Hernandez, Flynn)
	4	+	Substitute the following for S.B. No. 475: No.
2	5
3	6
	7	+	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
4	8		AN ACT
5	9		relating to an advisory body on the security of the electric grid.
6	10		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
7	11		SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is
8	12		amended by adding Section 39.917 to read as follows:
9		-	Sec. 39.917. TEXAS ELECTRIC GRID SECURITY COUNCIL.
10		-	(a) The legislature finds that there is a public interest in
11		-	mitigating the risk of cyber and physical attacks that may affect
12		-	the reliability of electric systems operating in Texas. The Texas
13		-	Electric Grid Security Council is established as an advisory body
14		-	to facilitate the creation, aggregation, coordination, and
15		-	dissemination of best security practices for the electric industry,
16		-	including the generation, transmission, and delivery of
17		-	electricity.
	13	+	Sec. 39.917. TEXAS ELECTRIC GRID SECURITY COUNCIL. (a) The
	14	+	legislature finds that there is a public interest in mitigating the
	15	+	risk of cyber and physical attacks that may affect the reliability
	16	+	of electric systems operating in Texas. The Texas Electric Grid
	17	+	Security Council is established as an advisory body to facilitate
	18	+	the creation, aggregation, coordination, and dissemination of best
	19	+	security practices for the electric industry, including the
	20	+	generation, transmission, and delivery of electricity.
18	21		(b) The Texas Electric Grid Security Council is composed of:
19	22		(1) the commissioner designated as presiding officer
20	23		of the commission under Section 12.052 or a representative
21	24		designated by the commissioner;
22	25		(2) the chief executive officer of the independent
23	26		organization certified under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power
24	27		region or a representative designated by the chief executive
25	28		officer; and
26	29		(3) the governor or a representative designated by the
27	30		governor.
28	31		(c) The member of the council designated by Subsection
29	32		(b)(1) shall serve as presiding officer.
30	33		(d) The council shall convene at the call of the presiding
31	34		officer.
32	35		(e) A member of the council is not entitled to compensation.
33	36		Members are entitled to reimbursement for travel and other
34	37		necessary expenses related to the activities of the council as
35	38		provided by the General Appropriations Act.
36	39		(f) A member of the council may apply for a secret security
37	40		clearance or an interim security clearance granted by the United
38	41		States government. A member of the council may not access
39	42		classified information or participate in a briefing or meeting
40	43		involving classified information unless the member has a secret
41	44		security clearance.
42	45		(g) The independent organization certified under Section
43	46		39.151 shall:
44	47		(1) provide information and resources requested by the
45	48		council; and
46	49		(2) maintain nonclassified information obtained or
47	50		created by the council, provide members of the council with access
48	51		to the information, and retain the information for five years after
49	52		the date that the council obtains or creates the information.
50	53		(h) In carrying out its functions, the council may consult
51	54		and coordinate with:
52	55		(1) the Texas Division of Emergency Management;
53	56		(2) the United States Department of Energy;
54	57		(3) the United States Department of Homeland Security;
55	58		(4) the North American Electric Reliability
56	59		Corporation;
57	60		(5) the Texas Reliability Entity;
58	61		(6) federal and state agencies;
59	62		(7) members of the electric industry; and
60	63		(8) grid security experts.
61	64		(i) On a request by the governor, the lieutenant governor,
62	65		the chair of the house of representatives committee having
63	66		jurisdiction over energy utility regulation, or the chair of the
64	67		senate committee having jurisdiction over energy utility
65	68		regulation, the council shall issue to the requestor
66	69		recommendations regarding:
67	70		(1) the development of educational programs or
68	71		marketing materials to promote the development of a grid security
69	72		workforce;
70	73		(2) the development of grid security best practices;
71	74		(3) preparation for events that threaten grid
72	75		security; and
73	76		(4) amendments to the state emergency management plan
74	77		to ensure coordinated and adaptable response and recovery efforts
75	78		after events that threaten grid security.
76	79		(j) The council may prepare a report outlining grid security
77	80		response efforts that do not involve classified or highly
78	81		sensitive, company-specific information. If the council prepares
79	82		the report, the council shall deliver the report to the governor,
80	83		lieutenant governor, and legislature on or before the December 1
81	84		immediately preceding a regular session of the legislature.
82	85		(k) The meetings of the council and information obtained or
83	86		created by the council are not subject to the requirements of
84	87		Chapter 551 or 552, Government Code.
85	88		SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
86	89		a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
87	90		provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
88	91		Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
89	92		Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
90		-	______________________________ ______________________________
91		-	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
92		-	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 475 passed the Senate on
93		-	April 3, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that
94		-	the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 21, 2019, by the
95		-	following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
96		-	______________________________
97		-	Secretary of the Senate
98		-	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 475 passed the House, with
99		-	amendment, on May 15, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 143,
100		-	Nays 0, two present not voting.
101		-	______________________________
102		-	Chief Clerk of the House
103		-	Approved:
104		-	______________________________
105		-	Date
106		-	______________________________
107		-	Governor