S.B. No. 819
AN ACT
relating to state agency electronic information and processes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 2054.0286, Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 2054.0286. CHIEF DATA OFFICER [STATEWIDE DATA
COORDINATOR]. (a) The executive director, using existing
department funds, shall employ a chief data officer [statewide data
coordinator] to:
(1) improve the control and security of information
collected by state agencies;
(2) promote between state agencies the sharing of
information, including customer information; [and]
(3) reduce information collection costs incurred by
this state; and
(4) assist the department in the development and
management of a data portal for use by state agencies.
(b) The chief data officer [statewide data coordinator]
shall develop and implement best practices among state agencies to:
(1) improve interagency information coordination;
(2) reduce duplicative information collection;
(3) increase accountability and ensure compliance
with statutes and rules requiring agencies to share information;
(4) improve information management and analysis to
increase information security, uncover fraud and waste, reduce
agency costs, improve agency operations, and verify compliance with
applicable laws;
(5) encourage agencies to collect and post on the
agencies' Internet websites or the data portal managed by the
department information related to an agency's [agency] functions or
other data maintained by the agency that is in an open file format
and is machine-readable, exportable, and easily accessible by the
public; and
(6) encourage the evaluation of open document formats
for storing data and documents generated by state agencies.
(c) Each state agency shall cooperate with the chief data
officer [statewide data coordinator] in fulfilling the
requirements of this section.
[(d) This section expires September 1, 2021.]
SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 2054, Government Code, is
amended by adding Sections 2054.069 and 2054.070 to read as
follows:
Sec. 2054.069. DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION GUIDE. (a) The
department shall establish a digital transformation guide to assist
state agencies with:
(1) modernizing agency operations and services with
respect to electronic data; and
(2) converting agency information into electronic
data.
(b) The department may provide:
(1) mobile application development assistance;
(2) paper document and form inventory assistance;
(3) paperless or paper-on-request operational process
planning and development; and
(4) electronic notification and digital communication
between the agency and the public.
Sec. 2054.070. CENTRAL REPOSITORY FOR PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE
ELECTRONIC DATA. (a) The department shall:
(1) establish a central repository of publicly
accessible electronic data as the official open data Internet
website for this state;
(2) designate the repository as the Texas Open Data
Portal; and
(3) ensure that state agencies and political
subdivisions of this state are granted shared access to the
repository that allows the agencies and political subdivisions to
easily post publicly accessible information to the repository.
(b) Each state agency shall prioritize using the central
repository of electronic data established under Subsection (a) and
actively collaborate with the department on publicly accessible
data issues.
SECTION 3. Section 2054.071, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 2054.071. IDENTITY OF MANAGER; CONSOLIDATION.
(a) Each state agency shall designate an employee of the agency to
[The presiding officer of the governing body of a state agency, if
the agency is governed by one or more fully paid full-time state
officials, and otherwise the executive director of the agency, or
the designated representative of the presiding officer or executive
director, shall] serve as the agency's information resources
manager.
(b) An employee [A representative] designated under
Subsection (a) may be designated to serve as a joint information
resources manager by two or more state agencies. The department
must approve the joint designation.
SECTION 4. Section 2157.007(b), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) A state agency shall consider:
(1) cloud computing service options, including any
security benefits and cost savings associated with purchasing those
service options from a cloud computing service provider and from a
statewide technology center established by the department, when
making purchases for a major information resources project under
Section 2054.118; and
(2) cloud computing service options and compatibility
with cloud computing services in the development of new information
technology software applications.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 819 passed the Senate on
April 26, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 819 passed the House on
May 22, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 141, Nays 0, two
present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor