Bill

HB 1912

84(R) - 2015
House Government Transparency & Operation
House Government Transparency & Operation
Business, Industry, & Commerce
Security

Companion Bill

SB 1845

Vote Recommendation

Yes
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Positive
  • Neutral

Author(s)

Gary Elkins

Bill Caption

Relating to employment of a statewide data coordinator in the Department of Information Resources.

Fiscal Notes

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

Bill Analysis

HB 1912, if passed, would modify the Government Code (Section 1, Subchapter B, Chapter 2054) to allow the Department of Information Resources to employ a data coordinator. This data coordinator would be given a variety of tasks including improving control of information security, promoting the sharing of information between agencies, and reducing information collection costs. The data coordinator would also be tasked with improving coordination and security among the state agencies involved. The final section of HB 1912 includes a subsection which requires that state agencies cooperate with the data coordinator. 

The second chamber sponsor is Senator Zaffirini.

Vote Recommendation Notes

Cybersecurity is a legitimate concern of the state, and an area in which the statute is likely to require adaptation at a fairly regular basis. We see no problem with either the goal of increased coordination between state agencies, or the means proposed by HB 1912. The state holds a good deal of private information that, if accessed by people with bad intentions, could lead to identity theft or other things deleterious to taxpayers. As such we support HB 1912.