TITLE 1.ADMINISTRATION

Part 10. DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES

Chapter 201. PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES TECHNOLOGIES

1 TAC §201.18

(Editor's note: The text of the following section proposed for repeal will not be published. The section may be examined in the offices of the Department of Information Resources or in the Texas Register office, Room 245, James Earl Rudder Building, 1019 Brazos Street, Austin.)

The Department of Information Resources (department) proposes to repeal 1 TAC §201.18, Purchases of Commodity Software Items, because it will be replaced by new rule chapter 1 TAC Chapter 212, Purchases of Commodity Items. The Department intends to publish for public comment Chapter 212 by separate action. The repeal is proposed pursuant to §2157.068(f), Government Code, as amended by H.B. No. 1516, 79th Legislature, which authorizes the department to adopt rules regulating the purchase by a state agency of commodity items, and §2054.052(a), Government Code, the department's general rulemaking authority.

Mr. Brian S. Rawson, Director of the Service Delivery Division for the department, has determined that there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government if 1 TAC §201.18 is repealed. The public will benefit by the repeal of unnecessary regulations.

Mr. Rawson believes there will be no different effect on small businesses than there is on large businesses and that there is no additional anticipated economic cost to persons if the rule is repealed.

Comments on the proposed repeal of 1 TAC §201.18 may be submitted to Cynthia Kreider, Contracts Attorney, Department of Information Resources, via mail to P.O. Box 13564, Austin, Texas 78711, or electronically to cynthia.kreider@dir.state.tx.us no later than 5:00 p.m. CST, within 30 days after publication.

The repeal is proposed under §2157.068(f), Texas Government Code, as amended by H.B. No. 1516, 79th Legislature and §2054.052(a), Government Code.

Texas Government Code, Chapter 2157 is affected by the proposed repeal.

§201.18.Purchases of Commodity Software Items.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on June 29, 2005.

TRD-200502685

Renée Mauzy

General Counsel

Department of Information Resources

Earliest possible date of adoption: August 14, 2005

For further information, please call: (512) 936-6448


Chapter 210. TEXASONLINE

1 TAC §210.1

The Department of Information Resources (department) proposes to publish for public comment the amendment of 1 TAC §210.1, relating to TexasOnline definitions. The department proposes to amend the rule to delete the definitions of authority and division and to delete the definition of an occupational license.

The changes to the rule are authorized by §2054.052(a), Texas Government Code, which authorizes the department to adopt rules necessary to implement its responsibilities under the Information Resources Management Act. Changes to the definitions are proposed due to legislation enacted by the 79th Legislature in House Bill 2048, which transferred the responsibilities of the TexasOnline Authority to the department and House Bill 2593, which repealed references to the TexasOnline Division.

Brian Rawson, Director of Service Delivery for the department, has determined that there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government if the amendment proposed to §210.1 is adopted. The public will benefit by the adoption.

Mr. Rawson believes there will be no different effect on small businesses than there is on large businesses.

Comments on the proposed amendment of 1 TAC §210.1 may be submitted to Renée Mauzy, General Counsel, Department of Information Resources, via mail to P.O. Box 13564, Austin, Texas 78711, or electronically to renee.mauzy@dir.state.tx.us no later than 5:00 p.m. CT, within 30 days after publication.

The amendment is proposed under §2054.052(a), Texas Government Code.

Chapter 2054, Subchapter I, Texas Government Code, is affected by the proposed amendment.

§210.1.TexasOnline Definitions.

The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[(1) Authority--the TexasOnline Authority created in Subchapter I, Chapter 2054, Texas Government Code.]

(1) [ (2) ] Board--the governing board of the Department of Information Resources.

(2) [ (3) ] Department--the Department of Information Resources.

[(4) Division--the TexasOnline division created by the department pursuant to §2054.264, Texas Government Code. ]

(3) [ (5) ] License holder--individuals for whom and entities for which a profile system is required to be or may be established by state agency licensing entities.

(4) [ (6) ] Licensing entity--a department, commission, board, office or other agency of the state or a political subdivision of the state that issues an occupational license.

(5) Occupational license--a license, certificate, registration, permit, or other form of authorization, including a renewal of the authorization, that a person must obtain to practice or engage in a particular business, occupation, or profession; or a facility must obtain before a particular business, occupation, or profession is practiced or engaged in within the facility.

[(7) Occupational license--a license, certificate, registration or other form of authorization that a person must obtain to practice or engage in a particular business, occupation or profession.]

(6) [ (8) ] Profile system--an electronic system established by a licensing entity that is required by §2054.2606(a), Texas Government Code, or opts pursuant to §2054.2602, Texas Government Code, to establish an electronic system containing at least the licensee information prescribed by §2054.2606(c), Texas Government Code.

(7) [ (9) ] Profiling licensing entities--the state agencies listed in §2054.2606(a) and licensing entities that opt to provide a profile system pursuant to §2054.2606(b).

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on June 29, 2005.

TRD-200502683

Renée Mauzy

General Counsel

Department of Information Resources

Earliest possible date of adoption: August 14, 2005

For further information, please call: (512) 936-6448


1 TAC §210.2

The Department of Information Resources (department) proposes to publish for public comment the amendment of 1 TAC §210.2, relating to TexasOnline license holder profile fees. The department proposes to amend the rule to delete an unnecessary date, cover issuance of licenses in addition to the renewal of licenses through TexasOnline, delete the requirement in subsection (b) that state agency licensing entities that collect the cost of the profile system from licensees begin collecting the fees as soon as reasonably possible, and to authorize state agency licensing entities that opt to establish an online license holder profile system to cover the cost of the online service from licensees or from money otherwise available to the licensing entities.

The changes to the rule are authorized by §2054.052(a), Texas Government Code, which authorizes the department to adopt rules necessary to implement its responsibilities under the Information Resources Management Act. The proposed deletion of the requirement that licensing entities begin collecting the fees from licensees as soon as reasonably possible is required because of §6 of House Bill 2048 and §3 of House Bill 2593, enacted by the 79th Legislature. These sections amend §2054.252(e), Government Code, to prohibit the department from charging subscription fees until the service for which the fee is charged is available on the Internet.

Brian Rawson, Director of Service Delivery for the department, has determined that there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government if the amendment proposed to §210.2 is adopted. The public will benefit from greater clarity of the rule if the amendment is adopted.

Mr. Rawson believes there will be no different effect on small businesses than there is on large businesses if the amendment is adopted.

Comments on the proposed amendment of 1 TAC §210.2 may be submitted to Renée Mauzy, General Counsel, Department of Information Resources, via mail to P.O. Box 13564, Austin, Texas 78711, or electronically to renee.mauzy@dir.state.tx.us no later than 5:00 p.m. CT, within 30 days after publication.

The amendment is proposed under §2054.052(a), Texas Government Code.

Chapter 2054, §2054.252 and §2054.2606, Texas Government Code, are affected by the proposed amendment.

§210.2.TexasOnline License Holder Profile Fees.

(a) Each licensing entity identified in §2054.2606(a), Government Code that is required to establish a license holder profile system shall[ , by January 1, 2002, ] collect five dollars annually from license holders listed in §2054.2606(a), Government Code that are applying for an initial license or are renewing an existing license [ renewing a license ]. The five dollar fee [ dollars per license holder renewal ] may be collected through increasing the license issuance and renewal fees by five dollars per license holder, by the licensing entity covering the fee [ five dollars per license holder renewal ] from other revenues rather than [ by ] increasing license issuance and renewal fees, or by a combination of increasing license issuance and renewal fees by less than five dollars per license holder and covering a portion of the five dollars per license holder from other revenues of the licensing entity. The money shall be transferred from the licensing entity to the department to cover the costs of providing the license holder profile system pursuant to guidelines established by the Office of the Comptroller of Public Accounts.

(b) Each state agency licensing entity that opts to establish a license holder profile system pursuant to §2054.2606(b), Government Code, shall collect five dollars annually per license issuance or renewal fee payable by each license holder about whom or which information is available through the profile system. The five dollar fee may be collected through increasing the license issuance and renewal fees by five dollars per license holder, by the licensing entity covering the fee from other revenues rather than by increasing license issuance and renewal fees, or by a combination of increasing license issuance and renewal fees by less than five dollars per license holder and covering a portion of the five dollars per license holder from other revenues of the licensing entity [ per year license renewal fee increases shall begin being collected by the licensing entity from affected license holders as soon as reasonably possible after the licensing entity determines to provide the license holder profile system ].

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on June 29, 2005.

TRD-200502684

Renée Mauzy

General Counsel

Department of Information Resources

Earliest possible date of adoption: August 14, 2005

For further information, please call: (512) 936-6448


Chapter 212. PURCHASES OF COMMODITY ITEMS

The Department of Information Resources (department) proposes to publish for public comment 1 TAC Chapter 212, §§212.1, 212.10 - 212.12, and 212.20 - 212.23, in its entirety, as the new rules necessary to implement Section 1.08, H.B. 1516, 79th Legislature, which amends §2157.068, Texas Government Code. This act of the 79th Legislature has become law, but has not yet taken effect. Currently, §2157.068, Texas Government Code, limits state agency purchases of commodity items to software. The legislative amendment expands the state agency purchase of commodity items to also include hardware or technology services. The department intends to publish repeal of existing Software Commodity Rule 201.18 by separate action. In new Chapter 212, there are three subchapters. Subchapter A, §212.1 is a definition section. Subchapter B, §§212.10 - 212.12 govern required purchases and the establishment and maintenance of a list of the commodity items. Subchapter C, §§212.20 - 212.23 establish a commodity purchase rule exemption application and approval process. The department is cooperating with other state agencies in the development of 1 TAC Chapter 212. These rules are promulgated to implement Section 1.08 of H.B. 1516, 79th Legislature, which amends §2157.068, Government Code, effective September 1, 2005, and in subsection (f) of §2157.068, Government Code, authorizes adoption of rules to regulate commodity purchases by state agencies. Further, the department is promulgating these rules to implement §2001.006(b), Texas Government Code, which authorizes rulemaking activities for legislation that has become law but is not yet in effect.

Mr. Brian S. Rawson, Director of the Service Delivery Division for the department, has determined that there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government if the rules are adopted. The public will benefit by the adoption.

Mr. Rawson believes there will be no different effect on small businesses than there is on large businesses and that there is no additional anticipated economic cost to persons if the rules are adopted.

Comments on the proposed adoption of 1 TAC Chapter 212, §§212.1, 212.10 - 212.12, and 212.20 - 212.23, may be submitted to Cynthia Kreider, Contracts Attorney, Department of Information Resources, via mail to P.O. Box 13564, Austin, Texas 78711, or electronically to cynthia.kreider@dir.state.tx.us no later than 5:00 p.m. CST, within 30 days after publication.

Subchapter A. DEFINITIONS

1 TAC §212.1

The new rule is proposed under §2157.068(f), Texas Government Code, as amended in Section 1.08, H.B. No. 1516, 79th Legislature, effective September 1, 2005, and §2001.006 (b), Texas Government Code, which authorizes necessary rulemaking actions for legislation that has become law but has not yet taken effect.

§212.1.Commodity Items Definitions.

The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1) Commodity items--commercially available Software, Hardware and Technology Services that are generally available to businesses or the public and for which the department determines that a reasonable demand exists in two or more state agencies.

(2) Software--commercially available programs that operate hardware. The term includes all supporting documentation, media on which the software may be contained or stored, related materials, modifications, versions, upgrades, enhancements, updates or replacements.

(3) Hardware--the physical technology used to process, manage, store, transmit, receive or deliver information. The term does not include software.

(4) Technology services--all the services, functions and activities that facilitate the design, implementation, creation, or use of software or hardware. The term includes seat management, staffing augmentation, training, maintenance and subscription services. The term does not include telecommunications services.

(5) Seat management--services through which a state agency transfers its responsibilities to a vendor to manage its personal computing needs, including all necessary Hardware, Software and Technology Services.

(6) Purchase--to obtain ownership, any rights with respect to the use, transfer of ownership, or delivery of commodity items through acquisition, lease or any other method.

(7) State agency--a department, commission, board, office, council, authority or other agency in the executive branch or judicial branch of state government, that is created by the constitution or a statute of the state. The term does not include institutions of higher education, as defined in §61.003, Education Code.

(8) Board--the governing board of the Department of Information Resources.

(9) Director--the Executive Director of the Department of Information Resources.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on July 1, 2005.

TRD-200502714

Renée Mauzy

General Counsel

Department of Information Resources

Earliest possible date of adoption: August 14, 2005

For further information, please call: (512) 936-6448


Subchapter B. REQUIRED PURCHASES

1 TAC §§212.10 - 212.12

The new rules are proposed under §2157.068(f), Texas Government Code.

§212.10.Scope of Requirement.

Each state agency, excluding institutions of higher education, must purchase any commodity items that are contained on the list described in Rule 212.11 in accordance with a contract developed by the department, unless the agency first obtains an exemption from this requirement under Subchapter C of this Chapter or obtains express prior approval from the Legislative Budget Board for the expenditure necessary for the purchase.

§212.11.List of Commodity Items.

The department shall compile and maintain a list of commodity items available for purchase through the department. The department shall make the list available electronically via the world wide web at the following address: http://www.dir.state.tx.us.

§212.12.Emerging Technologies.

The board finds that information technology innovations occur at such a rapid pace that it hereby instructs the director to implement guidelines and update the commodity items list to apply to emerging information technologies as they become available in the marketplace.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on July 1, 2005.

TRD-200502715

Renée Mauzy

General Counsel

Department of Information Resources

Earliest possible date of adoption: August 14, 2005

For further information, please call: (512) 936-6448


Subchapter C. EXEMPTIONS

1 TAC §§212.20 - 212.23

The new rules are proposed under §2157.068(f), Texas Government Code.

§212.20.Written Request and Approval Process.

(a) A state agency may submit a written request to the department for an exemption from the commodity items purchasing requirement described in Subchapter B of this Chapter. The state agency shall not take any action on the contemplated purchase until the request for exemption is either approved or denied by the department.

(b) A request for an exemption must be in writing and include sufficient documentation to support the validity of the request. The department may request additional information in order to determine whether the proposed purchase is in the best interest of the state.

(c) Upon review of a written request for exemption, the department shall issue, in writing, either an approval or denial. A written approval shall include all pertinent terms and conditions of the exemption, including but not limited to, the dollar limit, expiration date, the quantity, list of specific commodity items, and any other conditions related to the proposed purchase. A written denial shall include the basis for the denial.

(d) If the department has not issued a written denial of the exemption request within thirty (30) calendar days following the date of its receipt of the request, the request for the exemption shall be deemed to have been approved for an amount equal to the total dollar amount of the proposed purchase or for the period of time described in the exemption request.

§212.21.Emergency Requests.

(a) In the event of an emergency purchase exemption request from a state agency, the department shall issue a written approval or denial of an exemption request within a maximum of three (3) business days of receipt of the emergency purchase exemption request.

(b) The request for exemption under an emergency situation must include a statement from the head of the requesting state agency describing the emergency and reasons for expedited review by the department.

(c) If the department has not issued a written denial of the emergency purchase exemption request within three (3) business days following the date of its receipt of the request, the emergency request for the exemption shall be deemed to have been approved for an amount equal to the total dollar amount of the proposed purchase or for the period of time described in the emergency exemption request.

§212.22.Blanket Exemptions.

The department may determine that under certain circumstances it is reasonable to grant a blanket exemption to state agencies from the commodity items purchasing requirements described in Subchapter B of this Chapter.

§212.23.Instructions for Requests.

The department shall make available electronically via the world wide web at the address listed in Rule §212.11 the:

(1) instructions for state agency submission of a written request for an exemption;

(2) requirements related to any blanket exemption granted by the department; and

(3) procedures for evaluating a state agency's written request for an exemption.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on July 1, 2005.

TRD-200502716

Renée Mauzy

General Counsel

Department of Information Resources

Earliest possible date of adoption: August 14, 2005

For further information, please call: (512) 936-6448