House Committee on Government Transparency and Operation - 85th R.S. (2017)

Committee:	House Government Transparency and Operation
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Emergency management | Hurricane Harvey | Natural disasters | Open government | Public Information Act, Texas | State agencies | State government contracts | State purchasing |
Library Call Number:	L1836.85 G747t
Session:	85th R.S. (2017)
Online version:	View report [86 pages]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Examine the role of technology in disaster preparedness and the response to Hurricane Harvey and future natural disasters. Review and make recommendations to drive innovation and efficiency and evaluate whether there are any regulatory impediments to collaboration between the public and private sectors.
2.	Evaluate whether qualifying state agencies are appropriately utilizing available state disaster recovery services, including the statewide technology centers. Consider the costs and benefits of allowing other states to participate in Texas' statewide technology centers under Subchapter L, Chapter 2054, Texas Government Code for disaster recovery purposes.
3.	Review Texas’ open meeting laws and related government decision-making policies. Determine if the formal processes prevented the efficient delivery of assistance during Hurricane Harvey. Make recommendations on maintaining the current standards of accountability without limiting government-provided aid during disaster events.
4.	Evaluate whether, in light of recent Texas Supreme Court rulings, the provisions of the Public Information Act are adequate to support transparency and accountability in government, particularly as it relates to government contracting and procurement.
5.	Study how state agencies can share knowledge and practices, reduce duplicative data gathering, and conduct business in a more efficient manner through interagency data sharing. Review best practices to provide the public with more transparency and access to government information.
6.	Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 85th Legislature. In conducting this oversight, the committee will also specifically monitor the implementation of H.B. 8 (85R).
Supporting documents
Committee:	House Government Transparency and Operation
Title:	Committee meeting handouts and testimony, March 27, 2018 (Public Information Act, cybersecurity, data sharing, disaster recovery)
Library Call Number:
Session:	85th R.S. (2017)
Online version:	View document [95 pages  File size: 7,933 kb]

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