Subject search results

12 Document(s) [ Subject: Public information ]

Committee:	Senate Business and Commerce
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Delinquent taxes | Elder abuse | Electronic security | Employment eligibility verification | Hailstorms | Health insurance | Liens | Medical bill balance billing | Occupational licenses | Prompt payment of insurance claims | Property insurance | Public information | State employees | Texas Windstorm Insurance Association | Undocumented immigrants |
Library Call Number:	L1836.84 B963
Session:	84th R.S. (2015)
Online version:	View report [72 pages]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Occupational Licensing: Review all occupations licensed under Texas law to determine the extent to which continued state regulation and licensure is required to protect public health and safety. Examine methods to ensure greater legislative oversight of new regulations, scope, and necessity of certain licenses and make recommendations for state licenses that should be repealed or transitioned to private-sector enforcement.
2.	Hail Storm: Monitor the number of lawsuits related to property claims filed as a result of multiple hail storms and weather related events across Texas. Examine negative consumer trends that may result in market disruption such as higher premiums and deductibles, less coverage, non-renewals, and inability to secure coverage due to insurance carrier withdrawal from the state and make recommendations on legislative action needed.
3.	Texas Prompt Pay Law: Study the impact of the penalty calculations under the current prompt payment of health care claim laws and regulations, including comparing penalties in other states and late payment penalties in Texas for other lines of insurance. Evaluate whether unregulated billed charges is the appropriate basis for determining penalty amounts and make recommendations for statutory changes, if needed.
4.	Cyber-security/Storage: Examine cyber-security efforts undertaken by state entities and study the legal, policy, and privacy implications of the trend toward storage of personal, private, and business confidential information in network attached storage, cloud storage, and other developing data storage options rather than on local devices. Make recommendations on how to best protect Texans’ financial and personal information.
5.	Elder Financial Abuse: Study elder financial abuse and determine what steps the State of Texas should take to help protect older Texans from financial exploitation.
6.	Property Tax Liens: Examine and make recommendations for necessary changes regarding the collection process of delinquent ad valorem property taxes, including an inquiry into the role that tax lien transfers play in forestalling foreclosure.
7.	Monitoring Charge: Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Business and Commerce during the 84th R.S. and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation. Specifically, monitor the following: 1) State agency participation in the federal electronic verification of employment authorization program; 2) Implementation of legislation intended to further protect consumers from the balance billing process; 3) Changes made to the operation of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association; 4) The regulation of public insurance adjusters; and 5) The current consent policy for state disclosure of personal data.
Committee:	House Government Transparency and Operation
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Computer networks | Computers and government | Criminal records | Data centers | Electronic security | Law enforcement | Public information | Public Information Act, Texas | State agencies | State purchasing | Video cameras and recordings |
Library Call Number:	L1836.84 G747T
Session:	84th R.S. (2015)
Online version:	View report [76 pages]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Identify and address potential gaps in the state's cybersecurity policies and ensure that personal information held by state agencies is secure. Address whether industry-accepted cybersecurity standards have been met by state agencies and state data centers and determine ways to promote a culture of cybersecurity awareness among users of state information resources.
2.	Examine purchasing practices by state agencies to ensure such practices are efficient and transparent.
3.	Study issues related to access to public information held outside of the custody or control of the governmental body by current or former officers or employees. Assess whether the Public Information Act's procedures for response to repetitious or redundant public information requests adequately protect small governmental bodies from the financial burdens imposed by such requests.
4.	Study the use of commercial cloud computing by state agencies and institutions of higher education, including efficiencies surrounding a utility-based model, security impacts of transitioning to cloud computing, and cost-savings achieved by the utilization of commercial cloud computing services.
5.	Review the process of dissemination by public entities of criminal records containing incomplete or inaccurate information, assess options for the subjects of such records to correct the misinformation specifically as it interferes with their ability to obtain employment, and determine the need for greater regulations over this process. (Joint charge with the House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety)
6.	Study the impact of emerging technologies used by law enforcement and issues related to appropriate dissemination of the data provided by those technologies, including the impact of technologies on the operation of law enforcement agencies, the operation of the Public Information Act, and any appropriate safeguards for citizens and law enforcement officers who interact with those technologies or whose data is recorded. (Joint charge with the House Select Committee on Emerging Issues in Texas Law Enforcement)
7.	Conduct legislative oversight and monitoring of the agencies and programs under the committee’s jurisdiction and the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 84th Legislature. In conducting this oversight, the committee should: a. consider any reforms to state agencies to make them more responsive to Texas taxpayers and citizens; b. identify issues regarding the agency or its governance that may be appropriate to investigate, improve, remedy, or eliminate; c. determine whether an agency is operating in a transparent and efficient manner; and d. identify opportunities to streamline programs and services while maintaining the mission of the agency and its programs.
Committee:	House Homeland Security and Public Safety
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Criminal records | Emergency management | Emergency Management, Texas Division of | Motor vehicle emissions tests | Motor vehicle registration | Motor vehicle safety inspections | Natural disasters | Public information | Public Safety, Texas Department of | Semi-trailer trucks | Truck drivers | Truck inspection stations | Trucking |
Library Call Number:	L1836.84 P96H
Session:	84th R.S. (2015)
Online version:	View report [108 pages]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Review the functions of the Texas Division of Emergency Management and the state's natural disaster preparedness planning efforts to determine their effectiveness at addressing a growing range of threats. Identify best practices to ensure coordination between municipalities, counties, and state agencies.
2.	Review the current penalties for operating a commercial motor vehicle that is in violation of state or federal safety standards. Evaluate the role of state and local law enforcement agencies in enforcing commercial motor vehicle standards, and make recommendations to ensure the safety of the traveling public.
3.	Monitor the implementation of the "two steps, one sticker" program as it relates to passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, light duty trailers, and other vehicles. Recommend measures to ensure an efficient transition to this system and improve the ease of use for consumers.
4.	Review the process of dissemination by public entities of criminal records containing incomplete or inaccurate information, assess options for the subjects of such records to correct the misinformation specifically as it interferes with their ability to obtain employment, and determine the need for greater regulations over this process. (Joint charge with the House Committee on Government Transparency & Operation)
5.	Conduct legislative oversight and monitoring of the agencies and programs under the committee’s jurisdiction and the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 84th Legislature, including legislation that expanded the ability to carry handguns openly and on the campuses of institutions of higher education and legislation that allows for the compassionate use of certain medically prescribed oils for intractable disorders. In conducting this oversight, the committee should: a. consider any reforms to state agencies to make them more responsive to Texas taxpayers and citizens; b. identify issues regarding the agency or its governance that may be appropriate to investigate, improve, remedy, or eliminate; c. determine whether an agency is operating in a transparent and efficient manner; and d. identify opportunities to streamline programs and services while maintaining the mission of the agency and its programs
Committee:	House Criminal Jurisprudence
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Alternatives to incarceration | Children's mental health | Criminal records | Deferred adjudication | Inmate rehabilitation | Internet | Jail population | Juvenile crime | Juvenile justice system | Juveniles certified as adults | Mental health services | Mentally ill inmates | Parole | Prisoner re-entry | Probation | Public information | Recidivism | Restorative justice | Rules of the Texas House of Representatives | State jail system | Statutory revision | Substance abuse | Texas Penal Code | Vandalism |
Library Call Number:	L1836.83 C868h
Session:	83rd R.S. (2013)
Online version:	View report [82 pages]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study the classification of 17-year-olds as adults in the criminal justice system of Texas.
2.	Study the effectiveness of deferred adjudication and orders for non-disclosure in spite of the many exceptions to the statute. Study extending the use of expunction of criminal records history and non-disclosures to certain qualified individuals with low-level, non-violent convictions. Examine the statutorily allowed but underused non-disclosure and expunction of criminal records, and the use of deferred adjudication.
3.	Study the impact of SB 1289, 83rd R.S.. Examine the sale of criminal histories that may be erroneous as well as the lasting impact that arrest records have on individuals who are arrested but not charged or convicted. Assess the need for revision of existing statutes and consider designating an agency responsible for regulating entities involved in the industry.
4.	Examine the association between co-occurring serious mental illness and substance use disorders and parole revocation among inmates from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Review current policies and procedures for incarcerating individuals with a dual mental health diagnosis in both state and county correctional facilities and examine potential remedies within the State's criminal justice system to ensure that the public is protected and that individuals with a mental health diagnosis receive a continuum of mental health services. (Joint charge with the House Committee on Corrections)
5.	Examine the current pecuniary loss thresholds associated with graffiti offenses. Study the costs of enhancing the penalties associated with the offense of graffiti, as well as a study of pretrial diversion programs that exist in other states and are specific to persons convicted of graffiti offenses. Study the existing Graffiti Abatement Programs in Texas.
6.	Evaluate the approximately 1,500 non-traditional criminal offenses that can be found outside of the Penal Code. Study the feasibility of streamlining these offenses and examine ambiguities in the law. Study the existing use of the Rule of Lenity and Mens Rea requirements in Texas and the benefit of codifying both of these standards.
7.	Examine the utilization of community supervision in state jail felonies and the effectiveness of the state jail in light of its original purpose.
8.	Conduct legislative oversight and monitoring of the agencies and programs under the committee’s jurisdiction and the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 83rd Legislature. In conducting this oversight, the committee should: a. consider any reforms to state agencies to make them more responsive to Texas taxpayers and citizens; b. identify issues regarding the agency or its governance that may be appropriate to investigate, improve, remedy, or eliminate; c. determine whether an agency is operating in a transparent and efficient manner; and d. identify opportunities to streamline programs and services while maintaining the mission of the agency and its programs.
Committee:	House Government Efficiency and Reform
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Attorney General Open Records Division | Cellular telephones | e-government | Health and Human Services Commission, Texas | Information Resources, Texas Department of | Library & Archives Commission, Texas State | Open government | Public information | Public Information Act, Texas | State agencies | State purchasing | Transportation planning | Transportation, Texas Department of | Water planning | Workforce Commission, Texas |
Library Call Number:	L1836.83 G747r
Session:	83rd R.S. (2013)
Online version:	View report [36 pages]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Examine current restrictions on state and local governmental entities relating to the construction of critical infrastructure, including transportation and water projects, and make recommendations for expediting and creating more cost-effective and efficient methods for the construction of such projects.
2.	Study the current laws, rules, and processes in place for the Department of Information Resources's Cooperative Contracts and recommend improvements to the 84th Legislature. (Joint charge with the House Committee on Technology)
3.	Review the application of the Public Information Act to requests for large amounts of electronic data. Examine whether the procedures and deadlines imposed by the Act give governmental bodies enough time to identify and protect confidential information in such requests.
4.	Examine the public's accessibility to government services and agencies through the use of mobile applications and online services. (Joint charge with the House Committee on Technology)
5.	Study the benefits of utilizing a Chief Innovation Officer for Texas and its agencies.
6.	Study the feasibility of having all state agencies use the Texas Workforce Commission's "Work in Texas" website for a more standardized applications process. Determine the interest of municipal, county, and other jurisdictions in boosting their utilization of the website.
7.	Conduct legislative oversight and monitoring of the agencies and programs under the committee’s jurisdiction and the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 83rd Legislature. In conducting this oversight, the committee should: a. consider any reforms to state agencies to make them more responsive to Texas taxpayers and citizens; b. identify issues regarding the agency or its governance that may be appropriate to investigate, improve, remedy, or eliminate; c. determine whether an agency is operating in a transparent and efficient manner; and d. identify opportunities to streamline programs and services while maintaining the mission of the agency and its programs.
Committee:	Senate Open Government
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Government transparency | Privacy | Public information | University students | Websites |
Library Call Number:	L1836.83 Op2
Session:	83rd R.S. (2013)
Online version:	View report [15 pages]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Review the Texas Public Information Act to ensure that access to public records and information by the public remains fully transparent, but that governmental entities have the authority to protect the privacy interests of citizens, including primary and higher education students, from improper public disclosure.
2.	Review and make recommendations on improving the transparency of information available on state websites regarding state expenditures, reports, and contracts, including a comparison of how similar information is provided by other states.
Committee:	House Business and Industry
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	House Committee on Business & Industry, Texas House of Representatives interim report, 2008 : a report to the House of Representatives, 81st Texas Legislature
Subjects:	Copyright | Electronic security | Film industry | Identity theft | Illegal video recordings | Music | Public information | Publishers and publishing | Workers' compensation |
Library Call Number:	L1836.80 B964
Session:	80th R.S. (2007)
Online version:	View report [69 pages  File size: 7,294 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study the problem of identity theft and the impact of legislation enacted in recent legislative sessions. Examine the problem of electronic data breaches, as well as the feasibility of requiring periodic destruction of records for businesses and state entities to limit exposure to identity theft. Examine the issue of personal information contained in publicly available government records. Recommend any legislative changes needed to combat the problem.
2.	Study Articles 2 and 2A of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) and consider amending Chapters 2 and 2A of the Business and Commerce Code to conform with recent amendments to the UCC.
3.	Study the original purposes, development, and the current need for the Subsequent Injury Fund and determine whether this fund should be continued or altered.
4.	Study the problem of digital piracy and make recommendations for legislative changes to address the problem facing move producers and distributors, retailers, book publishers, the music industry, universities, and other copyright holders of creative content. This review should include an examination of the impact on state and local government sales tax revenues.
5.	Monitor the Texas workers' compensation system, and the continued implementation of the reforms of HB 7, 79th R.S., by the Texas Department of Insurance and other state agencies. Specifically evaluate the recent decision by the Texas Supreme Court in Entergy v. Summers in terms of its impact on the system. (Joint Interim Charge with the House Committee on Insurance.)
6.	Monitor the agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction.
Committee:	Senate Veteran Affairs and Military Installations
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	The Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military Installations report and recommendations to the 79th Texas Legislature.
Subjects:	Hazlewood Act | Military personnel | Military records | Privacy | Public information | Student aid | Tuition | Tuition residency requirements |
Library Call Number:	L1836.78 V641
Session:	78th R.S. (2003)
Online version:	View report [112 pages  File size: 941 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study the impact of recent state and federal legislation with regard to protecting the personal privacy of Veterans' discharge records.
2.	Study existing language of the Hazelwood Act (Section 54.203, Education Code) which entitles wartime veterans and their children to a waiver of tuition and fees at some State-supported colleges and universities, and make recommendations, including cost estimates, on possible amendments to this Act to permit Veterans who have not fully used their entitlement under the Act to pass on residual benefits to their children.
3.	Monitor the Texas Education Agency's (TEA) implementation of HB 591, 78th R.S., relating to reciprocity agreements between states concerning admissions of military personnel, and HB 261, 78th R.S., relating to instate tuition levels for military personnel.
Committee:	House Civil Practices
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	House Committee on Civil Practices, Texas House of Representatives interim report, 2002 : a report to the House of Representatives, 78th Texas Legislature.
Subjects:	Alternative dispute resolution | Consumer protection | Homeland security | Judicial interpretation of legislation | Liability | National security | Open records requests and decisions | Public information | Public Information Act, Texas | Rules of evidence | Statutory revision | Supreme Court, Texas | Terrorism |
Library Call Number:	L1836.77 c498
Session:	77th R.S. (2001)
Online version:	View report [162 pages  File size: 7,486 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Examine practices by courts and attorneys in product liability cases that may be detrimental to public health and safety. The review should include the sealing of records that might assist the public in assessing the dangers of using a product, agreements not to disclose information to the public or regulatory agencies, and any other rules, practices or laws deemed relevant by the committee.
2.	Examine changes over the last decade to the civil justice system that affect the right of litigants (citizens or businesses) to receive appropriate review by a judicial body, including arbitration, mediation, other types of alternative dispute resolution.
3.	Review changes in federal laws and law enforcement procedures, as well as recommendations from state and national agencies charged with homeland protection, to assess the need for changes in state civil laws to protect life and property and to detect, interdict and respond to acts of terrorism.
4.	Review recent decisions of Texas appellate courts and identify those decisions that: (1) clearly failed to properly implement legislative purposes, (2) found two or more statutes to be in conflict, (3) held a statute to be unconstitutional, (4) expressly found a statute to be ambiguous, or (5) expressly suggested legislative action.
5.	Monitor the rule-making proceedings of the Texas Supreme Court.
Committee:	House State Affairs
Title:	Interim report
Library Catalog Title:	Committee on State Affairs, Texas House of Representatives interim report, 1994 : a report to the House of Representatives, 74th Texas Legislature.
Subjects:	Consumer credit and debt | Consumer protection | Databases | Internet | Open government | Open records requests and decisions | Public information | Public Information Act, Texas | Public Utility Commission of Texas | Public Utility Regulatory Act | Rental companies | Sale-leaseback agreements | State agency mandated reports | Websites |
Library Call Number:	L1836.73 st29
Session:	73rd R.S. (1993)
Online version:	View report [103 pages  File size: 3,584 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Conduct active oversight of agencies under the committee's jurisdiction, including a study of mandated reports to the legislature and legislative agencies. The study should consist of a review of the legislative reporting requirements of all agencies to identify areas where reporting obligations could be streamlined and agency accountability improved. The committee shall make specific recommendations about the continuation, modification or elimination of required legislative reports.
2.	Consider revisions to the Open Records Act to clarify its meaning and utility in light of the number of information files now maintained on computers.
3.	Study the feasibility of a consolidated Texas state government database to improve electronic access to legislative information, information maintained by state agencies, the Texas Register and other information of public interest and importance.
4.	Examine the laws related to consumer finance and installment purchases to determine whether changes in the laws, their interpretation or enforcement are necessary to protect the public interest.
5.	Evaluate the public benefits of requiring the Public Utilities Commission to grant incentive rates of return to electric and telecommunications utilities that exceed certain efficiency thresholds, and to levy a rate of return penalty on utilities that fail to achieve established efficiency standards.
Committee:	House Energy
Title:	Interim report
Library Catalog Title:	To the Speaker and members, Texas House of Representatives, 69th Legislature : report of the Committee on Energy, Texas House of Representatives, 68th Legislature.
Subjects:	Electric power plants | Electric utilities | Electric utility rates and charges | Natural gas drilling | Oil drilling | Oil industry | Oil production | Public information | Radioactive waste | Rights of way | Solid waste disposal |
Library Call Number:	L1836.68 en27
Session:	68th R.S. (1983)
Online version:	View report [81 pages  File size: 2,479 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	To study the advantage of mandatory release of certain electric well logs made in conjunction with oil and gas exploration activities.
2.	In cooperation with state and federal authorities and the Special House-Senate Joint Committee on Hazardous Waste, study future proposals of the National Waste Terminal Storage Program and the progress of the Department of Energy's other activities that relate to Texas' role in high-level waste disposal operations.
3.	To study the background on the receipt and expenditure of Department of Energy oil overcharge money forwarded to the State of Texas and make appropriate recommendations.
4.	To study operations relating to seismographic testing on the right-of-way of county roads or other public highways.
5.	To study the concept of inverted block pricing structures as they relate to public utilities in Texas.
Supporting documents
Committee:	House Energy
Title:	Notices of public hearing and formal meeting
Library Catalog Title:	Minutes
Library Call Number:	L1801.9 EN27 68
Session:	68th R.S. (1983)
Online version:	View document [3 pages]

Information on this website is provided as a public service by the Legislative Reference Library. The Legislative Reference Library makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy and makes no warranty in regard to its use. Users assume all risk of reliance on the information included on this site.