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5 Document(s) [ Subject: Business%20climate ]

Committee:	House Investments and Financial Services
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Banks and banking | Business climate | Consumer Credit Commissioner, Office of | Credit service organizations | Elder abuse | Electronic security | Financial investments | Fraud | Loans | Senior citizens | Subprime lending |
Library Call Number:	L1836.84 IN9
Session:	84th R.S. (2015)
Online version:	View report [68 pages]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study the current state of cybersecurity of financial institutions in Texas. Review state and federal laws, and evaluate what additional steps need to be taken to make financial institutions in Texas more secure.
2.	Examine the short-term lending industry in Texas. Study the adequacy of consumer access to credit and the effectiveness of consumer protections, specifically reviewing the consistency and coordination of state law with federal law and local ordinances. Review data-reporting requirements for credit-access businesses and make appropriate recommendations.
3.	Evaluate what policies are currently in place to prevent the financial exploitation and financial abuse of aging Texans, and determine what changes need to be made to strengthen protections for this vulnerable population.
4.	Study the impact on local communities when community banks are consolidated and how this changes the landscape of banking in Texas. Evaluate how the state can help expand charter opportunities in Texas.
5.	Examine the current investment climate and resources available to businesses in Texas. Analyze the effectiveness of existing programs and whether current investment tools are bringing new businesses and new jobs to Texas, and determine whether the current programs are helping established businesses in Texas create jobs. Identify barriers to investment opportunities faced by businesses and investors. This analysis should include but not be limited to: angel investing, crowdfunding, micro-lending, private equity, venture capital, and mezzanine investing. Make appropriate recommendations to ensure investment tools in Texas continue to evolve to help bring jobs to Texas and meet the needs of new and existing businesses in Texas.
6.	Conduct legislative oversight and monitoring of the agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction and the implementing of relevant legislation passed by the 84th Legislature. In addition to general oversight, the Committee should specifically: 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.
Supporting documents
Committee:	House Investments and Financial Services
Title:	Committee meeting handouts and testimony, April 12, 2016 (Cyber security, investment climate, community banking)
Library Call Number:
Session:	84th R.S. (2015)
Online version:	View document [312 pages  File size: 12,444 kb]
Committee:	House Technology
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Business climate | Cellular telephones | e-government | Electronic security | High tech industry | Identity theft | Information Resources, Texas Department of | Internet | Patents | State government contracts | Traffic safety | Transportation, Texas Department of | Video games |
Library Call Number:	L1836.83 T227
Session:	83rd R.S. (2013)
Online version:	View report [113 pages]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	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 Government Efficiency and Reform)
2.	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 Government Efficiency and Reform)
3.	Study the feasibility of an integrated identity management program (IIMP) for state agencies. Examine best practices in the deployment of technology to safeguard state data and programs, limit fraudulent or unauthorized access to state hardware and software, and develop a secure state digital infrastructure. Determine potential savings to the state and make further recommendations on the implementation of IIMP that encompass both logical and physical security.
4.	Study whether abuses in the patent system interfere with the goal of expanded opportunity and innovation for Texas businesses and whether actions by the state can address any such abuses.
5.	Evaluate Texas's competitiveness with other states in recruiting and cultivating the software industry, including entertainment software; fostering economic development; and creating potential new jobs. Examine current incentives and regulations and whether these assist or hinder the expansion of the entertainment software industry in Texas.
6.	Review state regulatory and tax policy to ensure that investment in technology infrastructure, goods, and services is unfettered and that Texas is able to capitalize on innovation to fuel additional job growth, business expansion, and investment. (Joint charge with the House Committee on Ways and Means)
7.	Monitor and review the efforts of the Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) Texas Technology Task Force (TTTF). The TTTF shall study emerging transportation, communication, and computing technologies and determine physical infrastructure and system components that TxDOT or other state departments would need to provide to enable selected technologies. The task is to be completed by TTTF as directed by SB 1, 83rd R.S., item 44, Article VII-31. (Joint charge with the House Committee on Transportation)
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:	Senate Business and Commerce
Title:	Interim Report - State Business Licenses
Library Catalog Title:	State business licenses : interim report to the 81st Texas Legislature
Subjects:	Business climate | Business filings | Occupational licenses | Small businesses |
Library Call Number:	L1836.80 B963b
Session:	80th R.S. (2007)
Online version:	View report [19 pages  File size: 4,995 kb]
Charge:	This report should address the charge below.
1.	Study the number of state business licenses and the need and cost for each license. Estimate the cost and benefits to consumers of licenses and impact on small, start-up businesses.
Committee:	House Business and Commerce
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Business climate | Cable telecommunications providers | Corporate governance | Deaf and hard of hearing | Job training programs | Municipalities | Privatization | Telephone service |
Library Call Number:	L1836.71 B964
Session:	71st R.S. (1989)
Online version:	View report [39 pages]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study the problems associated with the business climate of Texas inner cities and identify potential solutions.
2.	Study trade practices and competition involving the transmission of cable television programming in Texas.
3.	Study the implementation of HB 174 relating to the regulation of certain telephone services.
4.	Study the Job Training Partnership Act.
5.	Study competition practices between government entities and private enterprise.
6.	Study the effect and feasibility of state legislation governing hostile corporate takeovers of domestic corporations.

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