HBA-JLV H.B. 1624 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1624 By: Isett State Affairs 2/27/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Due to rapid technology advances, government information technology planners have a difficult time coping with equipment compatibility and the costs of upgrading the equipment. This may encourage state agencies to seek to improve the cost-effectiveness of their operations by identifying internal functions that can be performed more efficiently by the private sector. A seat management division may provide an opportunity for the state to address these issues. House Bill 1624 requires the Department of Information Resources to create a seat management division study, transferring to private contractors certain state agency personal computing equipment and the responsibility for computer services. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 1624 amends the Government Code to require the Department of Information Resources (department) to select 10 to 12 state agencies to participate in a pilot study and to create a seat management division (division) to conduct the study. The bill requires each agency to study the total cost of all personal computers and related systems used by the agency, including both owned and leased systems. The bill requires the department, including the division, to assist an agency, upon request, in complying with these provisions. The bill requires each agency, not later than May 1, 2002, to report on the results of its study to the department, including the division. The bill requires the division to analyze the results of the studies to assess the feasibility of establishing a statewide seat management system. The bill requires the division to study different types of contracts that could be used to implement seat management. The bill also requires the division, not later than November 1, 2002, to report its recommendations to the appropriate members of the legislature. The bill describes the seat management method and specifies responsibilities of the private vendor hired by an agency to manage the personal computing needs of the agency. The bill requires each state agency, not later than September 1, 2002 and September 1, 2003, to provide the division with an inventory of all personal computers used by that agency as of June 1, 2002, and June 1, 2003, respectively. The bill provides that these provisions expire by September 2, 2003. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.