Bill Text: TX HB1960 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Engrossed
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of the governor's broadband development council.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 8-3)
Status: (Passed) 2019-05-25 - Effective immediately [HB1960 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HB1960-Engrossed.html
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of the governor's broadband development council.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 8-3)
Status: (Passed) 2019-05-25 - Effective immediately [HB1960 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HB1960-Engrossed.html
By: Price, Anderson, Cyrier, | H.B. No. 1960 | |
González of El Paso, et al. |
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relating to the creation of the governor's broadband development | ||
council. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subtitle F, Title 4, Government Code, is amended | ||
by adding Chapter 490H to read as follows: | ||
CHAPTER 490H. GOVERNOR'S BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL | ||
Sec. 490H.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: | ||
(1) "Broadband" means a service that provides advanced | ||
telecommunications capability and Internet access. | ||
(2) "Council" means the governor's broadband | ||
development council. | ||
(3) "Unserved area" means a census block without | ||
access to broadband capable of providing: | ||
(A) a download speed of at least 25 megabits per | ||
second; and | ||
(B) an upload speed of at least three megabits | ||
per second. | ||
Sec. 490H.002. COMPOSITION. (a) The council is composed of | ||
the following 17 voting members: | ||
(1) two representatives of unaffiliated Internet | ||
service providers, including at least one representative of a small | ||
provider, as defined by Section 56.032, Utilities Code, appointed | ||
by the governor; | ||
(2) one representative of the health information | ||
technology industry, appointed by the governor; | ||
(3) two representatives of unaffiliated nonprofit | ||
organizations that advocate for elderly persons statewide, | ||
appointed by the governor; | ||
(4) two representatives of unaffiliated nonprofit | ||
organizations that have a demonstrated history of working with the | ||
legislature and the public to identify solutions for expanding | ||
broadband to rural, unserved areas of this state, appointed by the | ||
governor; | ||
(5) one representative of an agricultural advocacy | ||
organization in this state, appointed by the governor; | ||
(6) one representative of a hospital advocacy | ||
organization in this state, appointed by the governor; | ||
(7) one representative of a medical advocacy | ||
organization in this state, appointed by the governor; | ||
(8) one county official who serves in an elected | ||
office of a county with a population of less than 35,000, appointed | ||
by the governor; | ||
(9) one municipal official who serves in an elected | ||
office of a municipality with a population of less than 20,000 | ||
located in a county with a population of less than 60,000, appointed | ||
by the governor; | ||
(10) one representative of an institution of higher | ||
education that has its main campus in a county with a population of | ||
less than 60,000, appointed by the governor; | ||
(11) one representative of a school district with a | ||
territory that includes only counties with a population of less | ||
than 60,000, appointed by the governor; | ||
(12) one representative from a library association, | ||
appointed by the governor; | ||
(13) one member of the house of representatives, | ||
appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and | ||
(14) one state senator, appointed by the lieutenant | ||
governor. | ||
(b) A member of the council appointed under Subsection (a) | ||
serves for a five-year term. | ||
(c) A vacancy on the council is filled in the same manner as | ||
the original appointment. | ||
Sec. 490H.003. COUNCIL PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor | ||
shall designate the presiding officer of the council. | ||
Sec. 490H.004. MEETINGS. (a) The council shall convene at | ||
least once every quarter. | ||
(b) The council shall convene at the call of the presiding | ||
officer. | ||
Sec. 490H.005. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. The office of the | ||
governor shall provide administrative support to the council. | ||
Sec. 490H.006. DUTIES. (a) The council shall: | ||
(1) research the progress of broadband development in | ||
unserved areas; | ||
(2) identify barriers to residential and commercial | ||
broadband deployment in unserved areas; | ||
(3) study technology-neutral solutions to overcome | ||
barriers identified under Subdivision (2); and | ||
(4) analyze how statewide access to broadband would | ||
benefit: | ||
(A) economic development; | ||
(B) the delivery of educational opportunities in | ||
higher education and public education; | ||
(C) state and local law enforcement; | ||
(D) state emergency preparedness; and | ||
(E) the delivery of health care services, | ||
including telemedicine and telehealth. | ||
(b) The council may research another matter related to | ||
broadband only if a majority of the council approves researching | ||
the matter. | ||
(c) For the purpose of performing its duties under this | ||
section, the council may consult with a representative of an | ||
institution of higher education who has published scholarly | ||
research on broadband. | ||
Sec. 490H.007. ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than November 1 of | ||
each year, the council shall prepare and deliver an electronic | ||
report of its findings and recommendations to the governor, the | ||
lieutenant governor, and each member of the legislature. | ||
Sec. 490H.008. EXPIRATION. This chapter expires September | ||
1, 2029. | ||
SECTION 2. The first report described by Section 490H.007, | ||
Government Code, as added by this Act, is due November 1, 2020. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |