Bill Text: TX HB2289 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the security of the electric grid.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-05-08 - Reported favorably as substituted [HB2289 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HB2289-Introduced.html
84R8016 DDT-F | ||
By: Parker | H.B. No. 2289 |
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relating to the security of the electric grid. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. (a) The Electric Grid Security Advisory | ||
Committee is created. The committee is composed of the following | ||
members: | ||
(1) two members appointed by the governor; | ||
(2) two members appointed by the lieutenant governor; | ||
and | ||
(3) two members appointed by the speaker of the house | ||
of representatives. | ||
(b) The governor shall designate a member of the committee | ||
to serve as presiding officer. | ||
(c) The committee shall convene at the call of the presiding | ||
officer. | ||
(d) The committee shall study the Texas electric grid and | ||
the computer systems and networks related to it. The study must: | ||
(1) evaluate and summarize the current state of the | ||
electric grid and associated computer systems and networks; | ||
(2) consider potential security threats to the | ||
electric grid and associated computer systems and networks; | ||
(3) assess whether further efforts are needed to | ||
secure the electric grid and associated computer systems and | ||
networks against damage, including the threat of electromagnetic | ||
pulse or other attacks and natural threats, including solar flares; | ||
and | ||
(4) recommend measures to secure the electric grid and | ||
associated computer systems and networks against damage. | ||
(e) The committee may share its findings with any state | ||
agency it considers important to the security of the electric grid | ||
or associated computer systems or networks. To the extent allowed | ||
by law, a state agency with which the committee shares information | ||
is encouraged to implement any recommendations that the agency | ||
determines will improve the security of the state's electric grid | ||
or associated computer systems or networks. | ||
(f) ERCOT shall cooperate with the committee to provide any | ||
information and resources the committee considers important to the | ||
study. | ||
(g) A member of the committee is not entitled to | ||
compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for the member's | ||
travel expenses as provided by Chapter 660, Government Code, and | ||
the General Appropriations Act. | ||
(h) A vacancy on the task force shall be filled for the | ||
unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment. | ||
(i) The committee is not subject to Chapter 2110, Government | ||
Code. | ||
(j) Not later than December 1, 2016, the committee shall | ||
prepare a report of its findings, including any recommendations for | ||
legislation resulting from the findings, and shall submit the | ||
report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of | ||
the house of representatives. | ||
(k) The committee's work relates to sensitive matters of | ||
security. Notwithstanding any other law, the meetings, work, and | ||
findings of the committee are not subject to the requirements of | ||
Chapter 551 or 552, Government Code. | ||
(l) The committee is abolished and this section expires on | ||
December 31, 2016. | ||
SECTION 2. Subchapter Z, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 39.917 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 39.917. INFORMATION RELATED TO GRID SECURITY. The | ||
independent organization certified under Section 39.151 shall | ||
collect and compile information related to the security of the | ||
electric grid. The information is confidential and is not subject | ||
to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code. | ||
SECTION 3. The governor, the lieutenant governor, and the | ||
speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint members to | ||
the Electric Grid Security Advisory Committee, as required by this | ||
Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, | ||
but not later than the 120th day after the effective date of this | ||
Act. | ||
SECTION 4. 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, 2015. |