Bill Text: TX SB1398 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Relating to a study by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas on securing critical infrastructure from electromagnetic, geomagnetic, terrorist, and cyber-attack threats.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 11-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2015-05-24 - Committee report sent to Calendars [SB1398 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-SB1398-Comm_Sub.html
By: Hall, et al. | S.B. No. 1398 | |
(Parker, Phillips, Simpson, White of Bell, Schaefer) | ||
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relating to a study by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas on | ||
securing critical infrastructure from electromagnetic, | ||
geomagnetic, terrorist, and cyber-attack threats. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "critical infrastructure" | ||
means an electrical power generating facility, substation, | ||
switching station, electrical control center, or electrical | ||
transmission or distribution facility. | ||
(b) The Public Utility Commission of Texas shall instruct | ||
the independent organization certified under Section 39.151, | ||
Utilities Code, to commission a study on the security of the Texas | ||
electric grid and the computer systems and networks related to it. | ||
On or before September 1, 2015, the independent organization must | ||
name persons to conduct the study who have expertise in: | ||
(1) electromagnetic pulse disturbances; | ||
(2) cybersecurity; | ||
(3) geomagnetic disturbances; | ||
(4) electric power transmission and distribution | ||
system security; and | ||
(5) terrorism. | ||
(c) Through the study the independent organization must: | ||
(1) identify the critical infrastructure that is at | ||
risk from electromagnetic, geomagnetic, terrorist, and | ||
cyber-attack threats; | ||
(2) evaluate technologies available to improve the | ||
resiliency of critical infrastructure against electromagnetic, | ||
geomagnetic, terrorist, or cyber-attack threats; | ||
(3) evaluate measures to secure the electric grid and | ||
associated computer systems and networks against damage against | ||
electromagnetic, geomagnetic, terrorist, and cyber-attack threats; | ||
and | ||
(4) assess the projected cost of enhancements to | ||
critical infrastructure that are necessary to secure adequately | ||
against electromagnetic, geomagnetic, terrorist, and cyber-attack | ||
threats. | ||
(d) Information collected by the independent organization | ||
for the study that is related to the security of the electric grid | ||
is confidential and is not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, | ||
Government Code. | ||
SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2016, the Public | ||
Utility Commission of Texas shall provide a report on the results of | ||
the study required by this Act to the governor, the lieutenant | ||
governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each | ||
standing committee of the senate and the house of representatives | ||
with primary jurisdiction over the electric grid and emergency | ||
management. | ||
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, 2015. |