86R2935 BRG-D
 
  By: Hall S.B. No. 76
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the security of the electric grid.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is
  amended by adding Section 39.917 to read as follows:
         Sec. 39.917.  GRID SECURITY COUNCIL. (a) The governor shall
  appoint members of the grid security council. Council membership
  must include at least one representative of each of the following:
               (1)  the commission;
               (2)  the independent organization certified under
  Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power region;
               (3)  the Texas Military Department;
               (4)  the Texas Division of Emergency Management;
               (5)  the State Office of Risk Management; and
               (6)  power generation companies.
         (b)  The council shall monitor economic, environmental,
  regulatory, and technological developments that may affect the
  security of the electric grid.
         (c)  Not later than the November 1 preceding each regular
  session of the legislature, the council shall prepare and submit a
  report to the legislature analyzing:
               (1)  the developments listed in Subsection (b); and
               (2)  the progress made towards implementing the
  council's previous grid security recommendations.
         (d)  The governor shall designate a member of the council to
  serve as presiding officer. 
         (e)  A member of the council is not entitled to compensation.
         SECTION 2.  (a)  The grid security council shall evaluate
  security vulnerabilities of the electric grid and strategies for
  securing the grid against:
               (1)  cyber threats;
               (2)  physical threats;
               (3)  weather threats;
               (4)  solar storm threats;
               (5)  threats of sabotage; and
               (6)  threats relating to electromagnetic pulses.
         (b)  Not later than November 1, 2020, the council shall
  prepare and submit a report to the legislature with recommendations
  for addressing the threats identified in Subsection (a) of this
  section. The council's report shall include recommendations for:
               (1)  state agency rule changes;
               (2)  legislation; and
               (3)  management changes at the Public Utility
  Commission of Texas, the Texas Military Department, the Texas
  Division of Emergency Management, and the State Office of Risk
  Management.
         SECTION 3.  The first report described by Section 39.917(c),
  Utilities Code, as added by this Act, is due November 1, 2022.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.