In a pretty business legislative session in terms of technology, the Texas Legislature gave technology vendors good news and bad news and in some cases politicized the governance and management of technology.

When the 80th regular session of the Texas Legislature met in 2007, they passed several pieces of technology related legislation. The 2008-2012 State Strategic Plan for Information Resources, recently released by the Department of Information Resources (DIR), provides a review that legislation and describes how they are planning to meet the new requirements.

HB 66 -- Requires state agencies to use power management software to reduce the amount of energy used to operate networks and networked personal computers. The Legislative Budget Board (LBB) believes the state will save over $3.8 million during the first two years of implementation. The savings has been estimated at $20 per computer per year and that state currently maintains approximately 109,000 network personal computers and 193,000 at state universities. DIR must research and award contracts and if the cost savings are feasible, state agencies must begin using those contracts during this biennium (2008-2009).

HB 1788 -- Consolidates agency planning and reporting to require agency information resources (IR) strategic plans be included in agency strategic plans. Agencies must also submit a biennial review of their information systems deployments. The bill also requires DIR to prepare a biennial report on streamlining technology data collection.

HB 1789 -- Redefines quality assurance procedures to apply to project management practices. After a major information systems deployment, state agencies would have to report to the Quality Assurance team, which consists of the State Auditor, LBB, and DIR. DIR is required to develop project management practices that take into account varying levels of project size and complexity.

HB 2714 -- Requires manufacturers of personal computers to implement computer recycling programs that are certified by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The programs would have to be free to consumers who purchased computers. DIR is required by this legislation to give preference to computer manufacturers with programs in place to recycle computers from other manufacturers. If a manufacturer is not in compliance with this law they will not be able to participate in procurements.

HB 2918 -- Eliminates the Catalog Information System Vendor (CISV) registration program and transfers to DIR the technology aspects of the Texas Multiple Award Schedule program. Certain non-government organizations are now allowed to use DIR cooperative contracts. Any business processing outsourcing (BPO) projects over $1 million must use the Project Management Delivery Framework and project plans must be filed with the Quality Assurance team. Contract managers must be trained on advanced sourcing strategies, techniques and tools.

HB 3106 -- Transfers the Electronic Government Program Office from DIR to the Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA) to ensure that the uniform statewide accounting project includes enterprise resource planning (ERP). The bill allows CPA to require state agencies to modify, delay or stop the implementation of individual ERP systems. An Enterprise Resources Planning Council is established and has been tasked with developing a plan that contains key requirements for the CPA's implementation of enterprise ERP standards.

SB 687 -- Allows state agencies to use TexasOnline.com for payment tracking and defines point-of-sale transactions on TexasOnline.com. DIR is required to develop standards for agencies' expanded use of the web portal to ensure consistency and compatibility.

SB 757 -- Requires increased coordination between DIR and the Telecommunications Planning and Oversight Council. Several planning and reporting functions are transferred from the council to DIR.

There are several pieces for good news for companies selling technology products and services to the state of Texas:

• Power management software vendors have new vistas of opportunity as this software may become mandatory for state agencies and universities to use.
• Many agencies will not have the staff or technology planning resources required to develop the new agency-level IR plans so they will be turning to consulting companies for assistance.
• Consultants may also be required to help agencies with the biennial review reports of information system deployments now required.
• Several pieces of new legislation require a strengthening of project management skills. Agencies may contract with companies for these skill sets or look to training companies to provide in-house personnel with the skills now required.
• Personal computer manufacturers with recycling programs that include the ability to recycle computers made by other companies will have the edge in Texas procurements.
• Training companies that provide courses and customized training on sourcing strategies will be much in demand.

While INPUT applauds the state's desire to centralize ERP planning and require standards development to ensure uniformity and compatibility across the many state agencies, we are concerned that responsibility for this falls under CPA. This is an elected position in Texas, and we saw during the 2006 gubernatorial race how an IT project failure became a political issue. The reasons for the Texas TIERS failure were many and not conducive to being "summarized" in a sound bite. We worry that the development and deployment of very large, complex systems may become needlessly politicized. We're also a little concerned about the composition of the Quality Assurance team and how it may be influenced by vendors with deep pockets.