BILL ANALYSIS

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Despite requiring significant expertise, information security positions at state agencies are compensated below the market standard, making it difficult to compete with the private sector. What's more, the State Auditor's Classification Team currently recommends that all entry-level information technology jobs require a four-year college or university degree, which limits the pool of potential applicants. As a result, the state's cybersecurity workforce is aging, and filling entry-level positions has become challenging. 

H.B. 584 would direct the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to approve an information technology credential program for state agencies, which includes a one-year apprenticeship. What's more, it requires the Department of Information Resources to update its career ladder program to allow this credential and an associate degree to be substituted for a four-year degree and directs the State Auditor to review and revise job descriptions accordingly. These changes would help address workforce shortages in state information resources. 

H.B. 584 amends current law relating to the development of a state information technology credential offered by public junior colleges or public technical institutes to address shortages in the state information resources workforce.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 2054.061(b), Government Code, as follows:

(b)  Requires the Department of Information Resources (DIR) to annually analyze:

(1)-(2) makes no changes to these subdivisions;

(3)-(4) makes nonsubstantive changes to these subdivisions; and

(5)  whether entering into an agreement with a public junior college district or public technical institute under Section 2054.0701 is appropriate to assist DIR in meeting staffing needs.

SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 2054, Government Code, by adding Section 2054.0701, as follows:

Sec. 2054.0701.  STATE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CREDENTIAL. (a) Defines "public technical institute."

(b) Authorizes DIR to enter into an agreement with a public junior college district under Section 130.0081 (Agreement With Junior College District), Education Code, or a public technical institute under Section 135.06 (Extension Program), Education Code, or other applicable law to offer a program leading to a state information technology credential to address shortages in the state information resources workforce.

(c)  Requires that a program offered under this section:

(1)  be approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in accordance with Section 61.0512 (Board Approval of Academic Programs), Education Code;

(2)  develop the knowledge and skills necessary for an entry-level information technology position in a state agency; and

(3)  include a one-year apprenticeship with:

(A)  DIR;

(B)  another relevant state agency;

(C)  an organization working on a major information resources project; or

(D)  a regional network security center established under Section 2059.202 (Establishment of Regional Network Security Centers).

(d)  Requires the executive director of DIR to update DIR's intra-agency career ladder program to ensure that an associate degree together with a credential awarded under this section is authorized to be substituted for a four-year baccalaureate degree.

(e)  Requires the classification officer in the office of the state auditor to review the state's position classification plan to determine whether an associate degree together with a credential awarded under this section is authorized to be substituted for a four-year baccalaureate degree and revise relevant job descriptions accordingly.

(f) Authorizes DIR, if a program offered under this section is not fully funded through tuition and other money of the public junior college district or public technical institute available for the purpose, to:

(1)  use any money available to DIR for the purpose to offer a program under this section; and

(2)  solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or private source for purposes of offering a program under this section.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2023.