Texas. Dept. of Information Resources.

The Texas Automated Information Systems Advisory Council (AISAC) was created in 1981 (House Bill 1463, 67th Texas Legislature, Regular Session), to adopt guidelines to aid state governmental bodies in making economical and efficient use of automated information systems, the computers on which they were automated, and related services. This advisory council was composed of seven members, serving overlapping two-year terms. Two were appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, including (1) a member or employee of the house or of a legislative agency, and (2) a person employed by a private corporation as the manager of an automated information system. Two were appointed by the lieutenant governor, including (3) a member or employee of the senate or of a legislative agency, and (4) a person employed by private industry as the manager of a large mainframe computer. Three were appointed by the governor, including (5) a person knowledgeable in the management of automated information systems and the computers on which they are automated, (6) an employee of a state-supported institution of higher education knowledgeable in the management of automated information systems, and (7) an employee of a state governmental body (other than an institution of higher education) knowledgeable in the management of automated information systems.

This advisory council was replaced in 1985 by the Texas Automated Information and Telecommunications Council (AITC) (House Bill 2375, 69th Texas Legislature, Regular Session), with the following additional duties: to conduct a management audit of each state governmental body in the use of telecommunication devices, systems, and services, and in the use of automated information systems, the computers on which they are automated, and related services; to serve as a central clearinghouse of software; and to prepare a long-range telecommunications plan. The new council was composed of nine members, adding the following two to the previous seven: (8) one appointed by the speaker, and (9) one appointed by the lieutenant governor, both of them state employees knowledgeable in the management of automated information systems or telecommunications systems.

The Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) was created in 1989 (House Bill 2736, 71st Texas Legislature, Regular Session) to coordinate and direct the use of automated information and telecommunications devices, systems, or services by Texas state agencies. It replaced both the AITC and the Automated Interagency Services Division of the State Purchasing and General Services Commission. The major difference between the DIR and either of its predecessor councils is its ability to monitor and enforce compliance with state-mandated information resources policies and goals. Specific duties assigned to the department include: collecting data from state agencies regarding use and costs of information resources technologies; monitoring national and international standards for information resources technologies; establishing policies, procedures, and standards relating to information resources management by state agencies; providing technical assistance to all levels of government; testing various available technologies; providing for all interagency use of information resources technology by state agencies (except for telecommunications services provided by the General Services Commission until September 2001); and operating a computer services facility for state agencies. When the Building and Procurement Commission began operating in September 2001, the Texas Department of Information Resources assumed the telecommunications functions formerly performed by the General Services Commission.

Between 1989 and 1997, the policy-making body of the Texas Department of Information Resources was a nine-member board, appointed by the governor with advice and consent of the senate for overlapping six-year terms. Three of the members came from a list submitted by the speaker of the house, and had to include at least one state representative (ex-officio, but voting); another three came from a list submitted by the lieutenant governor, and had to include at least one state senator (ex-officio, but voting); one member had to be employed by an institution of higher learning. The governor named the chair.

In 1997 (Senate Bill 365, 75th Texas Legislature, Regular Session), the number of voting members on the board was reduced to six, still appointed by the governor, and still including one employee of an institution of higher education. In addition, three ex-officio, non-voting members were added, from two groups which serve for two years each on a rotating basis, neither group serving at the same time as the other: the first group is composed of the executive director of the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission, the commissioner of Health and Human Services, and the executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation; the second group is composed of the Texas commissioner of Education, the executive director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and the executive director of the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife.

The number of voting members was increased to seven in 2003 (Senate Bill 287, 78th Texas Legislature, Regular Session) in response to a constitutional amendment affecting all state agencies with boards containing an even number of members.

From the guide to the Department of Information Resources records, 1981-1997, 1999, (Texas State Archives)

The Texas Automated Information Systems Advisory Council (AISAC) was created in 1981 (House Bill 1463, 67th Texas Legislature, Regular Session), to adopt guidelines to aid state governmental bodies in making economical and efficient use of automated information systems, the computers on which they were automated, and related services. This advisory council was composed of seven members, serving overlapping two-year terms. Two were appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, including (1) a member or employee of the house or of a legislative agency, and (2) a person employed by a private corporation as the manager of an automated information system. Two were appointed by the lieutenant governor, including (3) a member or employee of the senate or of a legislative agency, and (4) a person employed by private industry as the manager of a large mainframe computer. Three were appointed by the governor, including (5) a person knowledgeable in the management of automated information systems and the computers on which they are automated, (6) an employee of a state-supported institution of higher education knowledgeable in the management of automated information systems, and (7) an employee of a state governmental body (other than an institution of higher education) knowledgeable in the management of automated information systems.

This advisory council was replaced in 1985 by the Texas Automated Information and Telecommunications Council (AITC) (House Bill 2375, 69th Texas Legislature, Regular Session), with the following additional duties: to conduct a management audit of each state governmental body in the use of telecommunication devices, systems, and services, and in the use of automated information systems, the computers on which they are automated, and related services; to serve as a central clearinghouse of software; and to prepare a long-range telecommunications plan. The new council was composed of nine members, adding the following two to the previous seven: (8) one appointed by the speaker, and (9) one appointed by the lieutenant governor, both of them state employees knowledgeable in the management of automated information systems or telecommunications systems.

The Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) was created in 1989 (House Bill 2736, 71st Texas Legislature, Regular Session) to coordinate and direct the use of automated information and telecommunications devices, systems, or services by Texas state agencies. It replaced both the AITC and the Automated Interagency Services Division of the State Purchasing and General Services Commission. The major difference between the DIR and either of its predecessor councils is its ability to monitor and enforce compliance with state-mandated information resources policies and goals. Specific duties assigned to the department include: collecting data from state agencies regarding use and costs of information resources technologies; monitoring national and international standards for information resources technologies; establishing policies, procedures, and standards relating to information resources management by state agencies; providing technical assistance to all levels of government; testing various available technologies; providing for all interagency use of information resources technology by state agencies (except for telecommunications services provided by the General Services Commission until September 2001); and operating a computer services facility for state agencies. When the Building and Procurement Commission began operating in September 2001, the Texas Department of Information Resources assumed the telecommunications functions formerly performed by the General Services Commission.

Between 1989 and 1997, the policy-making body of the Texas Department of Information Resources was a nine-member board, appointed by the governor with advice and consent of the senate for overlapping six-year terms. Three of the members came from a list submitted by the speaker of the house, and had to include at least one state representative (ex-officio, but voting); another three came from a list submitted by the lieutenant governor, and had to include at least one state senator (ex-officio, but voting); one member had to be employed by an institution of higher learning. The governor named the chair.

In 1997 (Senate Bill 365, 75th Texas Legislature, Regular Session), the number of voting members on the board was reduced to six, still appointed by the governor, and still including one employee of an institution of higher education. In addition, three ex-officio, non-voting members were added, from two groups which serve for two years each on a rotating basis, neither group serving at the same time as the other: the first group is composed of the executive director of the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission, the commissioner of Health and Human Services, and the executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation; the second group is composed of the Texas commissioner of Education, the executive director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and the executive director of the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife.

The number of voting members was increased to seven in 2003 (Senate Bill 287, 78th Texas Legislature, Regular Session) in response to a constitutional amendment affecting all state agencies with boards containing an even number of members.

More detailed historical sketches are included in the series descriptions for each of the entities whose meetings are documented in these records.

From the guide to the Department of Information Resources meeting files, 1981-2007, bulk 1989-2007, (Texas State Archives)