Sec. 2054.1181. OVERSIGHT OF MAJOR INFORMATION RESOURCES PROJECTS

(a) The quality assurance team, in coordination with the governor, may recommend major information resources projects to the department for oversight. As part of this oversight, the department shall provide risk management, quality assurance services, independent project monitoring, and project management. A state agency with a project selected for oversight shall pay for oversight by the department and quality assurance team based on a funding model developed by the department.

(b) In performing its duties under this section, the department shall:

(1) develop policies for the oversight of projects;

(2) implement project management standards;

(3) use effective risk management strategies;

(4) establish standards that promote the ability of information resources systems to operate with each other; and

(5) use industry best practices and process reengineering when feasible.

(c) Repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1246, Sec. 29, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

(d) The quality assurance team shall evaluate major information resources projects to determine if the projects are operating on time and within budget.

(e) If the quality assurance team determines that a major information resources project is poorly managed or has excessive cost overruns, the quality assurance team may:

(1) establish a corrective action plan, including modifications to the design, deployment, or costs related to the project; or

(2) discontinue the project, subject to Legislative Budget Board approval.

(f) The quality assurance team may review and analyze a project's risk to determine whether to approve a project for the expenditure of funds under Section 2054.118(a). When conducting this review, the quality assurance team shall comply with department rules and guidelines. A state agency shall provide the quality assurance team any information necessary for the quality assurance team to determine the project's potential risk. The quality assurance team may approve a project without the review.

(g) The quality assurance team may require a state agency to provide information on:

(1) the status of a major information resources project;

(2) the costs for a major information resources project;

(3) the risk associated with a major information resources project; and

(4) a major information resources project's general potential for success.

(h) On request by the quality assurance team, the state auditor shall audit and review major information resources projects and the information provided by the state agencies under this section.

(i) On request by the quality assurance team, the comptroller shall provide assistance regarding:

(1) verifying the accuracy of information provided by state agencies on project costs under this section; and

(2) determining a state agency's compliance with this section.

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1422, Sec. 3.02, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1246, Sec. 10, 29, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.