Tex. Government Code § 2054.003 — TX Code / Code gv / Chapter 2054 / Section 2054.003
§ 2054.003. DEFINITIONS.
Status: in_force

In this chapter:

(1) "Application" means a separately identifiable and interrelated set of information resources technologies that allows a state agency to manipulate information resources to support specifically defined objectives.

(1-a) "Artificial intelligence system" means a machine-based system that for explicit or implicit objectives infers from provided information a method to generate outputs, such as predictions, content, recommendations, or decisions, to influence a physical or virtual environment with varying levels of autonomy and adaptiveness after deployment.

(2) "Board" means the governing board of the Department of Information Resources.

(2-a) "Business case" means a comparison of business solution costs and project benefits based on a solution assessment and validation for a major information resources project, which may include:

(A) alternative financing models, such as system as a service; and

(B) a readiness score of the project using an evidence-based scoring method delivered by an independent third party that includes measurement and corrective actions for the state agency's operational and technical strengths and weaknesses related to the project.

(2-b) "Consequential decision" means a decision that has a material legal or similarly significant effect on the provision, denial, or conditions of a person's access to a government service.

(2-c) "Controlling factor" means a factor that is:

(A) the principal basis for making a consequential decision; or

(B) capable of altering the outcome of a consequential decision.

(3) "Data processing" means information technology equipment and related services designed for the automated storage, manipulation, and retrieval of data by electronic or mechanical means. The term includes:

(A) central processing units, front-end processing units, miniprocessors, microprocessors, and related peripheral equipment such as data storage devices, document scanners, data entry equipment, terminal controllers, data terminal equipment, computer-based word processing systems other than memory typewriters, and equipment and systems for computer networks;

(B) all related services, including feasibility studies, systems design, software development, and time-sharing services, provided by state employees or others; and

(C) the programs and routines used to employ and control the capabilities of data processing hardware, including operating systems, compilers, assemblers, utilities, library routines, maintenance routines, applications, and computer networking programs.

(4) "Department" means the Department of Information Resources.

(5) "Electronic government project" means the use of information technology to improve the access to and delivery of a government service, including a project that uses the Internet as a primary tool for the delivery of a government service or performance of a governmental function.

(6) "Executive director" means the executive director of the Department of Information Resources.

(6-a) "Heightened scrutiny artificial intelligence system" means an artificial intelligence system specifically intended to autonomously make, or be a controlling factor in making, a consequential decision. The term does not include an artificial intelligence system intended to:

(A) perform a narrow procedural task;

(B) improve the result of a previously completed human activity;

(C) perform a preparatory task to an assessment relevant to a consequential decision; or

(D) detect decision-making patterns or deviations from previous decision-making patterns.

(7) "Information resources" means the procedures, equipment, and software that are employed, designed, built, operated, and maintained to collect, record, process, store, retrieve, display, and transmit information, and associated personnel including consultants and contractors.

(8) "Information resources technologies" means data processing and telecommunications hardware, software, services, supplies, personnel, facility resources, maintenance, and training.

(8-a) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.

(9) "Local government" means a county, municipality, special district, school district, junior college district, or other political subdivision of the state.

(10) "Major information resources project" means:

(A) any information resources technology project identified in a state agency's biennial operating plan whose development costs exceed $5 million and that:

(i) requires one year or longer to reach operations status;

(ii) involves more than one state agency; or

(iii) substantially alters work methods of state agency personnel or the delivery of services to clients;

(B) any information resources technology project designated by the legislature in the General Appropriations Act as a major information resources project; and

(C) any information resources technology project of a state agency designated for additional monitoring under Section 2261.258(a)(1) if the development costs for the project exceed $5 million.

(11) "Principal basis" means the use of an output produced by a heightened scrutiny artificial intelligence system to make a decision without:

(A) human review, oversight, involvement, or intervention; or

(B) meaningful consideration by a human.

(12) "Project" means an initiative that:

(A) provides information resources technologies and creates products, services, or results within or among elements of a state agency; and

(B) is characterized by well-defined parameters, specific objectives, common benefits, planned activities, a scheduled completion date, and an established budget with a specified source of funding.

(13) "State agency" means, except as otherwise provided by this chapter, a department, commission, board, office, council, authority, or other agency in the executive or judicial branch of state government that is created by the constitution or a statute of this state, including a university system or institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.

(14) "Telecommunications" means any transmission, emission, or reception of signs, signals, writings, images, or sounds of intelligence of any nature by wire, radio, optical, or other electromagnetic systems. The term includes all facilities and equipment performing those functions that are owned, leased, or used by state agencies and branches of state government.

(15) "State electronic Internet portal" means the electronic government project or its successor project implemented under Subchapter I.

(16) "Quality assurance team" means the quality assurance team established under Section 2054.158.