TOWN STAFF REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
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Discuss, consider and act regarding Resolution 24-77 approving a Policy for Preventing Use of Prohibited Technology (Jason Power, IT Director)
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STAFF: Jason Power, IT Director
BACKGROUND:
On June 14, 2023, Governor Greg Abbott required all municipal governments to ban the video-sharing application TikTok from all government-owned and government-issued devices and networks over the Chinese Communist Party’s ability to use the application for surveilling Texans. Following the issuance of the Governor’s directive, the 88th Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 1893, which prohibits the use of covered applications on governmental entity devices. Although the bill went into effect immediately upon being signed by the governor in 2023, the requirement that a city adopt a policy described above did not apply until the Department of Information Resources (DIR) and the Department of Public Safety (DPS) jointly developed a model policy for governmental entities to use in developing their own local policy. The DIR/DPS model policy was recently released on September 16, 2024. DIR guidance provides that governmental entities, including cities, have until November 20, 2024 to adopt their local policies required by S.B. 1893. In addition to TikTok, the Town of Westlake may add other software and hardware products with security concerns to this policy and will be required to remove prohibited technologies which are on the DIR prohibited technology list.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of Resolution 24-77 approving a Policy for Preventing Use of Prohibited Technology.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Resolution 24-77
Town of Westlake Prohibited Technology Policy
TOWN COUNCIL ACTION/OPTIONS:
1) Motion to approve
2) Motion to amend with the following stipulations (please state stipulations in motion)
3) Motion to table
4) Motion to deny