About Us

The State of Texas web site, www.TexasOnline.com is intended to serve as the official compilation of Texas government electronic resources, both at the state and local levels, and as an index of Texas governmental or taxing authority web sites and services. The site is organized by subject to provide a collection of links and portals designed to allow citizens, visitors, businesses, state government, and others to quickly and efficiently locate appropriate resources. The layout and design of www.TexasOnline.com is the result of a collaborative effort between the Texas Department of Information Resources, BearingPoint and many agencies and organizations across all branches of government and industry providing input in the form of comments and suggestions.

Providing the www.TexasOnline.com web site is a public service, meeting the mission of the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) which includes:

• To improve public access to government information, programs and services.
• To provide a mechanism for state government to become more efficient, effective, and responsive to the public through the use of online web portals.
• To provide a tool to improve cross-agency or cross-boundary organizational collaboration activity on significant policy and/or administrative issues among Texas State government employees.
• To support state agencies’ uses of the web to achieve their missions.
• To expedite state government’s internal functions.

We sincerely hope you find this site useful, informative, and enjoyable.

If you would like to find out more information about how to join the TexasOnline program, please contact Allan Martin, DIR, by telephone at 512.463.5973 or by email at Allan.Martin@dir.state.tx.us, or Bill Rogers, BearingPoint, by telephone at 512.542.5336 or by email at bill.rogers@bearingpoint.com. .

Our press kit includes news releases, a TexasOnline Brochure (PDF), and copies of press coverage. Please view components of the press kit.

For news media questions, please contact Allan Martin, DIR, by telephone at 512.463.5973 or by email at Allan.Martin@dir.state.tx.us, or Katy Fendrich, BearingPoint, by telephone at 512.542.3578 or by email at Catherine.Fendrich@bearingpoint.com.

What is the role of the Department of Information Resources (DIR)?

The Department of Information Resources, a Texas state agency, is responsible for developing the self-supporting model and for taking a statewide approach to electronic government in Texas, enabling all levels of government to participate in a common electronic framework for online government. DIR is responsible for overseeing the general operations of TexasOnline, developing policies relating to TexasOnline operations, evaluating services to be provided on TexasOnline, and overseeing money generated for the operation and expansion of TexasOnline.

What services does TexasOnline provide?

The TexasOnline portal is a convenient way for governmental entities to provide online services and transactions to their customers. The portal is designed with the following attributes in mind:

• Strong Web site security, including authentication services ranging from passwords to PKI solutions
• Scalable architecture that allows for rapid expansion and changes to applications
• 24x7 availability
• Ability to trace transactions throughout the system
• Acceptance of both credit cards and electronic funds transfer payment mechanisms
• Bilingual Web site
• Web application development services
• Call center services
• Assistance with marketing to constituents.

How is TexasOnline funded?

The contract with BearingPoint allows for multiple options for funding. Options include convenience fees, subscription fees, fees for premium services, or cost-sharing with the agency. The contract recognizes that not all agencies are able to charge fees for applications. Furthermore, there is also flexibility to determine that applications which serve the public good or which are traditionally offered at no cost may be offered for free on the portal. Agencies should be aware that one of the largest expenses for TexasOnline is the payment of credit card fees, and these costs must be taken into consideration. BearingPoint will work with agencies to assess the business case for each individual application, and help to determine the appropriate funding mechanism. After BearingPoint recoups the initial setup costs, the state will share in the revenue generated by the applications on the portal. SB187 requires TexasOnline to charge a subscription fee to licensing agencies that participate in TexasOnline. The subscription fee isintended to cover the cost of implementation of online licensing services. Each participating licensing agency is required to increase their occupational license renewal fees for their entire licensee population in order to cover the cost of the subscription fee. The fee cannot exceed $5 for an annually renewed occupational license and $10 for a biennial renewed license.

How does TexasOnline enhance state operations?

One of the goals is to provide seamless "one-stop shopping" for doing business with Texas government. Citizens should find it easy to interact with government online. We also anticipate that agencies will gain efficiencies from offering online transactions as an alternative to walk-in or mail-in transactions. In the long run, we hope TexasOnline will provide added benefits in terms of enabling citizens who interact with multiple agencies to have information entered once, and reused appropriately.

What is TexasOnline’s approach to concerns about privacy?

The state and its agencies own the information collected by applications on the portal. The owner of each application will direct how that data is used and released to the public according to applicable laws. Vendors cannot use it for any purpose without the owner’s approval. TexasOnline has a separate privacy policy which details how information is collected and handled.

How secure is TexasOnline?

The portal uses the same secure, reliable technologies that were developed by BearingPoint for NetAid, one of the largest, most secure web sites ever developed. Authentication services are offered by the portal, with solutions designed to meet the business need. Passwords, PIN numbers and PKI solutions are all offered as options through TexasOnline.

How interactive are the services on TexasOnline?

TexasOnline is very interactive. People doing business with state agencies and local governments are able to pay for services online using credit cards or electronic checking. This enables citizens to collect or report information and pay any fees due in one step. TexasOnline also offers a staffed 800-number call center that will assist citizens with technical questions.

If an agency or local government already has a web development vendor/initiative, can I use them on TexasOnline?

Yes, governmental entities can work with other vendors. BearingPoint is also available to work with all Texas state and local governments. BearingPoint has the responsibility for the management, operations and integrity of the system and as such maintains guidelines and specifications for portal operations. For example, relative to security issues, all applications and systems must conform to TexasOnline security standards.

Where is TexasOnline housed?

TexasOnline is hosted at the Texas State DataCenter (TSDC) in San Angelo, Texas.

How can state agencies, local governments and the educational community participate?

Participation is voluntary. However, SB187 requires that state agencies consider the use of TexasOnline for services provided via the Internet, including:

• Financial transactions,
• Applications for licenses, permits, registrations, and other related documents,
• Electronic signatures,
• Any other applications that require security.

TexasOnline can host an application, so state agencies and local governments can take advantage of the portal infrastructure and security without giving up control over the information or the application itself. TexasOnline also has the flexibility of allowing agencies to host their own applications, although certain standards must be met. The standards are necessary to protect the integrity and security of the portal and the applications involved.

How did TexasOnline originate?

BearingPoint responded to an RFO issued by the Electronic Government Task Force and was awarded the contract to develop and operate the portal for the State of Texas. BearingPoint is responsible for the equipment setup and ongoing operation of the portal, including the Website, hardware, software, and staffing. BearingPoint provides the interfaces for online payments and for the front-end applications on the Web. They also provide marketing/awareness assistance, both for the portal and for the individual applications.

Where can I get more information about the TexasOnline Program?

TexasOnline has a Web site at www.dir.state.tx.us/egov/ that contains additional information. TexasOnline also holds monthly meetings that are open to the public. Meeting times and locations are available at the Website.

Where can I get more information about participating in TexasOnline?

Contact the TexasOnline Webmaster by telephone at 512.475.4700 or by email at webmaster@dir.state.tx.us. You may also contact Bill Rogers, BearingPoint, by telephone at 512.542.5336 or by email at bill.rogers@bearingpoint.com.

Awards

TexasOnline

TexasOnline.com has won several prestigious awards which are:

	The State of Texas was ranked in 11th place in the "Electronic Commerce Category" in the 2001 Digital State Survey From the Center for Digital Government October 2001
	"Government Technology Leadership Award" ("Gracie") From Government Executive magazine November 2001
	"George Mitchell Payments System Excellence Award" From NACHA--The Electronic Payments Association March 2002
	"E-Gov 2002-Trailblazer Award" From E-Gov April 2002
	"Excellence Award for the Innovative Use of Technology in State Agencies" From the Texas Association of State Systems for Computing and Communications May 2002
	5th place in the 2002 "Best of the Web" Contest for State Government From the Center for Digital Government September 2002
	"Excellence in IT Collaboration" Award in the 2002 Best of the Texas Contest From the Center for Digital Government and Government Technology November 2002
	Computerworld Honors Program Finalist April 2003
	2003 American Council for Technology Intergovernmental Solutions Award Winner May 2003.
	Finalist, National Electronic Commerce Coordinating Council (NECCC) Cost Effectiveness Through E-Government Award, Internet Occupational License Renewal System August 2003
	"Excellence Award for the Innovative Use of Technology in State Agencies" from the Texas Association of State Systems for Computing and Communications. August 2005
	"Best of the Texas Award - Demonstrated Excellence in Project Collaboration" for the Licenses, Permits and Registrations System from the Center for Digital Government. October 2005
	Winner of the 2006 Center for Digital Government Achievement Award in the Government-to-Government category for the TexasOnline Vital Records Application service. This service allows citizens to order Texas birth and death certificates or verifications, as well as marriage and divorce verifications online.

City of Houston

One of our partners, the City of Houston (www.cityofhouston.gov), has also been given several recognitions:

	The City of Houston was ranked as a Finalist in the "Best of the Web Category for Cities with a Population of More than 250,000" in the 2001 Digital Cities Survey From the Center for Digital Government November 2001
	"Four Star Review" From the MUNINet Guide and Review February 2002
	Winner, 2003 Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers TAMI Award July 2003

City of Dallas

One of our partners, the City of Dallas (www.dallascityhall.com), has also been given several recognitions:

	5th place in the 2002 "Best of the Web" Contest for Local Government From the Center for Digital Government September 2002
	Finalist, 2003 Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers TAMI Award July 2003
	5th place in the 2003 "Best of the Web" Contest from the Center for Digital Government September 2003

TexasOnline acknowledges the following photographers or organizations as sources of some photographs used on TexasOnline.

Business in Texas Portal:

• Skyscrapers - Marti McHugh
• Silicone Wafer - Texas Instruments

Living in Texas Portal:

• Boots - Carole VandenBerg

If you would like to contact us, here are several phone numbers:

• For technical assistance, call toll-free 1.877.452.9060 or email webhelp@texasonlinehelp.com.
• For eligibility or fee-related questions, please call the agency. Frequently called numbers are: Department of Public Safety at 512.424.2600
  Texas Department of Transportation at 512.465.7611
  Texas Tomorrow Fund at 800.445.GRAD.
• For assistance with offering a new government service on www.TexasOnline.com, please contact Bill Rogers, BearingPoint, by telephone at 512.542.5336 or bill.rogers@bearingpoint.com

If you would like a representative from TexasOnline to speak at a professional association meeting on issues such as portal security or marketing, please contact Allan Martin, DIR, by telephone at 512.463.5973 or by email at Allan.Martin@dir.state.tx.us.