Information for Data Officers

What is a Data Officer?

A Data Officer supports the agency’s strategic operations and planning by defining, communicating, and driving the implementation of enterprise-wide data governance and data management methodologies, seeking opportunities and promoting data sharing to support cost savings and improved information management outcomes.

With the passing of Senate Bill (SB) 475 during the 87th (R) Legislative session, there is continued emphasis on data management and security for state agencies and institutions of higher education. SB 475 requires the appointment of a designated Data Management Officer (DMO) for agencies above the threshold of 150 full time employees.

This DMO is responsible for various data assessment, governance, and management activities, including:

  • Data Management Advisory Committee participation
  • Coordination with the Chief Data Officer
  • Establishing an agency data governance program
  • Coordinating with the agency’s information security officer and records management officer, and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission
  • The posting of high-value data sets to the Texas Open Data Portal
  • Classifying data
  • The DIR Board shall appoint a data management advisory committee, composed of each agency’s data management officer and the department’s chief data officer. The advisory committee shall:
  • Advise the board and department on establishing statewide data ethics, principles, goals, strategies, standards, and architecture;
  • Provide guidance and recommendations on governing and managing state agency data and data management systems, including recommendations to assist data management officers in fulfilling the duties assigned; and
  • Establish performance objectives for state agencies from this state ’s data-driven policy goals
  • Improve the control and security of information collected by state agencies; promote the sharing of information between state agencies, including customer information; reduce information collection costs incurred by this state; and assist the department in the development and management of a data portal for use by state agencies.
  • Identify the agency’s data assets, exercise authority and management over those assets, and establish related processes and procedures.
  • Implement best practices for managing and securing data in accordance with state privacy laws and data privacy classifications;
  • Ensure the agency’s records management programs apply to all types of data storage media;
  • Increase awareness of and outreach for the agency’s records management programs within the agency; and
  • Conduct a data maturity assessment of the agency’s data governance program in accordance with the requirements established by department rule.
  • Section 2054.1265 defines "High-value data set” as information that can be used to increase state agency accountability and responsiveness, improve public knowledge of the agency and its operations, further the core mission of the agency, create economic opportunity, or respond to need and demand as identified through public consultation.  The term does not include information that is confidential or protected from disclosure under state or federal law.
  • On initiation of an information resources technology project, including an application development project, a state agency shall classify the data produced from or used in the project and determine appropriate data security and applicable retention requirements for each classification.

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