Texas Government Code Sections 2054.5191 and 2063.103 mandateartificial intelligence and cybersecurity training for local government employees, elected officials, and appointed officials who have access to a local government computer system or database. (The law is unclear about whether all employees – or only those who use a computer to perform 25 percent of their duties – must take the artificial intelligence training, but the safest interpretation is that all employees with access to a computer should do so.) The Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) has certified that the Pool’s three training options below satisfy the requirements.
Anyone who is required to take the training can listen to the audio of the YouTube video in podcast format (Episode 9d of the “Local Officials: Stronger, Together Podcast”) and use the same certificate and test as in (1), above.
COMING SOON: Risk Pool Members can use training offered through the Pool’s Online Learning Center. This option uses the same content but also includes a test that follows the training and allows the Member to assign and track completion.
Compliance Certification
Tracking: A local governmental entity must keep track of participants internally. The easiest and most common method for most entities is to simply keep a written list or use an Excel spreadsheet.
Mandatory Reporting: Once a local government entity’s required participants have completed the training, the entity must certify its compliance to DIR using the Cybersecurity Training Certification for State and Local Governments form by August 31 of each year. (The entity certifies compliance of all its required participants to DIR once per year — individuals do not certify compliance to DIR.)
Contact Ryan Burns — the Pool’s Director of Cyber Services — at rburns@tmlirp.org or 512-491-3427 with any cyber-related questions.
