HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 2024-18 Adopting a Covered Applications and Prohibitied Technology PolicyCity of West University Place
Harris County, Texas
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-18
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST UNIVERSITY
PLACE, TEXAS, ADOPTING A COVERED APPLICATIONS AND PROHIBITIED
TECHNOLOGY POLICY AS REQUIRED BY TEXAS SENATE BILL 1893 OF THE 88th
LEGISLATURE.
WHEREAS, the City Council (the "Council") of the City of West University Place, Texas (the
"City") understands that the City is a "political subdivision" of the State of Texas for the purposes
of Senate Bill 1893 of the 881h Texas Legislature (the `Bill"); and
WHEREAS, the Council intends to satisfy the requirement of the Bill that the City adopt a policy
regarding the use of Tik-Tok by City employees; and
WHEREAS, the Council finds that the policy attached to this Resolution as "Exhibit A" (the
"Policy") satisfies the requirements of the Bill and desires to adopt the Policy; and,
NOW,THEREFORE,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE, TEXAS
RESOLVES:
Section 1. THAT the Recitals and Exhibits to this Resolution are true and correct and are
incorporated herein for all intents and purposes.
Section 2. THAT the Policy attached to this Resolution as "Exhibit A" be adopted by the City.
Section 3. THAT the City Secretary is hereby authorized and directed keep a copy of the Policy
in the office of the City Secretary and to make the Policy available upon request.
PASSED, APPROVED, and RESOLVED this 7 day of 4 "L., 2024.
FOR THE CITY OF WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE:
THELMA A. GILLIAM, CITY SECRETARY
SUSAN SA LE, MAYOR
RES -- WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE — Covered Applications and Prohibited Technology Policy— 11.7.24
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EXHIBIT A — Covered Applications and Prohibited Technology Policy
RES -- WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE - Covered Applications and Prohibited Technology Policy 11.7.24
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City of West University Place
Covered Applications and Prohibited
Technology Policy
November 2024
1.0 INTRODUCTION
On December 7, 2022, Governor Greg Abbott required all state agencies to ban the video
sharing application TikTok from all state-owned and state -issued devices and networks
over the Chinese Communist Party's ability to use the application for surveilling Texans.
Governor Abbott also directed the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Texas
Department of Information Resources (DIR) to develop a plan providing state agencies
guidance on managing personal devices used to conduct state business. 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.
As required by the Governor's directive and Senate Bill 1893, this model policy establishes
a template that entities subject to the directive or bill may mimic to prohibit the
installation or use of covered applications or prohibited technologies on applicable
devices.
2.0 COVERED APPLICATIONS POLICY FOR THE CITY OF WEST
UNIVERSITY PLACE
2.1 SCOPE AND DEFINITIONS
Pursuant to Senate Bill 1893, any political subdivision of this state, including a
municipality, county, or special purpose district, must establish a covered applications
policy.
Therefore, this policy applies to all City of West University Plate (the "City") full- and
part-time employees, contractors, paid or unpaid interns, and other users of City
networks. All City employees are responsible for complying with this policy.
A covered application is:
• The social media service TikTok or any successor application or service developed or
provided by ByteDance Limited, or an entity owned by ByteDance Limited.
• A social media application or service specified by proclamation of the Governor
under Government Code Section 620.005.
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2.2 COVERED APPLICATIONS ON CITY -OWNED OR LEASED DEVICES
Except where approved exceptions apply, the use or installation of covered applications
is prohibited on all City -owned or -leased devices, including cell phones, tablets, desktop
and laptop computers, and other internet-capable devices.
The City will identify, track, and manage all City -owned or -leased devices including
mobile phones, tablets, laptops, desktop computers, or any other internet-capable
devices to:
a. Prohibit the installation of a covered application.
b. Prohibit the use of a covered application.
c. Remove a covered application from a City -owned or -leased device that was on
the device prior to the passage of S.B. 1893 (88th Leg, R.S.).
d. Remove an application from a City -owned or -leased device if the Governor issues
a proclamation identifying it as a covered application.
The City will manage all City -owned or leased mobile devices by maintaining the ability
to implement the security measures listed below as applicable:
a. Restrict access to "app stores" or unauthorized software repositories to prevent the
installation of unauthorized applications;
b. Maintain the ability to remotely wipe non-compliant or compromised mobile
devices;
c. Maintain the ability to remotely uninstall unauthorized software from mobile
devices; or
d. Other City -implemented security measures as needed.
2.3 ONGOING AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGY THREATS
To provide protection against ongoing and emerging technological threats to the City's
sensitive information and critical infrastructure, DPS and DIR will regularly monitor and
evaluate additional social media applications or services that pose a risk to this state. DIR
will annually submit to the Governor a list of social media applications and services
identified as posing a risk to Texas. The Governor may proclaim items on this list as
covered applications that are subject to this policy. If the Governor identifies an item on
the DIR-posted list described by this section, then the City will remove and prohibit the
covered application. The City may also prohibit social media applications or services in
addition to those specified by proclamation of the Governor.
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2.4 BRING YOUR OWN DEVICE POLICY
If the City adopts, or has adopted, a "Bring Your Own Device" (BYOD) program, then the
City may consider prohibiting the installation or operation of covered applications on
employee -owned devices that are used to conduct City business.
2.5 COVERED APPLICATION EXCEPTIONS
The City may permit exceptions authorizing the installation and use of a covered
application on a City -owned or -leased device consistent with the authority provided by
Government Code Chapter 620. Government Code Section 620.004 only allows the City
to install and use a covered application on an applicable device to the extent necessary:
(1) For providing law enforcement; or
(2) For developing or implementing information security measures.
If the City authorizes an exception allowing for the installation and use of a covered
application, then the City must use measures to mitigate the risks posed to the State
during the application's use including any measures that the City deems appropriate and
reasonable to support the purpose of this policy.
The City shall document whichever measures it took to mitigate the risks posed to the
State during the use of the covered application. The City requires any employee or official
to consult with its attorney prior to seeking an exception to installing an application
covered by this policy.
2.6 BRING YOUR OWN DEVICE POLICY 1F THE CITY 15 NOT SUBJECT TO THE
GOVERNORS PROHIBITED TECHNOLOGY DIRECTIVE
If the City is deemed to not be subject to the Governor's prohibited technology directive
but is subject to Senate Bill 1893, then the City may prohibit the installation or operation
of prohibited technologies and covered applications on employee -owned devices that
are used to conduct City business. If the City adopts, or has adopted, a "Bring Your Own
Device" (BYOD) program, then the City shall institute a "Bring Your Own Device" (BYOD)
policy requiring the enrollment of these personal devices in the City's program before
their continued use in conducting City business.
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3.0 POLICY COMPLIANCE
The City will verify compliance with this policy through various methods, including but
not limited to, IT/security system reports and feedback to leadership. An employee found
to have violated this policy may be subject to disciplinary action, including termination of
employment.
4.0 POLICY REVIEW
This policy will be reviewed annually and updated as necessary to reflect changes in state
law, additions to applications identified under Government Code Section 620.006,
updates to the prohibited technology list posted to DIR's website, or to suit the needs of
the City.