Profiles in Government: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality enforces compliance with the state’s environmental laws, responds to emergencies and natural disasters, oversees dam safety and monitors the air quality within Texas.

Here is more information about the agency, including who leads it, how many staff the department employs and what the department does as a whole.

FAST FACTS

Budget: Estimated at $334 million overall, with a $12.5 million IT budget, according to Industry Navigator.*

Leadership: Greg Rogers is deputy director of the agency’s Information Resources Division.

Staff: According to the commission’s website, the agency has about 2,800 employees.

MORE ABOUT THE AGENCY

In 1993, the state Legislature combined the Texas Water Commission and the Texas Air Control Board to create the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. However, in 2002, lawmakers changed the agency's name to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, shifting its focus to protecting the state’s natural resources.

Today, the commission has an office based in Austin and oversees the operations of 16 regional and two special-project offices across the state.

As for how technology comes into play, below are several goals listed in the agency’s FY 2023 - FY 2027 strategic plan:

• Provide more data and expand the use of technology for reporting information and receiving authorizations.
• Modify, maintain, expand and automate existing database, reporting and storage capabilities to allow greater public access to agency records.
• Maintain and improve online access and navigation for quick dissemination of information to large groups, both in “real time” and customized, through increasing and varied access points, such as mobile devices, collaboration tools and social media.
• Increase cybersecurity tools and expert resources to monitor, analyze and respond to potential threats and improve the agency’s information security posture.
• Promote effective and efficient service delivery.
• Continue upgrading legacy applications essential to the agency’s mission as part of its Critical Technology Upgrade project.
• Use analytics, metadata and usability studies to support emerging web design and organization trends.
• Produce and deliver high-definition digital content for agency websites, training, public education tools and other informational resources.

*Industry Navigator is a product of e.Republic, which also produces Industry Insider — Texas.