S.P. 665 - L.D. 1887
An Act to Provide Access to Information Services in All Communities of the State
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA c. 17 is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 17
MAINE GOVERNMENTAL INFORMATION NETWORK BOARD
§353. Maine Governmental Information Network Board established
The Maine Governmental Information Network Board, referred to in this chapter as the "board," is established to enhance electronic data exchange among state and local governments and other providers of governmental services. The board shall oversee the computer network that connects individual municipal governments and other governmental service providers.
§354. Board membership; term of office; organization; reimbursement
1. Membership. The board consists of 7 members. The Secretary of State and the Director of the Bureau of Information Services within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, or their designees, shall serve on the board. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each appoint one public member. A statewide municipal government organization shall recommend and the Governor shall appoint 2 members representing municipalities. A statewide information services group shall recommend and the Governor shall appoint one member with technical expertise in electronic communications.
2. Terms of members. The Secretary of State and the Director of the Bureau of Information Services within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, or their designees, shall serve as permanent members of the board. The members from municipalities, the member with technical expertise and the public members serve 3-year terms, except that initially one municipal member and the public member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives serve 3-year terms, the member with technical expertise and one municipal member serve 2-year terms, and the public member appointed by the President of the Senate serves a one-year term. Each member may be appointed for another term upon the completion of a term on the board.
3. Chair. The board annually shall select a chair from among its members. The board shall meet at the call of the chair, but no less than once every 3 months.
4. Compensation. Members of the board serve without compensation, but are entitled to reimbursement for expenses.
The board may:
1. Oversight. Oversee the construction and operation of a computer network to connect state, local and regional governments and other providers of governmental services;
2. Access to data. Enable electronic access to the electronic data resources of any state agency whose data enhances the delivery by a municipal government or county government of state services, except the board may not enable access to any confidential information that is not necessary to the delivery of services by municipalities or counties;
3. Grants. Provide grants to municipalities and counties for the purchase of computer hardware, software and peripherals necessary to connect the municipalities and county governments with state data and information systems;
4. Technical support. Contract with public or private individuals or organizations to provide technical support to municipal and county information network participants;
5. Training. Contract with public or private individuals or organizations to provide basic computer training and instruction in the operation of the statewide computer network; and
6. Consultants; funding. Employ consultants and accept and use any funding available to the board to carry out its duties and responsibilities.
The board may establish fee schedules and, through its administrative unit, collect fees for technical services or information systems support provided to municipalities, counties or other providers of governmental services.
The Office of the Secretary of State shall provide administrative support to the board in the execution of its duties and responsibilities. The Office of the Secretary of State is responsible for all regular operations of the board, including, but not limited to, the administration of grants, technical and training requirements and consultant contracts.
The Maine Governmental Information Network Fund is established as a nonlapsing Other Special Revenue account to carry out the purposes of this chapter. The Secretary of State shall pay to the fund all money appropriated or allocated and all money or fees received by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this chapter. The Secretary of State may utilize funds available to offset the actual cost of collecting fees under this subsection. The money in the fund may be invested as provided by law with the earnings credited to the fund. This fund may be used to fund grants, consultant fees, technical support and training undertaken to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §12004-L, sub-§11 is enacted to read:
Sec. 3. Allocation. The following funds are allocated from Other Special Revenue funds to carry out the purposes of this Act.
1999-00 2000-01
SECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF THE
Maine Governmental Information Network Fund
All Other $500 $500
Provides initial allocations to authorize expenditures in the event that funds are deposited in the Maine Governmental Information Network Fund.
Effective September 18, 1999, unless otherwise indicated.
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