S-1773.2                   _______________________________________________

                                                     SENATE BILL 5902

                              _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

By Senators Cantu, Drew, Haugen, Deccio, Loveland and Winsley

Read first time 02/24/93.  Referred to Committee on Government Operations.

Creating a geographic information council.

          AN ACT Relating to a geographic information council; adding new sections to chapter 43.30 RCW; creating a new section; making an appropriation; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature declares:

          (1) There is a need for a common base of geographic information and organization to enable the information to be readily translatable, retrievable, and geographically referenced for use by any state, local, or governmental unit or utility;

          (2) Property management, planning, risk assessments, and environmental decision making at all levels of government and in the private sector rely heavily on geographic information and various mapping and surveying techniques;

          (3) Many entities, both public and private, have similar needs and overlapping requirements for geographic information;

          (4) Many local, state, and federal government agencies and private companies in Washington are now using computers to manage geographic information; and

          (5) There are many issues associated with the development, use, maintenance, and exchange of and access to computer-based geographic information.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 43.30 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) There is hereby created a geographic information council.

          (2) The council shall consist of not more than twenty-three representatives, and shall be composed of:

          (a) One representative of higher education, appointed by the council of presidents;

          (b) Four representatives of local government, appointed as follows:  One by the Washington association of county officials; one by the Washington state association of counties; and two by the association of Washington cities;

          (c) One tribal representative of the federally recognized Indian tribes of Washington;

          (d) One representative of the private sector, appointed by the chair in consultation with an association representing business;

          (e) One representative of the federal government, appointed by the chair in consultation with the federal geographic data committee; and

          (f) One member representing the legislative branch of state government to be appointed jointly by the executive directors of the legislative service center and the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee.

          The council shall elect one of its members to serve as chair.  The chair shall appoint the remaining fourteen members that shall represent the regional government or private sectors.  The regional representation shall include the director or a designee from state agencies having expertise and experience with geographic information systems, including but not limited to representatives of the department of wildlife, department of natural resources, department of information services, department of transportation, department of social and health services, and office of financial management.

          (3) The council may create and appoint members to technical advisory committees to assist the council in developing its recommendations.  The technical advisory committees shall reflect varying responsibilities for the development and use of geographic and land information systems.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 43.30 RCW to read as follows:

          The council is responsible for:

          (1) The development of policy and standards for ensuring accuracy and quality of geographic information;

          (2) The development of policies and standards for data definitions and data sharing;

          (3) Identifying applications of geographic information to support public service needs and decision-making capabilities;

          (4) Recommending actions to meet geographic information needs in the state of Washington;

          (5) Fostering cooperation among federal, tribal, private, and local and state government entities in using and sharing geographic information;

          (6) Serving as a forum for the exchange of educational information and development of geographic information practices;

          (7) Identifying mechanisms for funding the development of geographic information;

          (8) Specific steps, such as legislation, necessary to accomplish subsections (1) through (7) of this section; and

          (9) Identifying responsibilities for maintaining geographic information data.

          Information technology policies and standards shall be subject to the review and approval by the information services board.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  The sum of . . . . . . dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1995, from the general fund to the department of natural resources for the purpose of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.  This act expires June 30, 1999.

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