BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to public electronic access to government information; amending RCW 43.105.041; adding a new section to chapter 43.17 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 42.17 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.300 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 27.04 RCW; creating new sections; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that reengineering government processes along with capitalizing on advancements made in digital technology can build greater efficiencies in government service delivery. The legislature further finds that providing citizen electronic access to presently available public documents will allow increased citizen involvement in state policies and empower citizens to participate in state policy decision making.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. By January 1, 1995, the legislature shall design and implement a program for public electronic access to public legislative documents. Such a program may include electronic bulletin boards, fax-request services, providing information for the internet system, contracting the provision of documents, and other service delivery options. Documents available in such a program shall include, but is not limited to, bills, bill digests, bill reports, legislative reports, legislative meeting schedules, the Revised Code of Washington, and the Washington Administrative Code.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The legislature shall create a public electronic access advisory committee of at least seven members to provide guidance and advice in performing the duties of section 2 of this act. Members shall be chosen by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and shall, at a minimum, include a representative of organizations that promote access to government, computer equipment providers, computer user organizations, an expert on computer system security, a representative of the department of information services, and a representative of the public-at-large.

Sec. 4. RCW 43.105.041 and 1990 c 208 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:

The board shall have the following powers and duties related to information services:

(1) To develop standards governing the acquisition and disposition of equipment, proprietary software and purchased services, and confidentiality of computerized data;

(2) To purchase, lease, rent, or otherwise acquire, dispose of, and maintain equipment, proprietary software, and purchased services, or to delegate to other agencies and institutions of state government, under appropriate standards, the authority to purchase, lease, rent, or otherwise acquire, dispose of, and maintain equipment, proprietary software, and purchased services: PROVIDED, That, agencies and institutions of state government are expressly prohibited from acquiring or disposing of equipment, proprietary software, and purchased services without such delegation of authority. The acquisition and disposition of equipment, proprietary software, and purchased services is exempt from RCW 43.19.1919 and, as provided in RCW 43.19.1901, from the provisions of RCW 43.19.190 through 43.19.200. This subsection does not apply to the legislative branch;

(3) To develop recommendations to the legislature on a program to implement, by January 1, 1996, public electronic access to publicly available documents produced by state agencies. The recommendations shall be reported to the energy and utilities committees of the senate and the house of representatives by January 1, 1995;

(4) To study and report on recommendations for developing a program for public electronic access to publicly available documents produced by all political subdivisions of the state, including recommendations on standards for information technology compatibility. The board shall report to the energy and utilities committees of the senate and the house of representatives by January 1, 1996;

(5) To develop state-wide or interagency technical policies, standards, and procedures;

((~~(4)~~)) (6) To assure the cost-effective development and incremental implementation of a state-wide video telecommunications system to serve: Public schools; educational service districts; vocational-technical institutes; community colleges; colleges and universities; state and local government; and the general public through public affairs programming;

((~~(5)~~)) (7) To provide direction concerning strategic planning goals and objectives for the state. The board shall seek input from the legislature and the judiciary;

((~~(6)~~)) (8) To develop and implement a process for the resolution of appeals by:

(a) Vendors concerning the conduct of an acquisition process by an agency or the department; or

(b) A customer agency concerning the provision of services by the department or by other state agency providers;

((~~(7)~~)) (9) To establish policies for the periodic review by the department of agency performance which may include but are not limited to analysis of:

(a) Planning, management, control, and use of information services;

(b) Training and education; and

((~~(8)~~)) (10) To set its meeting schedules and convene at scheduled times, or meet at the request of a majority of its members, the chair, or the director; and

((~~(9)~~)) (11) To review and approve that portion of the department's budget requests that provides for support to the board.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 43.17 RCW to read as follows:

The chief executive officer of each department shall cooperate with the information services board in providing necessary information and assistance in the creation and implementation of a program to provide public electronic access to publicly available documents for each agency as authorized in RCW 43.105.041(3).

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 42.17 RCW to read as follows:

By January 1, 1995, the public disclosure commission shall design and implement a program for electronic access to public documents filed with the commission. The program may include an electronic bulletin board, providing information for the internet system, fax-request service, automated telephone service, electronic filing of reports, and other service delivery options. Documents available in the program shall include, but are not limited to, commission meeting schedules, financial affairs reports, contribution reports, expenditure reports, and gift reports.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:

By January 1, 1995, the superintendent of public instruction shall develop recommendations and report to the legislature on a program, to be implemented by January 1, 1996, for public electronic access to local school districts. The report shall examine, but is not limited to, the benefit and feasibility of electronic mail systems, automated telephone services, and public access to the internet system, and the need for state standards regarding school district information technology compatibility.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. A new section is added to chapter 27.04 RCW to read as follows:

By January 1, 1995, the state library commission shall develop recommendations and report to the legislature on a program, to be implemented by January 1, 1996, for public electronic access at public libraries to documents produced by state agencies. The report shall examine, but is not limited to, the feasibility of providing public access terminals at public library facilities, associated costs including hardware and toll charges, and funding sources for the program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.