Department of Commerce.  The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is the lead state agency charged with enhancing and promoting sustainable community and economic vitality in Washington.  Commerce's community and economic development efforts include efforts to increase economic opportunity, local planning to manage growth, providing public infrastructure, facilitating technology development and transfer, and public safety.
 
Office of the Chief Information Officer.  The Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) is established within the Consolidated Technology Services agency, also known as Washington Technology Solutions (WaTech), and sets information technology (IT) policy for consistent and efficient operation of IT services throughout state government.  The OCIO is responsible for establishing security standards and policies to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of information transacted, stored, or processed in the state's IT systems and infrastructure.  The Geospatial Program Office within the OCIO provides support for statewide geospatial initiatives and coordinates with state agencies to provide the geospatial information required to inform policy decisions.

Subject to appropriations, Commerce, in collaboration with the OCIO, must conduct a study regarding the use of aerial imaging technology for state, local, special purpose district, and tribal government purposes, leveraging the state's existing geospatial imaging program.  The study must, at minimum, include the following:

• an assessment of the ways in which state agencies, local governments, special purpose districts, and tribal governments currently use aerial imaging technology and benefit from having access to aerial imaging technology;
• an assessment of the types of imagery currently needed and frequency of use;
• a determination of the minimum resolution level of aerial imaging that would best serve the majority of users statewide;
• an estimate the current statewide expenditures for aerial image acquisition and organization and of the cost of procuring, once per biennium, and administering a high-quality aerial imagery program on a statewide basis;
• an estimate of the economies of scale between individual flights procured and the cost of procuring a single flight to obtain aerial imaging of the entire state;
• a determination of the best available mechanism for cost sharing between jurisdictions for the acquisition and management of aerial imagery; and
• recommendations about current sources that provide imaging data, further steps to improve the collection of aerial imaging data, and the steps necessary to implement a statewide aerial imaging collection and distribution system through the state's existing geospatial program.

 
When conducting the study Commerce must:

• define the scope of the study and assist in the design of information collected; and
• seek recommendations from the OCIO regarding ways in which the use of aerial imaging technology could be limited by state law to strike an appropriate balance between effective and efficient utilization for legitimate government purposes while doing no more imaging than is necessary and at no higher resolution than is necessary.

 
Commerce may contract the study or portions of the study to a third party.  The study must be reported by Commerce to the Legislature by June 1, 2023.

PRO:  This study will result in better coordination among the many entities already using this technology and will result in cost savings.  We use this technology along I-5 and spend a substantial amount of money to cover the area necessary because there is a lot of overlap.  We want georeferenced information so that it can be used by government.  A lot of small entities don't have access to this information.  The financial and privacy questions need to be answered and we welcome the review of privacy issues.  This is an inclusive study with the ability to address all information and concerns.