MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Chaney, Burton, Smith

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH IN THE STATE TREASURY THE ELECTRONIC GOVERNMENT SERVICES FUND INTO WHICH SHALL BE DEPOSITED 10% OF THE ANNUAL LITIGATION SETTLEMENT PAYMENTS RECEIVED BY THE STATE BY AMERICAN MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (AMS) TO BE APPROPRIATED BY THE LEGISLATURE FOR DEVELOPING AND PROVIDING ELECTRONIC GOVERNMENT SERVICES WITHIN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI; TO ESTABLISH AN ELECTRONIC GOVERNMENT SERVICES OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE EXPENDITURE OF SUCH FUNDS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF ELECTRONIC MEDIA GOVERNMENT SERVICES IN THE STATE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is established in the State Treasury the "Electronic Government Services Fund," into which shall be deposited ten percent (10%) of the annual litigation settlement payments received by the State Tax Commission and the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services on behalf of the State of Mississippi by American Management Systems, Inc. (AMS), for which the use or purpose for expenditure is not restricted by the terms of the settlement. Any funds in the Electronic Government Services Fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, but shall be available for expenditure in the subsequent fiscal year. The funds in the Electronic Government Fund shall be available for expenditure pursuant to specific appropriation by the Legislature beginning in fiscal year 2002, to the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services, and shall be expended exclusively for developing and providing electronic media government services within the State of Mississippi.

(2) There is hereby established an Electronic Government Oversight Committee to monitor and make recommendations regarding the expenditure of funds for electronic government services statewide and to initiate study, planning and coordination of electronic government services within the State of Mississippi. The Electronic Government Oversight Committee shall be authorized to approve the design on any state electronic media portal or website published by any agency of state government. In addition, the committee shall develop and make recommendations for all expenditures from the Electronic Government Services Fund to be appropriated by the Legislature, in order to cut across state and local governmental organizational structures and introduce self-service models for citizens through state websites and other electronic services. The committee shall promote economic development and efficient delivery of government services by encouraging governmental and private sector entities to conduct their business and transactions using electronic media. The Electronic Government Oversight Committee shall be composed of the following: (a) the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services, who shall be the chairman of the committee; (b) the State Auditor; (c) the State Treasurer; (d) the Secretary of State; (e) the Lieutenant Governor; (f) the Speaker of the House of Representatives; (g) two (2) members of the Senate appointed by the Lieutenant Governor; (h) two (2) members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House; and (i) one (1) member from the business community appointed by the Governor who shall possess knowledge, skill and experience in electronic business services. The committee shall annually elect one (1) member to serve as vice chairman of the committee, who shall act as chairman in the absence of the chairman. The committee shall meet monthly or upon the call of the chairman, and shall make necessary reports and recommendations to the Legislature and the appropriate agencies of state government. All agencies of state government shall cooperate with the committee in providing requested information, and any E-Government task force previously organized through the Department of Information Technology Services or the Office of the Governor shall work closely with and provide information to the committee and shall report to the committee at its request. The Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services shall provide administrative support for the committee. Nonlegislative members of the committee shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed from the Electronic Government Services fund for each day's official duties of the committee at the same per diem as established by Section 25-3-69, and actual travel and expenses as authorized by Section 25-3-41. Legislative members of the committee shall receive the same per diem and expense reimbursement from the Electronic Government Services fund as for attending committee meetings when the Legislature is not in regular session.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2001.