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 FUNDS 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 specific funds appropriated by the Legislature for developing and providing electronic government services within the State of Mississippi. 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 oversee the implementation of E-Government and related technology initiatives. Duties of this committee would include: (a) 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; (b) address policy issues such as privacy, security, transaction fees and accessibility; (c) review ongoing fiscal and operational management and support of portal; (d) provide a mechanism for gathering input from citizens, businesses and government entities; (e) encourage self-service models for citizens through state websites and other electronic services; and (f) 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 Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration; (f) the Attorney General; (g) the Chairman of the State Tax Commission; (h) the Lieutenant Governor; (i) the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and (j) the Governor. 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.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.