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2009 SESSION

095962656
HOUSE BILL NO. 2497
Offered January 14, 2009
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-225 and 2.2-5510 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the facilitation of electronic government.
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Patron-- Nixon
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Referred to Committee on Science and Technology
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That §§ 2.2-225 and 2.2-5510 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 2.2-225. Position established; agencies for which responsible; additional powers.

The position of Secretary of Technology (the Secretary) is created. The Secretary shall be responsible to the Governor for the following agencies and boards: Information Technology Investment Board, Innovative Technology Authority, Virginia Information Technologies Agency, Virginia Geographic Information Network Advisory Board, the Wireless E-911 Services Board, and the Virginia Research and Technology Advisory Commission. The Governor, by executive order, may assign any other state executive agency to the Secretary, or reassign any agency listed in this section to another Secretary.

Unless the Governor expressly reserves such power to himself, the Secretary may, with regard to strategy development, planning and budgeting for technology programs in the Commonwealth:

1. Monitor trends and advances in fundamental technologies of interest and importance to the economy of the Commonwealth and direct and approve a stakeholder-driven technology strategy development process that results in a comprehensive and coordinated view of research and development goals for industry, academia and government in the Commonwealth. This strategy shall be updated biennially and submitted to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Delegates and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

2. Work closely with the appropriate federal research and development agencies and program managers to maximize the participation of Commonwealth industries and universities in these programs consistent with agreed strategy goals.

3. Direct the development of plans and programs for strengthening the technology resources of the Commonwealth's high technology industry sectors and for assisting in the strengthening and development of the Commonwealth's Regional Technology Councils.

4. Direct the development of plans and programs for improving access to capital for technology-based entrepreneurs.

5. Assist the Joint Commission on Technology and Science created pursuant to § 30-85 in its efforts to stimulate, encourage, and promote the development of technology in the Commonwealth.

6. Continuously monitor and analyze the technology investments and strategic initiatives of other states to ensure the Commonwealth remains competitive.

7. Strengthen interstate and international partnerships and relationships in the public and private sectors to bolster the Commonwealth's reputation as a global technology center.

8. Develop and implement strategies to accelerate and expand the commercialization of intellectual property created within the Commonwealth.

9. Ensure the Commonwealth remains competitive in cultivating and expanding growth industries, including life sciences, advanced materials and nanotechnology, biotechnology, and aerospace.

10. Monitor the trends in the availability and deployment of and access to broadband communications services, which include, but are not limited to, competitively priced, high-speed data services and Internet access services of general application, throughout the Commonwealth and advancements in communications technology for deployment potential. The Secretary shall report annually by December 1 to the Governor and General Assembly on those trends.

11. Develop and implement strategies for (i) the acquisition and use of information technologies that enable electronic submission, maintenance, or disclosure of information as a substitute for paper and (ii) the implementation, use, and acceptance of electronic signatures. The Secretary shall assist state agencies, as defined in § 2.2-2006, in facilitating the adoption of such information technologies and electronic signatures identified by each agency in its strategic plan adopted pursuant to § 2.2-5510, with a goal of implementation of such information technologies and the use of electronic signatures by July 1, 2013. The Secretary shall report annually by December 1 to the Governor and the General Assembly on the development and implementation of the strategies required by this subsection.

12. Develop and maintain a list of best practices for information resource management policies, standards, and guidelines that facilitate the implementation, use, and acceptance of electronic signatures in the Commonwealth.

§ 2.2-5510. (Expires July 1, 2013) Strategic plan.

A. Each agency shall develop and maintain a strategic plan for its operations. The plan shall include:

1. A statement of the mission, goals, strategies, and performance measures of the agency that are linked into the performance management system directed by long-term objectives;

2. Identification of priority and other service populations under current law and how those populations are expected to change within the time period of the plan;

3. An analysis of any likely or expected changes in the services provided by the agency; and

4. An analysis of the impact that the aging of the population will have on its ability to deliver services and a description of how the agency is responding to these changes. Each agency shall report by November 15 of each year to the Department for the Aging its progress in addressing the impact of the aging of the population, according to guidance established by the Secretary of Health and Human Resources. Based upon information received, the Department for the Aging shall prepare a report summarizing the progress made by the agencies and submit such report to the Governor and the General Assembly by June 30 of the following year.

5. Identification and analysis of how the use of electronic documents and electronic forms for information required or permitted to be filed with the agency could enhance citizen access to the services provided by the agency and result in cost savings and efficiencies in the provision of services.

B. Strategic plans shall also include the following information:

1. Input, output, and outcome measures for the agency;

2. A description of the use of current agency resources in meeting current needs and expected future needs, and additional resources that may be necessary to meet future needs; and

3. A description of the activities of the agency that have received either a lesser priority or have been eliminated from the agency's mission or work plan over the previous year because of changing needs, conditions, focus, or mission.

C. The strategic plan shall cover a period of at least two years forward from the fiscal year in which it is submitted and shall be reviewed by the agency annually.

D. Each agency shall post its strategic plan on the Internet.

2. That each agency of the Commonwealth, as defined in § 2.2-2006 of the Code of Virginia, shall submit to the Secretary of Technology a report cataloging all paper and electronic forms currently in use by such agency. Such report shall be submitted no later than January 1, 2010.