Legislative Wrap-up 123rd 2nd Session
The Office of Information Technology has created a synopsis of the legislative bills for this past session (123 rd /2 nd ) that were assigned to the OIT or monitored by OIT that may have IT implications.
LD 305 An Act to Increase the Availability of Cellular Telephone Services for Rural Residents
This bill makes a on-time General Fund appropriation of 125K in each year of the 08-09 biennium for DECD to enter into partnerships with private businesses to install cell telephone towers in underserved rural areas where there is currently no signal or to place cellular telephone equipment on state-owned towers in areas that lack cellular phone service.
Conclusion: Resolves, Chpt 212: DAFS will investigate the possibility of negotiating with providers of cellular telephone services for lease of the state-owned tower in St. Francis for the expansion of cellular telephone services in northern Maine . The department shall report to Appropriations and Financial Affairs by Jan 15, 2009 with the results and submit, if necessary, legislation for the 1 st 125 th session.
Action: Phil Lindley, Executive Director of Connect ME, will work with OIT staff to prepare this report.
LD 1878 An Act to Generate Savings by changing Public Notice Requirements
This bill phases out, over a one year period, the requirement that the Maine State Government, including the executive branch departments, independent agencies, legislature, the judicial branch and the Maine Land Use Regulation Committee or LURC, publish legal or public notices in a newspaper.
Conclusion: Held by the Governor (pocket veto) 5/1/2008.
Action: None at this time.
LD 1881 An Act to Improve Transparency and Accountability in Government
1. Creates a timeline that must be followed to comply with requests for public records. 2. Permits a person to request, by telephone, that a copy of a public record be mailed to that person. 3. Allows a copy of a requested public record to be mailed if the requester pays for the mailing service. 4. Establishes procedures for requests for inspection or copies of public records.
Conclusion: The bill was amended to require an agency or official to request clarification concerning which public record or public records are being requested, but in any case, the agency or official shall acknowledge receipt of the request within a reasonable period of time. It also now links the normal definition of a record under Freedom Of Access Act to align the language in the OIT statute around information on computers to the same protections.
Action: OIT currently has a policy “Access to Data and Information on State Owned Computer Devices” which already covers these areas.
This resolve directs the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to institute a system of registering watercraft through a safe and secure website.
Conclusion: Resolves, Chpt 227 IF & W will provide the option of renewing a watercraft registration through a safe and secure website. IF & W will charge a fee that is in addition to the regular registration fee.
Action: The Acting Agency Information Technology Director is working with IF & W to get this online service going. InforME is heading up this task and will be working with the OIT/EGov services.
LD 2093 An Act to Help Prevent Identity Theft- PL Chpt. 626
This amendment revises the listing of the data elements that are considered “personal information” to be consistent with current state law concerning data breaches. This amendment allows an individual to request personal information included in a document recorded with a register of deed and available on the registry's publicly accessible website be redacted from the record available online.
Conclusion: This bill was monitored by OIT, and signed by the Governor on 4/16/2008. Fiscal note exempted the state from any cost of the request from individuals to redact their personal information to be removed off of the registry's publicly accessible website( Pursuant to the Mandate Preamble, the two-thirds vote of all members elected to each House exempts the State from the constitutional requirement to fund 90% of the additional local costs.)
Action: No action is required from OIT.
LD 2111 An Act to Secure the Sites Necessary for the Statewide Radio and Network System
This bill was led by Bureau of General Services with OIT in support. This bill corrects a gap in the statutory authority previously granted for the implementation in our post-September 11 th world of an integrated statewide radio communication network for state agencies and others.
Conclusion: This bill allows DAFS to acquire real property interests necessary for the purpose of siting communications structures and equipment for radio services.
Action: OIT will be engaged with BGS for these services. This law will be repealed in 5 years from the effective date of the passing (6/16/2013)
