PRINTER'S NO. 2469
No. 1904 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY PETRARCA, FREEMAN, TRAVAGLIO, SHANER, MUNDY, READSHAW, DERMODY, LESCOVITZ, BELARDI, CASORIO, DALEY, JOSEPHS, MELIO, TANGRETTI, TRICH, CAPPELLI, WALKO, CIVERA, PISTELLA, HARHAI, SAINATO, J. WILLIAMS, STEELMAN, STURLA, HORSEY, TIGUE, SOLOBAY, CALTAGIRONE, TRELLO AND LAUGHLIN, SEPTEMBER 18, 2001
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, SEPTEMBER 18, 2001
AN ACT 1 Providing for the establishment of the Joint Commission on 2 Science and Technology and providing for its powers and 3 duties; and further providing for the operation of the 4 Central Management and Information Center. 5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 6 hereby enacts as follows: 7 Section 1. Short title. 8 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Joint 9 Commission on Science and Technology Act. 10 Section 2. Declaration of policy. 11 The General Assembly finds and declares as follows: 12 (1) There should be a balance of power among the 13 branches of State government and political subdivisions on 14 science and technology. 15 (2) There should be equitable access for the branches of 16 State government and for political subdivisions to data and
1 information pertaining to emerging technologies. 2 (3) The Central Management and Information Center shall 3 continue to provide services for the Governor's Office, and 4 the Governor shall retain the power to appoint the Chief 5 Information Officer; however, the center shall cooperate with 6 the Joint Commission on Science and Technology. 7 Section 3. Definitions. 8 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall 9 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the 10 context clearly indicates otherwise: 11 "Center." The Central Management and Information Center 12 referred to in section 4. 13 "Chief Information Officer." The head officer of the center 14 appointed under section 4(a)(2). 15 "Commission." The Joint Commission on Science and Technology 16 established under section 5. 17 "Consortium." The Consortium of Pennsylvania's Colleges 18 established under Executive Order 1988-10. 19 "Deputy Information Officer." The assistant officer of the 20 Central Management and Information Center appointed under 21 section 4(a)(3). 22 Section 4. Center. 23 (a) Operation.-- 24 (1) The center shall operate under the jurisdiction of 25 the Governor. 26 (2) The Governor shall appoint the Chief Information 27 Officer to head the center. 28 (3) The Governor shall appoint the Deputy Information 29 Officer to assist the Chief Information Officer. 30 (b) Reports.--The center shall submit a biannual report to 20010H1904B2469 - 2 -
1 the commission providing information and recommendations for the 2 study of relevant technological issues. 3 Section 5. Commission. 4 (a) Establishment.--The Joint Commission on Science and 5 Technology is established. The commission shall consist of 11 6 members, as follows: 7 (1) The Chief Information Officer and the Deputy 8 Information Officer. 9 (2) The President pro tempore of the Senate or a 10 designee and the Minority Leader of the Senate or a designee. 11 (3) The Speaker of the House of Representatives or a 12 designee and the Minority Leader of the House of 13 Representatives or a designee. 14 (4) Two judges or justices, appointed by the Chief 15 Justice of the Supreme Court or delegates designated by each 16 appointee. 17 (5) Three representatives of the private sector, 18 appointed by the consortium. Under this paragraph, one 19 representative should be from the field of medicine and one 20 representative should be from the field of communications. 21 (b) Meetings.-- 22 (1) Six members of the commission constitute a quorum. 23 (2) Meetings may be called at the request of any member 24 of the commission. 25 (3) Meetings shall be open to the public. 26 (c) Powers and duties.--The commission shall have the power 27 and its duty shall be to: 28 (1) Discuss costs for emerging technologies and the 29 possibilities of consolidating those costs among the branches 30 of State government. 20010H1904B2469 - 3 -
1 (2) Study emerging technologies which present detailed 2 issues to be addressed. 3 (3) Discuss information security and equitable access 4 among the branches of State government and among political 5 parties. 6 (4) Receive technology counsel from available research 7 facilities during the preparation of compact legislation on 8 technology. 9 (5) Study emerging technologies which have an impact on 10 the law. 11 (6) Study issues on personal privacy and abuses of 12 information collection. 13 (7) Prepare legislation on technology which considers 14 and honors existing contracts from technology providers. 15 (8) Serve as a legal task force to recommend and 16 implement the integration of data systems in State 17 government. 18 (9) Recommend that the Office of Attorney General 19 initiate an investigation if information reveals abuses or 20 illegalities. 21 Section 6. Effective date. 22 This act shall take effect in 60 days. G18L71JLW/20010H1904B2469 - 4 -