House Bill 1929

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1999                HB 1929

        By the Committee on Utilities & Communications and
    Representative Rojas





  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to communications networks and

  3         information technologies; establishing a task

  4         force in the Department of Management Services;

  5         providing for representation; providing

  6         responsibilities; providing for meetings of the

  7         task force; providing for support staff for the

  8         task force; requiring reports; providing for

  9         the dissolution of the task force; providing an

10         appropriation; providing an effective date.

11

12         WHEREAS, developments in communications networks and

13  information technologies have a profound effect on the lives

14  of Floridians and this state wishes to ensure that the maximum

15  benefits of such networks and technologies will be available

16  to Floridians, and

17         WHEREAS, it is the goal of this state to foster the

18  free-market development of the Internet, Internet II, and

19  other advanced information and communications networks and

20  technologies, to encourage information technology development

21  within Florida, to attract high technology industries to

22  locate in Florida, and to establish Florida as the favored

23  site for Internet and technology conferences, and

24         WHEREAS, it is the goal of this state to promote

25  teacher Internet preparedness and Internet literacy for K-12

26  students, to position Florida's technical schools, colleges,

27  and universities to advance the development of communications

28  and information technologies, and to train outstanding

29  teachers, workers, and leaders in those fields, and

30         WHEREAS, it is the goal of this state to ensure that

31  Florida's civil and criminal laws protect the security of

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1999                HB 1929

    193-143A-99






  1  Floridians and not inhibit the development or use of

  2  communication networks and information technologies and to

  3  assure that law enforcement is adequately prepared and funded

  4  to detect, prevent, and prosecute Internet crime, NOW,

  5  THEREFORE:

  6

  7  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

  8

  9         Section 1.  (1)  There is hereby created the

10  Information Service Technology Development Task Force which

11  shall be located within the Department of Management Services

12  for the purpose of developing policies that will benefit

13  residents of this state by fostering the free-market

14  development and beneficial use of advanced communications

15  networks and information technologies within this state.  The

16  task force shall be composed of 34 members as follows:

17         (a)  The Attorney General, the executive director of

18  the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Chancellor of

19  the State University System, the Commissioner of Education,

20  the executive director of the State Board of Community

21  Colleges, the director of the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

22  Economic Development, the executive director of the Department

23  of Revenue, a representative of the Florida Council of

24  American Electronics Association, a representative of the

25  Florida Internet Providers Association, a representative of

26  the United States Internet Council, the chair of the State

27  Technology Council, and the secretary of the Department of

28  Management Services.

29         (b)  The President of the Senate shall appoint one

30  member from each of the following categories: a

31  facilities-based interexchange telecommunications company, a

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1999                HB 1929

    193-143A-99






  1  wireless telecommunications company, an alternative local

  2  exchange telecommunications company, an internet service

  3  provider with more than one million customers, the

  4  entertainment industry, a computer or telecommunications

  5  manufacturing company, and one member of the Florida Senate.

  6         (c)  The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall

  7  appoint one member from each of the following categories: a

  8  cable television provider, a computer software company, the

  9  banking industry, an internet search engine company, a local

10  exchange telecommunications company, the tourist industry, and

11  one member of the House of Representatives.

12         (d)  The Governor shall name the chair, and appoint

13  members as follows: one college student who relies on the

14  Internet for personal or academic use and seven members as

15  determined by the Governor to appropriately represent

16  technology providers, manufacturers, retailers, and users.

17         (2)  The task force shall exist for 2 years and shall

18  meet at least four times per year. Failure of a member to

19  participate in three consecutive meetings shall result in the

20  member's replacement by the Governor. The task force is

21  encouraged to implement electronic bulletin boards and other

22  means for the exchange of ideas throughout the year.

23         (3)  The task force shall develop overarching

24  principles to guide state policy decisions with respect to the

25  free-market development and beneficial use of advanced

26  communications networks and information technologies, identify

27  factors that will affect whether these technologies will

28  flourish in Florida, and develop policy recommendations for

29  each factor.

30         (4)  By February 14 of calendar years 2000 and 2001,

31  the task force shall submit a report to the Governor, the

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1999                HB 1929

    193-143A-99






  1  President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of

  2  Representatives outlining principles, policy recommendations,

  3  and any suggested legislation. The task force may develop and

  4  publish other documents throughout the year.

  5         (5)  The State Technology Office within the Department

  6  of Management Services shall provide support staff for the

  7  task force and promote public awareness of the development of

  8  principles and policy recommendations by the task force. The

  9  State University System shall assist the task force as

10  necessary.

11         (6)  The task force shall dissolve effective July 1,

12  2001.

13         Section 2.  The sum of $375,100 is hereby appropriated

14  from the General Revenue Fund to the State Technology Office

15  in the Department of Management Services and four positions

16  are created in the department for the purpose of carrying out

17  the provisions of this act.

18         Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 1999.

19

20            *****************************************

21                          HOUSE SUMMARY

22
      Creates the Information Service Technology Development
23    Task Force within the Department of Management Services
      for the purpose of developing policies that will benefit
24    residents of this state by fostering free-market
      development and beneficial use of advanced communications
25    networks and information technology within this state.
      See bill for details.
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