1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; directing an assessment
1.3 	of public access to the Internet and Internet-based
1.4 	public information and applications.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC ACCESS TO INTERNET-BASED
1.7 	GOVERNMENT INFORMATION.
 1.8 		Subdivision 1.Comprehensive assessment. The
1.9 	commissioner of administration, in partnership with an
1.10 	institution or institutions of higher education located in
1.11 	Minnesota, shall develop and implement a comprehensive
1.12 	assessment of public access to Internet-based governmental
1.13 	information and applications and the availability of Internet
1.14 	access for citizens to perform other Internet-based activities
1.15 	such as applying for jobs or citizenship, college entrance
1.16 	scholarships, and other activities that promote self-sufficiency
1.17 	and civic participation.
1.18 		Subd. 2.Components. The assessment must consist of two
1.19 	components:  a random survey of a representative sample of the
1.20 	public, and a determination of local accessibility to the
1.21 	Internet via public libraries and other publicly accessible
1.22 	computers located in schools and other generally accessible
1.23 	public buildings.  The random survey shall be of sufficient size
1.24 	to allow for geographic breakdowns at the county level with
1.25 	smaller breakdowns in large population counties.  The assessment
2.1 	must be designed to identify:
2.2 	(1) the skill level of Minnesota residents in being able to
2.3 	access and actively use Internet-based material, applications,
2.4 	and interactions;
2.5 	(2) the demographic characteristics of the population
2.6 	surveyed and the relationship of those characteristics to their
2.7 	ability to access and use the Internet at home or by publicly
2.8 	owned and maintained computers;
2.9 	(3) what persons or public agencies the public would most
2.10 	trust to assist them in accessing Internet-based information and
2.11 	completing governmental forms, what supports they would require
2.12 	to interactively use a computer for government interaction, and
2.13 	their interest or willingness to learn new skills and who they
2.14 	think should provide that training and support;
2.15 	(4) the access of the general public to Internet connected
2.16 	publicly owned computers to access public information and
2.17 	applications in terms of geography, hours, days of the week, and
2.18 	any time limits on such use;
2.19 	(5) the amount of staff assistance available to assist the
2.20 	public in using the identified publicly owned computers; and 
2.21 	(6) what security concerns would hamper the willingness of
2.22 	the public to use an Internet-based governmental application.
2.23 		Subd. 3.Participation in assessment. The commissioner
2.24 	of administration shall solicit interest from all Minnesota
2.25 	institutions of higher education to participate in or lead this
2.26 	assessment and shall select one or more.
2.27 		Subd. 4.Advisory committee. The design and
2.28 	implementation of this assessment shall be advised by an
2.29 	E-Government Access Advisory Committee composed of the
2.30 	commissioner of administration, the commissioner of education,
2.31 	the state librarian, one representative each from an urban,
2.32 	suburban, rural and regional center public library appointed by
2.33 	the Minnesota Library Association, one representative each from
2.34 	an urban, suburban, rural and regional center city appointed by
2.35 	the League of Minnesota Cities, a metro and nonmetro
2.36 	representative appointed by the Association of Minnesota
3.1 	Counties, one representative appointed by the Minnesota Township
3.2 	Association, two members of the Minnesota House of
3.3 	Representatives appointed by the speaker of the house and two
3.4 	members of the senate appointed by the subcommittee on
3.5 	committees.  The commissioner of administration shall serve as
3.6 	the chair.  Members shall not be paid per diem but must be
3.7 	reimbursed for expenses as provided in Minnesota Statutes,
3.8 	section 15.059.
3.9 		Subd. 5.Report. The assessment required by this section
3.10 	must be completed by May 1, 2006.  The E-Government Access
3.11 	Advisory Committee shall prepare a report summarizing its
3.12 	findings, current strengths and weaknesses in access to
3.13 	Internet-based governmental interactions and information, how
3.14 	best to improve the skills and confidence of the public in using
3.15 	Internet-based government services, what supports would be
3.16 	needed to assist the public, how to equitably assist those with
3.17 	Internet skills or access to have full access to participation
3.18 	in governmental and self-sufficiency programs, and
3.19 	recommendations for ensuring equal access to governmental
3.20 	interactions and information by members of the public.  These
3.21 	recommendations shall address role and funding issues at both
3.22 	the state and local level.  The report shall be presented to the
3.23 	governor and the legislature by August 1, 2006.