1998 Minnesota Statutes

     16E.01 Office of technology. 

    Subdivision 1.    Purpose.  The office of technology, 
 referred to in this chapter as the "office," is an agency in the 
 executive branch managed by an executive director appointed by 
 the governor.  The office shall provide leadership and direction 
 for information and communications technology policy in 
 Minnesota.  The office shall coordinate strategic investments in 
 information and communications technology to encourage the 
 development of a technically literate society and to ensure 
 sufficient access to and efficient delivery of government 
 services.  

    Subd. 2.    Discretionary powers.  The office may: 

    (1) enter into contracts for goods or services with public 
 or private organizations and charge fees for services it 
 provides; 

    (2) apply for, receive, and expend money from public 
 agencies; 

    (3) apply for, accept, and disburse grants and other aids 
 from the federal government and other public or private sources; 

    (4) enter into contracts with agencies of the federal 
 government, local governmental units, the University of 
 Minnesota and other educational institutions, and private 
 persons and other nongovernmental organizations as necessary to 
 perform its statutory duties; 

    (5) appoint committees and task forces of not more than two 
 years' duration to assist the office in carrying out its duties; 

    (6) sponsor and conduct conferences and studies, collect 
 and disseminate information, and issue reports relating to 
 information and communications technology issues; 

    (7) participate in the activities of standards bodies and 
 other appropriate conferences related to information and 
 communications technology issues; 

    (8) review the technology infrastructure of regions of the 
 state and cooperate with and make recommendations to the 
 governor, legislature, state agencies, local governments, local 
 technology development agencies, the federal government, private 
 businesses, and individuals for the realization of information 
 and communications technology infrastructure development 
 potential; 

    (9) sponsor, support, and facilitate innovative and 
 collaborative economic and community development and government 
 services projects, including technology initiatives related to 
 culture and the arts, with public and private organizations; and 

    (10) review and recommend alternative sourcing strategies 
 for state information and communications systems. 

    Subd. 3.    Duties.  The office shall: 

    (1) coordinate the efficient and effective use of available 
 federal, state, local, and private resources to develop 
 statewide information and communications technology and its 
 infrastructure; 

    (2) review state agency and intergovernmental information 
 and communications systems development efforts involving state 
 or intergovernmental funding, provide information to the 
 legislature regarding projects reviewed, and recommend projects 
 for inclusion in the governor's budget under section 16A.11; 

    (3) encourage cooperation and collaboration among state and 
 local governments in developing intergovernmental communication 
 and information systems, and define the structure and 
 responsibilities of the information policy council; 

    (4) cooperate and collaborate with the legislative and 
 judicial branches in the development of information and 
 communications systems in those branches; 

    (5) continue the development of North Star, the state's 
 official comprehensive online service and information 
 initiative; 

    (6) promote and collaborate with the state's agencies in 
 the state's transition to an effectively competitive 
 telecommunications market; 

    (7) collaborate with entities carrying out education and 
 lifelong learning initiatives to assist Minnesotans in 
 developing technical literacy and obtaining access to ongoing 
 learning resources; 

    (8) promote and coordinate public information access and 
 network initiatives, consistent with chapter 13, to connect 
 Minnesota's citizens and communities to each other, to their 
 governments, and to the world; 

    (9) promote and coordinate electronic commerce initiatives 
 to ensure that Minnesota businesses and citizens can 
 successfully compete in the global economy; 

    (10) promote and coordinate the regular and periodic 
 reinvestment in the core information and communications 
 technology infrastructure so that state and local government 
 agencies can effectively and efficiently serve their customers; 

    (11) facilitate the cooperative development of standards 
 for information systems, electronic data practices and privacy, 
 and electronic commerce among international, national, state, 
 and local public and private organizations; and 

    (12) work with others to avoid unnecessary duplication of 
 existing services provided by other public and private 
 organizations while building on the existing governmental, 
 educational, business, health care, and economic development 
 infrastructures. 

    HIST: 1997 c 202 art 3 s 7; 1998 c 366 s 41