Wisconsin Legislature: 27,423m

16.971 (2) (L) Require each executive branch agency to adopt, revise biennially, and require each executive branch agency other than the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System to submit for its approval, a strategic plan for the utilization of information technology to carry out the functions of the agency. As a part of each plan, the division shall require each executive branch agency to address the business needs of the agency and to identify all resources relating to information technology which the agency desires to acquire, contingent upon funding availability, the priority for such acquisitions and the justification for such acquisitions. Each plan shall identify any changes in the functioning of the agency under the plan. The division shall consult with the joint committee on information policy in providing guidance for and scheduling of planning by executive branch agencies.

27,416 Section 416 . 16.971 (2) (m) of the statutes is amended to read:

16.971 (2) (m) Assist in coordination and integration of the plans of executive branch agencies relating to information technology to approved under par. (L) and, using these plans and the statewide long-range telecommunications plan under s. 16.99 (2) (a), formulate and revise biennially a consistent statewide strategic plan for the use and application of information technology. The division shall, no later than September 15 of each even-numbered year, submit the statewide strategic plan to the cochairpersons of the joint committee on information technology and the governor.

27,416m Section 416m. 16.971 (2) (n) of the statutes is created to read:

16.971 (2) (n) Maintain an information technology resource center to provide appropriate technical assistance and training to small agencies.

27,417 Section 417 . 16.971 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

16.971 (3) (a) The secretary shall notify the joint committee on finance in writing of the proposed acquisition of any computing information technology resource that the department considers major or that is likely to result in a substantive change of service, and that was not considered in the regular budgeting process and is to be financed from general purpose revenues or corresponding revenues in a segregated fund. If the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the secretary that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the proposed acquisition within 14 working days after the date of the secretary's notification, the department may approve acquisition of the resource. If, within 14 working days after the date of the secretary's notification, the cochairpersons of the committee notify the secretary that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the proposed acquisition, the department shall not approve acquisition of the resource unless the acquisition is approved by the committee.

(b) The secretary shall promptly notify the joint committee on finance in writing of the proposed acquisition of any computing information technology resource that the department considers major or that is likely to result in a substantive change in service, and that was not considered in the regular budgeting process and is to be financed from program revenues or corresponding revenues from program receipts in a segregated fund.

27,418 Section 418 . 16.971 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

16.971 (4) (a) The department may license or authorize state executive branch agencies to license computer programs developed by executive branch agencies to the federal government, other states, and municipalities. Any agency other than an executive branch agency may license a computer program developed by that agency to the federal government, other states and municipalities.

27,419 Section 419 . 16.971 (5) of the statutes is created to read:

16.971 (5) (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.870 (1) (q), the department may distribute grants to agencies to be used for information technology development projects.

(b) The department shall award grants under par. (a) once during each fiscal year. Grants shall be awarded in accordance with criteria developed annually by the department prior to awarding of grants. No later than September 15 of each year, the department shall submit its proposed criteria for the award of grants in the following fiscal year to the cochairpersons of the joint committee on information policy. The department shall not award any grant under the criteria until the criteria are approved by the committee.

(bd) The department shall distribute applications for grants for each fiscal year under par. (a) to each eligible agency no later than January 1 preceding that fiscal year.

(bh) No later than March 1 of any fiscal year, any eligible agency may file an application for a grant under par. (a) for the succeeding fiscal year.

(bp) If the criteria are approved by the committee under par. (bd), the department shall make grant awards for each fiscal year no later than May 15 preceding that fiscal year.

(bt) Following the award of grants for each fiscal year, the secretary shall notify the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance under s. 16.515 (1) of any proposed supplementation of appropriations for implementation of projects.

(d) Upon receipt of any gift, grant or bequest made to the state for information technology development purposes the secretary shall report the source, value and purpose to the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance. If the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the secretary that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the acceptance of the gift, grant or bequest within 14 working days after the date of the secretary's report, the secretary may accept the gift, grant or bequest on behalf of the state. If, within 14 working days after the date of the secretary's report, the cochairpersons of the committee notify the secretary that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the acceptance of the gift, grant or bequest, the gift, grant or bequest may be accepted by the secretary only upon approval of the committee. From the appropriation under s. 20.870 (1) (s), the department may distribute moneys received from such gifts, grants or bequests to agencies, within the limits of the amounts shown under s. 20.005 (3) for that appropriation, to be utilized for any information technology development project that is consistent with the purpose for which the moneys were received.

(e) No moneys may be authorized for use by the department under this subsection unless the department determines that such use will permit the effective utilization of information technology by agencies and will be consistent with the department's responsibilities to ensure adequate information technology resources for agencies under sub. (1m) and to implement a statewide strategic plan for information technology purposes under sub. (2) (m). If a grant is distributed to the legislature, a legislative service agency, the courts, a judicial branch agency or the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System, the use shall be consistent with the appropriate plan under s. 13.90 (6) , 36.11 (31) or 758.19 (7). The department shall accord priority to utilization of moneys under this subsection for projects that will effect cost savings, avoid future cost increases or enable improved provision of state services.

(f) No later than September 30 annually, each agency which conducted an information technology development project during the preceding fiscal year, whether individually or in cooperation with another agency, that was funded in whole or in part from the appropriation under s. 20.870 (1) (q), (r) or (s) shall file a report, in a form prescribed by the secretary, with the secretary and the cochairpersons of the joint committee on information policy. The report shall describe the purpose of each project and the status of the project as of the end of the preceding fiscal year. No later than 13 months following the completion of such a project, each such agency shall file a report, on a form prescribed by the secretary, with the secretary and the cochairpersons of the joint committee on information policy. The report shall describe the purpose of the project and the effect of the project on agency business operations as of the end of the 12-month period following completion of the project.

(g) The department shall promulgate rules governing the administration of this subsection, including criteria for distributing grants under par. (a).

27,420 Section 420 . 16.971 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

16.971 (6) Notwithstanding subs. (1) (1m) and (2), the revisor of statutes shall approve the specifications for preparation and schedule for delivery of computer data bases containing the Wisconsin statutes.

27,422 Section 422. 16.971 (8) of the statutes is created to read:

16.971 (8) (a) In this subsection, “program revenues-service" has the meaning given in s. 20.001 (2) (c).

(b) The secretary may propose to the joint committee on finance that available moneys from any appropriation account under s. 20.505 derived from program-revenues service be temporarily reallocated during the 1995-97 fiscal biennium to the information technology investment fund. The secretary shall notify the cochairpersons of the committee of any such proposal. If the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the secretary that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the proposal within 14 working days after the date of the secretary's notification, the secretary may reallocate the moneys as proposed by the secretary. If, within 14 working days after the date of the secretary's notification, the cochairpersons of the committee notify the secretary that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the proposed reallocation, the reallocation may be made only upon approval of the committee. No interest is chargeable to the information technology investment fund as a result of any such reallocation. The secretary shall ensure that any amounts reallocated under this subsection are repaid to the account from which they were transferred no later than 5 years after the date of the reallocation.

27,422m Section 422m. 16.971 (9) of the statutes is created to read:

16.971 (9) In conjunction with the public defender board, the director of state courts, the departments of corrections and justice and district attorneys, the division may maintain, promote and coordinate automated justice information systems that are compatible among counties and the officers and agencies specified in this subsection, using the moneys appropriated under s. 20.505 (1) (ja). The division shall annually report to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) concerning the division's efforts to improve and increase the efficiency of integration of justice information systems.

27,423m Section 423m. 16.971 (11) of the statutes is created to read:

16.971 (11) The division may charge executive branch agencies for information technology development and management services provided to them by the division under this section.

27,424 Section 424 . 16.973 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

16.973 (title) Powers of the division of information technology services. (intro.) The division of information technology services may:

27,425 Section 425 . 16.974 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

16.974 (title) Duties of the division of information technology services. (intro.) The division of information technology services shall:

27,426 Section 426 . 16.974 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

16.974 (1) Provide or contract with a public or private entity to provide computer services to agencies. The division may charge agencies for services provided to them under this subsection in accordance with a methodology determined by the secretary.

27,427 Section 427 . 16.975 of the statutes is amended to read:

16.975 Access to information. The division of information technology services shall withhold from access under s. 19.35 (1) all information submitted to the division by agencies, local governmental units or entities in the private sector for the purpose of processing. The authority division may not process such information without the consent of the agency, unit or other entity which submitted the information and may not withhold such information from the agency, unit or other entity or from any other person authorized by the agency, unit or entity to have access to the information. The agency, unit or other entity submitting the information remains the custodian of the information while it is in the custody of the authority division and access to such information by that agency, unit or entity or any other person shall be determined by that agency, unit or other entity and in accordance with law.

27,428 Section 428 . 16.976 of the statutes is amended to read:

16.976 Council on information technology. The council on information technology shall advise the secretary on matters relating to the operation and performance of the division of information technology services under this subchapter.

27,431 Section 431 . Subchapter IX (title) of chapter 16 [precedes 16.99] of the statutes is amended to read:

CHAPTER 16

SUBCHAPTER IX
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND
INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY

27,436m Section 436m. 16.992 of the statutes is created to read:

16.992 Pioneering partners grants and loans. (1) In this section:

(a) “Board" means the educational technology board.

(b) “Distance education" means instruction that takes place, regardless of the location of a teacher or student, by means of telecommunications or other means of communication, including cable, instructional television fixed service, microwave, radio, satellite, computer, telephone or television.

(c) “Educational technology" means technology used in the education or training of any person or in the administration of an elementary or secondary school or a public library.

(2) A school district, municipal library board established under s. 43.54 or county library board established under s. 43.57, either individually or in conjunction with one or more other school districts, municipal library boards or county library boards, may apply to the department for a grant, or for approval of a loan under s. 24.61 (3) (d), or both, to implement, expand or participate in an educational technology or distance education project. The application shall be accompanied by a technology plan that includes all of the following:

(a) An assessment of the needs to be met by the project.

(b) A detailed description of the technology to be employed in the project.

(d) A narrative description of the project, including the manner in which the project meets the criteria under sub. (4) (a) and the purpose for which the grant will be awarded or the loan made.

(e) A description of the process that the grant or loan recipient will use to evaluate the project.

(f) A plan for continuing the project beyond the grant or loan period, if appropriate.

(g) Any other information the board determines is necessary to assist in awarding a grant or approving a loan.

(2m) In the case of a county or municipal library board, whether the library board applies individually or in conjunction with other entities, an application for a loan shall be accompanied by a resolution of the governing body of each county or municipality that is served by the library board requesting the loan on behalf of the library board.

(3) The board may approve an application for one or more of the following:

(a) A grant to fund all or a portion of the cost of an educational technology or distance education project.

(b) A loan under s. 24.61 (3) (d), and a grant to subsidize that portion of the interest costs on that loan generated by the first 2 points of the annual interest rate applicable to that loan, to fund all or a portion of the cost of an educational technology or distance education project.

(c) A loan under s. 24.61 (3) (d) to fund all or a portion of the cost of an educational technology or distance education project.

(4) (a) The board shall review all applications for a grant or loan under this section and may make a grant, or approve an application for a loan, if the board finds that the project will do any of the following:

1. Enhance the educational opportunities for residents of this state.

2. Improve the administrative efficiency of public schools in this state.

3. Enhance the training and continuing education opportunities of elementary and secondary school teachers in this state.

(b) The board shall ensure that grants and loans are distributed to eligible applicants from the territory of all of the cooperative educational service agencies from which applications are received.

(c) The board may not make a grant under sub. (3) (a) unless there is a matching fund contribution from the grant recipient, including in-kind contributions, of at least 25% of the cost of the project. Contributions from private sources, including in-kind contributions, may be applied to meet the matching fund requirement.

(5) (a) A grant or loan recipient shall use the grant or loan for one or more of the following purposes:

1. Training teachers, librarians and other staff members in the use and integration of technology for educational purposes.

2. Purchasing or upgrading technology, including computer hardware and software, distance education equipment and other equipment, materials or resources related to the project, and wiring within a school or library building or to connect schools in the same school district if such wiring is directly related to the project.

3. Integrating the use of educational technology and distance education throughout the curriculum.

4. Implementing the use of technology to enhance administrative efficiencies.

5. Offering community education opportunities through distance education or educational technology to school district, municipal or county residents.

(b) Grants may not be used to supplant or replace funds otherwise available for the project.

(6) The board may require a grant or loan recipient to report to the board on the distance education and educational technology used in the school district, municipality or county for the purpose of assisting the state in planning related to distance education and educational technology if the board finds that complying with the requirement will not impose a substantial burden on the grant or loan recipient.

(7) Upon approval of an application for a loan to conduct an educational technology or distance education project, the board shall provide written notice of its approval to the board of commissioners of public lands.

(8) The board shall do all of the following:

(a) Provide consultative services to school boards and library boards to assist them in developing and implementing distance education and educational technology projects and in preparing applications for grants and loans under this section.

(b) Consult and coordinate its activities under par. (a) with the boards of control of the cooperative educational service agencies.

(c) Annually by August 15, submit a report to the joint committee on finance identifying all recipients of grants under this section in the previous fiscal year and all applicants for and recipients of loans approved by the board under this section in the previous fiscal year. The report shall indicate the purpose for which each grant was awarded and for which each loan was approved.

(9) By February 1, 2000, the secretary of administration and the board shall jointly submit to the joint committee on finance a report specifying their recommendations on whether the board and the program under this section should be continued and, if so, what changes should be made.

27,437 Section 437 . 17.07 (3), (4), (5) and (6) of the statutes are amended to read:

17.07 (3) State officers appointed by serving in an office that is filled by appointment of the governor for a fixed term by and with the advice and consent of the senate, or appointed by serving in an office that is filled by appointment of any other officer or body for a fixed term subject to the concurrence of the governor, by the governor at any time, for cause.

(4) State officers appointed by serving in an office that is filled by appointment of the governor with the advice and consent of the senate to serve at the pleasure of the governor, or appointed by serving in an office that is filled by appointment of any other officer or body for an indefinite term subject to the concurrence of the governor, by the governor at any time.

(5) State officers appointed serving in an office that is filled by appointment of the governor alone for a fixed or indefinite term or to supply a vacancy in any office, elective or appointive, except justices of the supreme court and judges and the adjutant general, by the governor at pleasure; the adjutant general, by the governor, at any time, for cause or for withdrawal of federal recognition of his or her commission under 32 USC 323; and all officers appointed by the governor during the recess of the legislature whose appointments are required to be later confirmed by the senate shall be deemed to be appointed by the governor alone until so confirmed.

(6) Other state officers appointed by serving in an office that is filled by appointment of any officer or body without the concurrence of the governor, by the officer or body that appointed them having the authority to make appointments to that office, at pleasure, except that officers appointed according to merit and fitness under and subject to ch. 230 or officers whose removal is governed by ch. 230 who may be removed only in conformity with said that chapter.

27,438 Section 438 . 18.06 (10) of the statutes is repealed.

27,439g Section 439g. 18.13 (4) of the statutes is amended to read: