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
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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.
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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.
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