PRINTER'S NO. 1846
No. 1563 Session of 1995
INTRODUCED BY PETRARCA, WOGAN, MARKOSEK, RUBLEY, OLASZ, GORDNER,
KUKOVICH, ITKIN, WALKO, MUNDY, BELARDI, VAN HORNE, STURLA,
SHANER, DALEY, MELIO, JAROLIN, HORSEY, TRELLO, JOSEPHS,
BOSCOLA, HALUSKA AND COLAIZZO, MAY 8, 1995
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, MAY 8, 1995
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
16 of State government and for political subdivisions, to data
17 and information pertaining to emerging technologies.
18 (3) The center shall continue to provide services for
1 the Governor's Office, and the Governor shall retain the
2 power to appoint the chief information officer; however, the
3 center shall cooperate with the commission.
4 Section 3. Definitions.
5 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
6 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
7 context clearly indicates otherwise:
8 "Center." The Central Management and Information Center
9 referred to in section 4.
10 "Chief Information Officer." The head officer of the center
11 appointed under section 4(a)(2).
12 "Commission." The Joint Commission on Science and Technology
13 established in section 5.
14 "Consortium." The Consortium of Pennsylvania's Colleges
15 established under Executive Order 1988-10.
16 "Deputy Information Officer." The assistant officer of the
17 center appointed under section 4(a)(3).
18 Section 4. Center.
19 (a) Operation.--
20 (1) The Central Management and Information Center shall
21 operate under the jurisdiction of the Governor.
22 (2) The Governor shall appoint the Chief Information
23 Officer to head the center.
24 (3) The Governor shall appoint the Deputy Information
25 Officer to assist the chief information officer.
26 (b) Reports.--The center shall submit a biannual report to
27 the commission providing information and recommendations for the
28 study of relevant technological issues.
29 Section 5. Commission.
30 (a) Establishment.--The Joint Commission on Science and
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1 Technology is established. The commission shall consist of 11
2 members:
3 (1) The chief information officer and the deputy
4 information officer.
5 (2) The President pro tempore of the Senate or a
6 designee and the Minority Leader of the Senate or a designee.
7 (3) The Speaker of the House of Representatives or a
8 designee and the Minority Leader of the House of
9 Representatives or a designee.
10 (4) Two judges or justices appointed by the Chief
11 Justice of the Supreme Court or delegates designated by each
12 appointee.
13 (5) Three representatives of the private sector,
14 appointed by the consortium. Under this paragraph, one
15 representative should be from the field of medicine; and one
16 representative should be from the field of communications.
17 (b) Meetings.--
18 (1) Six members of the commission constitute a quorum.
19 (2) Meetings may be called at the request of any member
20 of the commission.
21 (3) Meetings shall be open to the public.
22 (c) Powers and duties.--The commission shall have the power
23 and its duty shall be to:
24 (1) Discuss costs for emerging technologies and the
25 possibilities of consolidating those costs among the branches
26 of State government.
27 (2) Study emerging technologies which present detailed
28 issues to be addressed.
29 (3) Discuss information security and equitable access
30 among the branches of State government and among political
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1 parties.
2 (4) Receive technology counsel from available research
3 facilities during the preparation of compact legislation on
4 technology.
5 (5) Study emerging technologies which have an impact on
6 the law.
7 (6) Study issues on personal privacy and abuses of
8 information collection.
9 (7) Prepare legislation on technology which considers
10 and honors existing contracts from technology providers.
11 (8) Serve as a legal task force to recommend and
12 implement the integration of data systems in State
13 government.
14 (9) Recommend that the Office of Attorney General
15 initiate an investigation if information reveals abuses or
16 illegalities.
17 Section 6. Effective date.
18 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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