Signed by Governor Martin O'Malley

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes the Department of Information Technology (DIT) which replaces the State Information Technology Board and assumes the duties of the Department of Budget and Management in coordinating the state telecommunications services.

Highlights:

- Establishes a cabinet-level position of Secretary of Information Technology to head the DIT, appointed by the Governor and approved by the Senate (Sec. 2). - Enumerates the duties assigned to the DIT, including (Sec. 2):

- Managing, developing, and operating telecommunication equipment, systems, and services of the state government; - Acquiring and managing telecommunications equipment, systems, or services and charging state agencies for their share of the costs of installation, maintenance, and operation; - Promoting the compatibility of telecommunication systems by developing policies, procedures, and standards for the acquisition and use of equipment, systems, and services by the state government; - Coordinating State telecommunication systems and services by reviewing requests issued by state agencies; - Advising state agencies on the planning, acquisition, and operation of telecommunication equipment, systems, or services; and - Providing radio frequency coordination for state and local governments in accordance with the Federal Communications Commission.

- Requires the Secretary to submit a report on all major information technology projects currently in development to the Department of Legislative Services on or before January 15 of each year, which must include information on (Sec. 2):

- Project status; - Any schedule, cost, and scope changes since the last annual report; - A risk assessment of any problems identified by any internal or external review and any corrective actions taken; and - Any change in the monitoring or oversight status.

- Establishes the Governor's Advisory Board for Telecommunication Relay to advise the DIT on the level of access to program participants and the quality of service. The Board will consist of 12 members, including (Sec. 2):

- Five representatives of the deaf or hard of hearing community; - One representative of the mobility-impaired community; - One representative of the speech-impaired community; - One representative of the the senior citizen community; - One representative of the deaf-blind community; and - Three representatives of the state Government, including one member of the Public Service Commission.

- Requires the DIT, in consolation with the advisory board, to establish and administer a cost-efficient, 24-hour, dual party relay service to participants at a comparable level of access and quality to that of standard telecommunication services provided to a person without a hearing or speech disability (Sec. 2). - Requires shopping facilities that house five or more sales/rental establishments, have four or more public pay phones, and cover 500,000 square feet or more, to acquire and install at least one specialized communications device to enable customers with hearing or speech disabilities to access a telephone or wireless service providers network. The DIT shall provide the facilities with specialized telephone equipment and reimbursement of costs for equipment (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that creates a Department of Information Technology that takes on the information technology duties of the Department of Budget and Management and replaces the State Inform Technology Board.

Highlights:

- Creates a cabinet position of Secretary of Information Technology to be appointed by Governor with the approval of the Senate [Subtitle 2 (A)]. - Creates the Major Information Technology Development Project Fund to support critical business functions associated with public health, education, safety, financial well being and other information technology projects to benefit state residents [Subtitle 3 (F) (2)]. - Assigns the Department of Information Technology the duties of managing, developing, and operating telecommunication services within the state (Subtitle 4). - Creates the Governor's Advisory Board for Telecommunication Relay to provide information and feedback on telecommunication programs in place and evaluate and create new program initiatives. The Board will consist of 12 members, including: - Five representatives of the deaf or hard of hearing community - One representative of the mobility-impaired community - One representative of the speech-impaired community - One representative of the the senior citizen community - One representative of the deaf-blind community - Three representatives of the Government, including one member of the Public Service Commission (Subtitle 5).

Full Bill Text