Signed by Governor Charlie Baker

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes technology improvements for the State Judiciary.

Highlights:

• Establishes a program to improve and modernize the information technology infrastructure of the supreme judicial court, appeals court, trial court and departments of the trial court of the commonwealth (Sec. 1).

• Appropriates $95 million for costs associated with establishing digital courthouses and courtrooms, a justice portal for file storage and user access to case files, a remote video interpreting system, and digital signage (Sec. 2).

• Appropriates $35 million in funds for the creation of a digital security system to protect court systems, networks and data; system-wide replacement of video surveillance, duress, and security scanning equipment; inter-personnel and centralized law enforcement communication systems (Sec. 2A).

• Appropriates $35.5 million for costs associated with the technological modernization of court administrative operations which include: 

• Wide secure voice over internet protocol phone systems;

• An energy management system; 

• A data storage system;

• Enterprise resource planning; 

• A virtual private network to enable court employee remote access to court systems and data; and

• Increased bandwidth capacity in all court locations to accommodate a digital court system.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes technology improvements for the State Judiciary.

Highlights:

• Establishes a program to improve and modernize the information technology infrastructure of the supreme judicial court, appeals court, trial court and departments of the trial court of the commonwealth (Sec. 1).

• Appropriates $95 million for costs associated with establishing digital courthouses and courtrooms, a justice portal for file storage and user access to case files, a remote video interpreting system, and digital signage (Sec. 2).

• Appropriates $35 million in funds for the creation of a digital security system to protect court systems, networks and data; system-wide replacement of video surveillance, duress, and security scanning equipment; inter-personnel and centralized law enforcement communication systems (Sec. 2A).

• Appropriates $35.5 million for costs associated with the technological modernization of court administrative operations which include: 

• Wide secure voice over internet protocol phone systems;

• An energy management system; 

• A data storage system;

• Enterprise resource planning; 

• A virtual private network to enable court employee remote access to court systems and data; and

• Increased bandwidth capacity in all court locations to accommodate a digital court system.

Full Bill Text