S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2573
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 16, 2013
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Governmental Operations
AN ACT creating a task force on information services technology develop-
ment to develop policies that will benefit residents of New York state
by fostering the free market development and beneficial use of
advanced communications networks and information technologies, and
providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature finds that the devel-
opment of policies that foster the free market development and benefi-
cial use of advanced communications networks and information technolo-
gies is of great importance to the residents of New York state. The
legislature further finds that this can best be accomplished by the
creation of a task force on information services technology development.
S 2. Task force on information services technology development. The
secretary of state is hereby directed to create a task force on informa-
tion services technology development. The objectives of such task force
shall be to:
(a) promote the development of a framework that will ensure that New
York state has an aggressive information technology (IT) economic devel-
opment process that focuses on creating, retaining, and recruiting IT
companies under circumstances which foster technological and knowledge-
based innovations, entrepreneurship, and investment in a trained and
skilled workforce; to increase national, international, and global
awareness of New York as an environment ideally suited for the success-
ful advancement of the information technology business sector;
(b) promote the development of strategies to ensure that K-12 educa-
tional institutions develop policies and programs that promote techno-
logical innovation and improve education in order to enhance the state's
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06727-01-3
A. 2573 2
innovative capacity and create a more productive citizenry that can
navigate, adapt, and prosper in the information economy;
(c) promote the development of strategies to assist educational insti-
tutions in establishing policies and programs that will produce a highly
skilled IT workforce, and encourage public/private partnerships in the
development of IT curriculum, research, funding, and training;
(d) promote the development of policy recommendations to ensure that
New York's public and private sectors will focus on bridging the gap
between the information-rich and the information-poor in order to foster
equal access to IT for all New Yorkers;
(e) promote the development of strategies to ensure that government
institutions use technology to increase the quality and cost-effective-
ness of their services, while also fostering broader use of information
technologies among and between residents and businesses. Also, to
promote the development of policies which ensure that government serves
as a catalyst for advancing the digital economy by refocusing government
procurement power, and provide a critical mass of digital services;
(f) evaluate laws, rules, and procedures to ensure that they facili-
tate, or at least do not hinder, the growth of electronic commerce
(eCommerce);
(g) evaluate whether laws, rules, and procedures should be created,
amended or repealed to reflect the impact of eCommerce on our state and
to foster the growth of eCommerce while protecting consumer rights; and
(h) promote the development of policies to ensure that New York has
sufficient communications infrastructure and high bandwidth capacity to
support our growing information economy; to evaluate the sufficiency of
New York IT research and development centers to ensure that New York is
creating an environment that continuously develops new technologies and
applications.
S 3. Composition. The task force shall consist of thirty-one members.
The task force shall include: the secretary of state, the attorney
general, the commissioner of education, the chancellor of the state
university of New York, the commissioner of economic development, the
commissioner of general services, the director of the division of the
budget, the executive director of the New York state office of science,
technology and academic research; seven members shall be appointed by
the governor, one of whom the governor shall name as chair of the task
force; seven members to be appointed by the temporary president of the
senate; one member to be appointed by the minority leader of the senate;
seven members to be appointed by the speaker of the assembly; and one
member to be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly. The seven
members appointed by the governor shall include: a college student who
relies on the Internet for personal or academic use; a representative of
a local government that is an alternative local exchange telecommuni-
cations company or an Internet service provider; and four persons as
determined by the governor to appropriately represent technology provid-
ers, manufacturers, retailers, and users. The seven members appointed by
the temporary president of the senate shall represent each of the
following categories: a facilities-based inter-exchange telecommuni-
cations company; a wireless telecommunications company; an alternative
local exchange telecommunications company; an Internet service provider
with more than one million customers; the entertainment industry; a
computer or telecommunications manufacturing company; and one member of
the senate. The seven members appointed by the speaker of the assembly
shall represent each of the following categories: a cable television
provider; a computer software company; the banking industry; an Internet
A. 2573 3
search engine company; a local exchange telecommunications company; the
tourist industry; and one member of the assembly. Vacancies on the task
force shall be filled in the manner provided for original appointments.
S 4. Report. The task force shall report its findings, conclusions and
recommendations to the governor, temporary president of the senate and
the speaker of the assembly by July 1 of calendar years 2012 and 2013.
The task force may develop and publish other documents throughout the
year as it deems necessary and/or appropriate.
S 5. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire July 1,
2013 when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed
repealed.