(1) The Task Force on Electronic Access to State Government Information is created. The task force shall consist of the following members: (a) The chairperson of the Executive Board of the Legislative Council; (b) The Speaker of the Legislature; (c) The chairperson of the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee of the Legislature; (d) The chairperson of the Transportation Committee of the Legislature; (e) Three members of the Legislature appointed by the chairperson of the Executive Board of the Legislative Council; (f) The Secretary of State; and (g) Three members appointed by the Governor under subsection
(2) of this section.
(2) The task force shall include the following members appointed by the Governor: (a) One representative appointed by the Governor to be broadly representative of banking, insurance, and law groups; (b) One representative appointed by the Governor to be broadly representative of libraries, consumer groups, and the general public; and (c) One representative appointed by the Governor to represent agencies of the executive branch of government.
(3) The chairperson of the Executive Board of the Legislative Council shall be the chairperson of the task force. The members shall be appointed within twenty days after June 7, 1997.
(4) The task force shall investigate current statutes and practices by state and local government regarding distribution of public records. The investigation shall include, but not be limited to: (a) Convening public meetings as determined by the chairperson of the task force for input from the general public and individuals knowledgeable in areas related to electronic access to information; (b)
An assessment of current statutes and practices by state agencies regarding distribution of public records in any medium, including fees charged for copies, whether electronic or other forms of distribution; (c) An assessment of current practices by state agencies regarding the decision to make or not make public records available in a certain medium, whether such decisions have resulted in certain public records being distributed in limited formats and the rationale, if any, for such decisions, whether and in what circumstances access to public records in certain formats has been denied, and whether barriers to agencies exist which discourage agencies from providing public records in a variety of mediums; (d) A comparative review of other states; and (e) A comprehensive review of access to public records. The task force shall provide a written report by December 1, 1997, to the Legislature which includes recommendations for any changes to state law that are necessary based on its findings.
(5) The task force shall cease to exist on December 31, 1997.
