Subd. 1. Purpose.

The office of technology, referred to in this chapter as the "office," is an agency in the executive branch managed by an executive director appointed by the governor. The office shall provide leadership and direction for information and communications technology policy in Minnesota. The office shall coordinate strategic investments in information and communications technology to encourage the development of a technically literate society and to ensure sufficient access to and efficient delivery of government services.

Subd. 2. Discretionary powers.

The office may:

1. (1) enter into contracts for goods or services with public or private organizations and charge fees for services it provides;
2. (2) apply for, receive, and expend money from public agencies;
3. (3) apply for, accept, and disburse grants and other aids from the federal government and other public or private sources;
4. (4) enter into contracts with agencies of the federal government, local governmental units, the University of Minnesota and other educational institutions, and private persons and other nongovernmental organizations as necessary to perform its statutory duties;
5. (5) appoint committees and task forces of not more than two years' duration to assist the office in carrying out its duties;
6. (6) sponsor and conduct conferences and studies, collect and disseminate information, and issue reports relating to information and communications technology issues;
7. (7) participate in the activities of standards bodies and other appropriate conferences related to information and communications technology issues;
8. (8) review the technology infrastructure of regions of the state and cooperate with and make recommendations to the governor, legislature, state agencies, local governments, local technology development agencies, the federal government, private businesses, and individuals for the realization of information and communications technology infrastructure development potential;
9. (9) sponsor, support, and facilitate innovative and collaborative economic and community development and government services projects, including technology initiatives related to culture and the arts, with public and private organizations; and
10. (10) review and recommend alternative sourcing strategies for state information and communications systems.

Subd. 3. Duties.

The office shall:

1. (1) coordinate the efficient and effective use of available federal, state, local, and private resources to develop statewide information and communications technology and its infrastructure;
2. (2) review state agency and intergovernmental information and communications systems development efforts involving state or intergovernmental funding, provide information to the legislature in accordance with section 16A.11 regarding projects reviewed, and recommend projects for inclusion in the information technology budget under section 16A.11;
3. (3) encourage cooperation and collaboration among state and local governments in developing intergovernmental communication and information systems, and define the structure and responsibilities of the information policy council;
4. (4) cooperate and collaborate with the legislative and judicial branches in the development of information and communications systems in those branches;
5. (5) continue the development of North Star, the state's official comprehensive online service and information initiative;
6. (6) promote and collaborate with the state's agencies in the state's transition to an effectively competitive telecommunications market;
7. (7) collaborate with entities carrying out education and lifelong learning initiatives to assist Minnesotans in developing technical literacy and obtaining access to ongoing learning resources;
8. (8) promote and coordinate public information access and network initiatives, consistent with chapter 13, to connect Minnesota's citizens and communities to each other, to their governments, and to the world;
9. (9) promote and coordinate electronic commerce initiatives to ensure that Minnesota businesses and citizens can successfully compete in the global economy;
10. (10) promote and coordinate the regular and periodic reinvestment in the core information and communications technology infrastructure so that state and local government agencies can effectively and efficiently serve their customers;
11. (11) facilitate the cooperative development of standards for information systems, electronic data practices and privacy, and electronic commerce among international, national, state, and local public and private organizations; and
12. (12) work with others to avoid unnecessary duplication of existing services or activities provided by other public and private organizations while building on the existing governmental, educational, business, health care, and economic development infrastructures.