1. A. There is hereby created a wide area telecommunications network to be known and referred to as the "Oklahoma Government Telecommunications Network (OGTN)". The OGTN shall consist of the telecommunications systems and networks of educational entities and agencies of state government.

2. B. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A of this section:

   1. 1. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education may continue to operate, maintain and enhance the State Regents Educational Telecommunications Network; provided, however, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall submit all plans for the enhancement of the State Regents Educational Telecommunications Network to the Office of State Finance for review and approval within the context of the statewide telecommunications network provided for in subsection C of this section and shall participate with the Office of State Finance in joint efforts to provide services for the OGTN; and
   2. 2. The Department of Pubic Safety may continue to operate, maintain and enhance the statewide law enforcement data communications network provided for in Section 2-124 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes; provided, however, the Department of Public Safety shall submit all plans for the enhancement of the statewide law enforcement data communications network to the Office of State Finance for review and approval and shall participate with the Office of State Finance in joint efforts to provide services for the OGTN.

3. C. The Office of State Finance shall be responsible for developing, operating and maintaining the OGTN. The purposes of the OGTN shall include the following:

   1. 1. Development of a comprehensive, unified statewide telecommunications network to effectively and efficiently meet the communication needs of educational entities and agencies of state government;
   2. 2. Effective and efficient utilization of existing telecommunications systems operated by educational entities and agencies of state government; and
   3. 3. Elimination and prevention of unnecessarily duplicative telecommunications systems operated by educational entities and agencies of state government.

4. D. In developing, operating and maintaining the OGTN, the Office of State Finance shall:

   1. 1. Develop a statewide master plan for meeting the communications needs of educational entities and of agencies of state government. To facilitate the development of a statewide master plan as provided for in this paragraph:

      1. a. the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall submit a report annually to the Director of State Finance identifying the telecommunications plans of each member of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education. For purposes of developing such report, each member shall cooperate with and submit to the State Regents a plan of its telecommunications needs, including, but not limited to, any interactive video plans, the purchase of informational data bases, software for manipulation of bibliographic records, and the use of telecommunications equipment or services,
      2. b. the State Superintendent of Public Instruction shall submit a report annually to the Director of State Finance identifying the telecommunications plans of the public common school system of the state. For purposes of developing such report, the respective public elementary and secondary schools shall cooperate with and submit to the State Superintendent a plan of their telecommunications needs, including, but not limited to, any interactive video plans, the purchase of informational data bases, software for manipulation of bibliographic records, and the use of telecommunications equipment or services,
      3. c. the State Director of Vocational and Technical Education shall submit a report annually to the Director of State Finance identifying the telecommunications plans of area vocational-technical school districts. For purposes of developing such report, each area vocational-technical school district as defined in Section 70-14-108 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes shall cooperate with and submit to the State Director of Vocational and Technical Education a plan of its telecommunications needs, including, but not limited to, any interactive video plans, the purchase of informational data bases, software for manipulation of bibliographic records, and the use of telecommunications equipment or services,
      4. d. the chief administrative officer of each state agency of the executive branch shall submit a plan annually to the Director of State Finance identifying the telecommunications needs of the state agency, including, but not limited to, any interactive video plans, the purchase of informational data bases, software for manipulation of bibliographic records, and the use of telecommunications equipment or services, and
      5. e. the Director of the Oklahoma Department of Libraries shall submit a report annually to the Director of State Finance identifying the telecommunications plans of public libraries and public library systems. For purposes of developing such report, the chief administrative officer of any public library or public library system not otherwise required to submit a plan of its telecommunications needs pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph shall cooperate with and submit annually to the Director of the Oklahoma Department of Libraries a plan of its telecommunications needs, including, but not limited to, any interactive video plans, the purchase of informational data bases, software for manipulation of bibliographic records and the use of telecommunications equipment or services. To assure inclusion in the report of the plans of the telecommunications needs of any library that is a part of any member of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, a public elementary or secondary school, or area vocational-technical school district, all such plans relating to libraries received by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the State Superintendent of Higher Education, and the State Director of Vocational and Technical Education shall be submitted to the Director of the Oklahoma Department of Libraries by the respective recipients thereof as soon as practicable after receipt. The Director of the Oklahoma Department of Libraries shall certify to the Office of State Finance that such plans are consistent with the plan developed by the Oklahoma Library Technology Network or explain any inconsistencies therewith;
   2. 2. Identify the most cost-effective means of meeting the telecommunications needs of educational entities and of agencies of state government;
   3. 3. Develop minimum mandatory standards and protocols for equipment, facilities and services of the OGTN;
   4. 4. Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing equipment, facilities, and services of both private entities and those owned and operated by the state;
   5. 5. Recommend a fee structure to provide for the operation and maintenance of the OGTN; and
   6. 6. Seek the advice of the State Data Processing and Telecommunications Advisory Committee created by Section 41.5n of this title.

Added by Laws 1992, HB 2133, c. 268, § 1, eff. September 1, 1992; Amended by Laws 1995, HB 1027, c. 246, § 4, eff. November 1, 1995.