FIFTY-NINTH WYOMING LEGISLATURE

APPROVED INTERIM COMMITTEE STUDIES

2008 INTERIM

 

 

 

SELECT COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE TECHNOLOGY

 

Standard Budget:                   $7,500

 

Priority # 1         General Responsibilities

 

The primary responsibility of the Select Committee on Legislative Technology is to provide oversight of the Legislature’s computer, audio/video and Web site technology development by the LSO information technology staff. 

 

Priority #1a:  Education and Development of Information Technology Plan

 

The Select Committee plans to spend a portion of its interim work learning more about the history of legislative technology initiatives, the information technology tools that are currently used by the Legislature and staff plans for improvements to existing systems.  Based on this background, the Committee will work with LSO staff to develop a long-term information technology plan for the legislative branch in conjunction with workload priorities identified by the LSO information technology staff, including the Committee’s other interim topic priorities listed below.  The Committee will evaluate the need for policy changes based on the ways in which technology can be better deployed to improve legislative operations.

 

Priority #1b:  Guidance to LSO for Contracting

 

The Committee will provide general guidance to LSO staff regarding use of legislative appropriations to hire consultants to assist LSO staff in the following areas: project management responsibilities to integrate information technology tools into an efficient and usable system for legislators and staff; develop the underlying infrastructure to support legislative technology operations; review of workflow related to the way the legislative branch processes information (relates to Priority # 3); integration and enhancement of document management system with a dynamic Web site; and Web site redesign.

 

Priority # 2     Promotional Activities

 

As previously assigned by Management Council, the Select Committee on Legislative Technology will oversee legislative promotional initiatives developed by LSO staff.  The Committee plans to have the LSO staff provide an overview of current public outreach activities and staff plans for additional outreach.

 

Priority # 3         Reduction of Paper in Legislative Process

 

As previously directed by the Management Council, the Select Committee on Legislative Technology will coordinate with the Select Committee on Legislative Process to create a joint working group to consider ways to reduce the use of paper in the legislative process and to update computer software for more efficient operations in the chambers.

 

Priority # 4         Video Conferencing

 

As previously assigned by Management Council, the Select Committee on Legislative Technology will study the potential for use of web and video conferencing.

 

Priority # 5         Voting Technology Options

 

The Committee would like to explore the topic of voting procedures, including defining a shared understanding of terminology related to procedures within the voting process, potential technology options, the implications on legislative rules and procedures to changes, and the impacts on legislative facilities.

 

Tentative Meeting Schedule:

 

The Committee anticipates holding two or three one-day meetings.