(20 ILCS 1370/1-35)

Sec. 1-35. Communications services.

(a) (Blank).

(b) The Department shall provide for and coordinate communications services for State agencies and, when requested and when in the best interests of the State, for units of federal or local governments and public and not-for-profit institutions of primary, secondary, and higher education. The Department may make use of, or support or provide any information technology-related communications equipment or services necessary and available to support the needs of interested parties not associated with State government provided that State government usage shall have first priority. For this purpose the Department shall have the power to do all of the following:

(1) Provide for and control the procurement, retention, installation, and maintenance of communications equipment or services used by State agencies in the interest of efficiency and economy.

(2) Review existing standards and, where appropriate, propose to establish new or modified standards for State agencies which shall include a minimum of one telecommunication device for the deaf installed and operational within each State agency, to provide public access to agency information for those persons who are hearing or speech impaired. The Department shall consult the Department of Human Services to develop standards and implementation for this equipment.

(3) Establish charges for information technology for State agencies and, when requested, for units of federal or local government and public and not-for-profit institutions of primary, secondary, or higher education. Entities charged for these services shall pay the Department.

(4) Instruct all State agencies to report their usage of communication services regularly to the Department in the manner the Department may prescribe.

(5) Analyze the present and future aims and needs of all State agencies in the area of communications services and plan to serve those aims and needs in the most effective and efficient manner.

(6) Provide telecommunications and other communications services.

(7) Establish the administrative organization within the Department that is required to accomplish the purpose of this Section.

This subsection (b) does not apply to the procurement of Next Generation 9-1-1 service as governed by Section 15.6b of the Emergency Telephone System Act.

(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 102-376, eff. 1-1-22; 102-870, eff. 1-1-23.)