HB4541 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 16661 RJF 66048 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB4541

Introduced 2/5/2020, by Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 1370/1-5
20 ILCS 1370/1-65 new

Amends the Department of Innovation and Technology Act. Provides that on or before July 1, 2023, the Department of Innovation and Technology shall create a plan to improve the provision of digital services, including modernizing websites and enhancing the use of data analytics for all State agencies. Provides that the plan created shall be posted on the Department's website. Provides for the contents of the plan to be submitted to the Department. Provides that on or before July 1, 2023, all State agency websites intended for use by the public shall be mobile-friendly. Provides that on or before July 1, 2023, all State websites intended for use by the public shall be accessible for persons with disabilities as provided under the Information Technology Accessibility Act. Provides that no public-facing State agency website shall become operational if it is not mobile-friendly and accessible by persons with disabilities. Requires the Department to adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions. Provides findings and purpose provisions. Defines "mobile-friendly". Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Findings and purpose.

(a) The General Assembly finds and declares the following:

(1) Restoring Illinois' global leadership position in technology and electronic government requires a new approach, one that narrows the growing gap between the digital demands of citizens and the fashion in which the government provides digital services to the citizens of Illinois.

(2) In addition to changing the paradigm for government services delivery, enhanced citizen-facing digital experiences can dramatically reduce the cost of government operations.

(3) Government lags far behind the private sector in providing a modern, seamless, personalized, and consistent digital experience to those seeking government information or services. Illinois currently ranks 36 out of 50 states in its ability to deliver e-government services.

(4) Legislation is needed to accelerate the transition from an analog and paper-based government to a 21st Century digital government that delivers information and government services in a fashion that most Americans take for granted in the private sector.

(5) Key to this transition will be the implementation of modern customer service experiences, such as citizen-centric design, comprehensive self-service capabilities, and uniform mobile rendering, regardless of how Illinois' citizens interact with government.

(6) Additionally, a large and growing number of citizens in Illinois access government services via a mobile device and many State websites are not optimized for mobile use.

(7) Transitioning from paper processes to adaptive and intuitive digital forms would significantly improve government services to citizens.

(8) All State websites must be accessible to individuals with disabilities.

(9) Given the foregoing, digital governance and website modernization is necessary to improve public accessibility to Illinois State government resources.

(b) The purpose of this legislation is:

(1) to accelerate the transition of the government from an analog to a digital service delivery model by modernizing government interactions with citizens to create a modern digital government experience;

(2) to ensure that citizens of Illinois are able to access State websites from mobile devices;

(3) to create a legislative framework that improves the delivery of citizen-facing services of State agencies by better leveraging government's use of modern technology that ensures consistent responses to inquiries and service requests whether submitted on-line, by telephone, or in person;

(4) to ensure that persons with disabilities are able to access information and interact with State websites;

(5) to reduce the cost of government operations through the more effective use of digital technology; and

(6) to reduce State government's reliance on outdated technologies and manual processes.

Section 5. The Department of Innovation and Technology Act is amended by changing Section 1-5 and by adding Section 1-65 as follows:

(20 ILCS 1370/1-5)

Sec. 1-5. Definitions. In this Act:

"Bureau of Communications and Computer Services" means the Bureau of Communications and Computer Services, also known as the Bureau of Information and Communication Services, created by rule (2 Illinois Administrative Code 750.40) within the Department of Central Management Services.

"Client agency" means each transferring agency, or its successor. When applicable, "client agency" may also include any other public agency to which the Department provides service to the extent specified in an interagency contract with the public agency.

"Dedicated unit" means the dedicated bureau, division, office, or other unit within a transferring agency that is responsible for the information technology functions of the transferring agency. For the Office of the Governor, "dedicated unit" means the Information Technology Office, also known as the Office of the Chief Information Officer. For the Department of Central Management Services, "dedicated unit" means the Bureau of Communications and Computer Services, also known as the Bureau of Information and Communication Services.

"Department" means the Department of Innovation and Technology.

"Information technology" means technology, infrastructure, equipment, systems, software, networks, and processes used to create, send, receive, and store electronic or digital information, including, without limitation, computer systems and telecommunication services and systems. "Information technology" shall be construed broadly to incorporate future technologies (such as sensors and balanced private hybrid or public cloud posture tailored to the mission of the agency) that change or supplant those in effect as of the effective date of this Act.

"Information technology functions" means the development, procurement, installation, retention, maintenance, operation, possession, storage, and related functions of all information technology.

"Information Technology Office" means the Information Technology Office, also known as the Office of the Chief Information Officer, within the Office of the Governor, created by Executive Order 1999-05, or its successor.

"Legacy information technology division" means any division, bureau, or other unit of a transferring agency which has responsibility for information technology functions for the agency prior to the transfer of those functions to the Department, including, without limitation, the Bureau of Communications and Computer Services.

"Mobile-friendly" means, with respect to a website, that the website is configured in such a way that the website may be navigated, viewed, and accessed on a smartphone, tablet computer, or similar mobile device.

"Secretary" means the Secretary of Innovation and Technology.

"State agency" means each State agency, department, board, and commission directly responsible to the Governor.

"Transferring agency" means the Department on Aging; the Departments of Agriculture, Central Management Services, Children and Family Services, Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Corrections, Employment Security, Financial and Professional Regulation, Healthcare and Family Services, Human Rights, Human Services, Insurance, Juvenile Justice, Labor, Lottery, Military Affairs, Natural Resources, Public Health, Revenue, State Police, Transportation, and Veterans' Affairs; the Capital Development Board; the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission; the Environmental Protection Agency; the Governor's Office of Management and Budget; the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission; the Historic Preservation Agency; the Illinois Arts Council; the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities; the Illinois Emergency Management Agency; the Illinois Gaming Board; the Illinois Health Information Exchange Authority; the Illinois Liquor Control Commission; the Illinois Technology Office; the Office of the State Fire Marshal; and the Prisoner Review Board. "Transferring agency" does not include a State constitutional office, the Office of the Executive Inspector General, or any office of the legislative or judicial branches of State government.

(Source: P.A. 100-611, eff. 7-20-18; 100-1169, eff. 1-4-19.)

(20 ILCS 1370/1-65 new)

Sec. 1-65. Digital governance and website modernization.

(a) On or before July 1, 2023, the Department of Innovation and Technology shall create a plan to improve the provision of digital services, including modernizing websites and enhancing the use of data analytics for all State agencies. The plan created under this Section shall be posted on the Department's website and shall include the following:

(1) a website modernization plan focused on the effective delivery of digital services that is designed around user needs and leveraging data analytics and related tools to determine user goals, needs, and behaviors;

(2) a plan to ensure the effective rendering of all publicly facing websites on mobile devices; and

(3) a plan to increase the use of data analytics to improve website operation and enhance digital service delivery.

(b) On or before July 1, 2023, all State agency websites intended for use by the public shall be mobile-friendly.

(c) On or before July 1, 2023, all State websites intended for use by the public shall be accessible for persons with disabilities as provided under the Information Technology Accessibility Act.

(d) On and after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, no public-facing State agency website shall become operational if it is not mobile-friendly and accessible by persons with disabilities.

(e) The Department shall adopt rules necessary to implement this Section.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.