HOUSE BILL NO. 468-FN
INTRODUCED BY: Rep. W. King of Grafton Dist. 6; Rep. Raiche of Hillsborough Dist. 41; Rep. Hutchings of Grafton Dist. 8
REFERRED TO: Executive Departments and Administration
AN ACT providing for computer access to public records and creating a public access review committee.
ANALYSIS
This bill mandates any state body or state agency which is subject to the provisions of RSA 91-A and which uses a mainframe computer to have a public user access connection available for public use during regular or business hours.
This bill also requires the state to establish in each state depository library a computer terminal and public access connection to allow citizens computer access to public records.
Under this bill, persons using the public access connection shall have "read only" permission and shall not have access to exempted or confidential information.
This bill also establishes a committee to study the feasibility of requiring other computerized agencies, boards, and commissions to comply with the computer access law created by this act.
HB 468-FN
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and eighty-six
AN ACT
providing for computer access to public records and creating a public access review committee.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Computer Access. Amend RSA 91-A by inserting after section 8 the following new subdivision:
Computer Access to Public Records
91-A:9 Computer Systems.
I. Any state body or agency, subject to the provisions of this chapter, which utilizes a mainframe computer, shall have at least one public user access connection readily available for public use during regular or business hours and the number shall be listed in publicly available telephone directories throughout the state.
II. Any state body or agency required to maintain a public access connection under paragraph I shall not require people using the connection to identify themselves and shall not keep records relative to the use of the public access connection, except regarding frequency of use.
III. The state shall establish in each state depository library a computer terminal and public access connection to allow any citizen computer access to public records.
IV. Persons using the public access connection shall not have access to records exempted under RSA 91-A:5, but the state body or agency shall explain the reason for withholding such information. Persons using the public access connection shall have "read only" access to the public information to ensure that records are not altered.
V. The commissioner, department of administrative services, shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 54l-A, relative to matters necessary for the administration of this subdivision.
2 Committee Established.
I. There is hereby established a public access review committee to study the feasibility of requiring other computerized agencies, boards, and commissions to comply with the computer access law established under section 1 of this act. The members of the committee shall be:
(a) The commissioner of the department of administrative services or his designee.
(b) The commissioner of libraries, arts, and historical resources or his designee.
(c) Two members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house.
(d) Two members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate.
(e) The governor or his designee.
(f) One representative of the business community appointed by the governor.
(g) One representative of the university system appointed by the board of trustees.
II. The committee shall prepare a report with recommendations for any necessary legislation for the 1987 legislature. The committee shall submit this report to the speaker of the house and the president of the senate by December 1, 1986.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
LSR 86-0433
HB 468-FN
FISCAL NOTE for an act providing for computer access to public records and creating a public access review committee.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Department of Administrative Services has determined that this bill will increase state expenditures by $12,480,950 in FY 1986 and $2,496,190 annually thereafter. There is no impact on state revenues or on county and local revenue or expenditures.
METHODOLOGY: The Department has determined that start-up costs including hardware, installation, application and personnel will be $12,480,950 in FY 1986. Ongoing yearly costs are projected at 20% of start-up costs due to new applications and changes to existing applications.