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Legislators Focus On Technology Issues
by Chloe AlbanesiusState legislators headed back to their state capitals this month, introducing technology-related measures that touched on topics such as Internet-based databases, e-voting and purchases of prescription drugs from Canada.
States like Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota have been vocal in recent years in their desire to purchase cheaper prescription drugs, over the Internet and by other means, for state employees. The Food and Drug Administration opposes the practice, citing safety hazards associated with buying medicines from countries with regulations different from those in the United States.
Since Jan. 7, however, 12 states have introduced legislation on the topic. Missouri senators and Virginia, Arizona and New York representatives have called on the federal government to lift its ban on such out-of-country purchases. A Hawaii bill, H.B. 1921, calls for a Web site providing users with information on how to purchase the cheaper drugs. And lawmakers in Vermont, Washington, New Hampshire, Florida and Rhode Island have requested that their states start programs to import medicines from Canada, which regulates drug prices.
Illinois House members, meanwhile, introduced two measures on e-voting. One bill, H.B. 4141, would require Illinois schools to provide students access to voter registration when they register for classes, which includes the use of electronic voter registration databases. The other bill, H.B. 4198, requests that the legislature define what constitutes a vote, for paper or electronic votes, in the event of inconclusive results.
A New York measure, S.B. 5906, and a Vermont bill, S.B. 202, meanwhile, call for paper receipts when voters use e-voting machines.
Several states also are looking to create Internet databases, tracking systems or informative Web sites. An Arizona measure, S.B. 1193, and a New Jersey bill, H.B. 1133, would require those states' attorneys general to create Web sites for detailing charitable contributions, while Iowa and Kansas are looking to track their livestock by electronic means. The Iowa bill is numbered S.C.R. 101, and the Kansas legislation is H.B. 2593.
Kansas also proposed a measure, H.B. 2513, that would create a Web site for providing information on communicable diseases, and a Washington state bill, H.B. 2482, would create a database on all school-district contracts.
Legislation in both New Jersey and Vermont also focus on sex offenders. A New Jersey bill, H.B. 1832, would require sex offenders registered on the Web to have their photographs on the site updated every 90 days, while two Vermont measures, H.B. 507 and S.B. 216, would require that sex offenders have their information listed online.
Other topics that state legislators will debate this session include unsolicited commercial e-mail, online gambling, privacy and telecommunications-related issues.
Governors Want To Lure Tech Entrepreneurs
The governors of Hawaii, Michigan and Ohio gave their State of the State addresses this week.
The key to growth for Michigan's economy is attracting entrepreneurs, Gov. Jennifer Granholm said on Tuesday. The state's emerging business fund "will provide critical assistance to high-tech firms trying to turn research ... into commercial products, [while] the Venture Michigan Fund will give technology startups in our technology tri-corridor access to the venture capital they need to become successful," she said.
Granholm also announced that the Michigan Broadband Development Authority would be able to provide high-speed Internet service to all residents by 2007.
Ohio Gov. Bob Taft also focused on job creation on Wednesday and praised the state's manufacturing industry for remaining a "powerhouse." "We must act now to ensure its long-term vitality," he said.
On Monday, meanwhile, Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle asked citizens to "work with us in providing investment tools to encourage technology industries ... to locate and stay in our state."
In other gubernatorial news, Washington Gov. Gary Locke on Friday unveiled a Web site that will provide residents with information on state government regulations, permit requirements and rulemaking procedures. The site, managed by the Office of Regulatory Assistance, is intended to improve citizens' knowledge of and interaction with government. In the future, the site will include enhanced searching abilities for rules and laws, more links and more permitting content.
Dell Awards Thousands In E-Recycling Grants
Dell on Thursday awarded a dozen $10,000 grants for organizing computer-recycling events.
"The initial award of $120,000 from Dell is intended to raise awareness of responsible end-of-life options for computers and empower communities with a model and means for successful collection events," Pat Nathan, Dell's sustainable business director, said in a statement.
The National Recycling Coalition (NRC) will work with grantees to develop strategies for successful events, such as selection of responsible recycling processors, fund development and media or grassroots outreach. The awards are a precursor to Dell's own recycling outreach, which will involve six communities throughout 2004. The company will start its effort in its home base of Austin, Texas, on Friday and Saturday and will continue on to Michigan, New York, Boston, Los Angeles and New Orleans.
Grant recipients include organizations in Alaska, California, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, D.C., and Wisconsin.
More Tech Investments Predicted In States, Localities
State and local government spending on information technology is expected to grow 8 percent each year, according to INPUT's annual market forecast.
The growth rate would result in a jump from $46 billion in fiscal 2004 to $64 billion in fiscal 2009. Over the next two years, "market recovery will begin modestly, in line with economic expansion, and that will accelerate as governments replenish rainy-day funds and expand the utilization of alternate funding methodologies for technology initiatives," James Krouse, manager of state and local IT market analysis for INPUT, said in a statement.
Segments seeing the highest rate of growth will include: the outsourcing of professional services; communications and networks; and software. The areas of hardware and maintenance of traditional technology systems, however, are expected to remain relatively flat or even decrease over the next five years, according to the forecast.
Law School To Run Clearinghouse On Technology
Florida's Stetson University College of Law last week announced the formation of a National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law. The clearinghouse will provide information for lawyers, judges and law enforcement personnel about new technologies and whether evidence gathered via those tools would be admissible in court.
Clearinghouse Director Carol Henderson and her student researchers also plan to produce and make available online a bibliography of court decisions, scholarly publications and other materials relating to law and science. Funding for the program will be provided by the Justice Department's National Institute of Justice.
Advocate Critiques Texas' Telecom Rules
Texas needs to restructure its telecommunications rules in order to create a regulatory regime that is technologically neutral and creates equal incentives for the companies involved in the traditional telephone business, the president of the Progress and Freedom Foundation said on Thursday at a policy event for the Texas Legislature in Austin.
"In the end, consumer welfare can only be enhanced when retail rates are allowed to gravitate towards their true price, with accompanying reductions in intrastate access (and long distance), vertical service, and business rates," wrote Ray Gifford, former chairman of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. "Commission oversight for the sake of consumer protection, universal service and public safety is needed to satisfy the social and political needs of a competitive marketplace."
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