SB 296 - The act establishes the Information Network of Missouri, which shall be governed by the Board of the Information Network. The Board shall consist of nine voting members, including the Secretary of State or a designee, the State Treasurer or a designee, six members meeting qualifications listed in the act and appointed by the Governor. The Chief Information Officer shall serve as a nonvoting member. Appointed members shall serve three year terms, except that two initial members shall be appointed to one year terms and two shall be appointed to two year terms. Members of the Board shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary and reasonable expenses.

The act specifies the duties of the Board, which include developing a dial-in gateway system to provide electronic access to public information, providing appropriate oversight of the network manager, establishing charges for the services provided to gateway system subscribers, expanding the amount and kind of public information made available, improving citizen and business access to public information, increasing the number of persons who obtain and use public information, proposing ways of expanding the gateway system and its services and advising the Chief Information Officer and state agencies on making state data available to citizens and businesses.

The Board shall hire a network manager. The Board, in consultation with the Chief Information Officer, shall develop criteria and specifications for the network manager and the duties of the network manager. The network manager shall develop and operate the gateway system, attend meetings of the Board, keep records of all gateway, network and related operations of the Board, maintain all financial and operational records, documents and papers filed with the Board, annually update the business plan of the Board, submit certain, specified financial reports to the Board.

The Chief Information Officer may provide to the Board such staff and other assistance specified under contract.

All moneys received by the Board shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the Information Network of Missouri Fund, which is created by this act. Money in the fund shall not be subject to biennial transfer to the General Revenue Fund.

OTTO FAJEN