HB0816 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 04736 RJF 49745 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB0816

Introduced , by Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 1370/1-65 new

Amends the Department of Innovation and Technology Act. Provides that on or before July 1, 2020, each State agency shall submit to the Department of Innovation and Technology a plan to improve the provision of digital services, including modernizing websites and enhancing the use of data analytics. Provides for the contents of the plan to be submitted to the Department. Provides that on or before July 1, 2021, all State agency websites intended for use by the public shall be mobile-friendly and accessible by persons with disabilities. Requires the Department to adopt rules necessary to implement this Section. Provides findings and purpose provisions. 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 adding Section 1-65 as follows:

(20 ILCS 1370/1-65 new)

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

(a) On or before July 1, 2020, each State agency shall submit to the Department a plan to improve the provision of digital services, including modernizing websites and enhancing the use of data analytics. The plan submitted to the Department under this Section shall be posted on the State agency's Internet 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, 2021, all State agency websites intended for use by the public shall be mobile-friendly, meaning that it performs equally as well on mobile devices as on a desktop computer.

(c) On or before July 1, 2021, all State websites intended for use by the public shall be accessible for persons with disabilities.

(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.