45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2001

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION TO CONTRACT FOR A STATE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSESSMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR DEVELOPING A STATEWIDE NETWORK; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. APPROPRIATION.--

A. Five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the information technology commission for expenditure in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 to contract for a technical quantitative assessment of the telecommunications infrastructure in the state and an implementation plan for development of a statewide network, to be referred to as Enchantnet, that will include educational institutions, health care entities, government agencies and the private sector.

B. Components of the assessment described in Subsection A of this section shall include identification of leapfrog technologies that can fill the connectivity gap and assessments of military communications infrastructure, public broadcast television coverage, existing state agency connectivity and connectivity of public schools, institutions of higher learning and libraries, public health facilities and tribal entities.

C. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining from the appropriation in Subsection A of this section at the end of fiscal year 2002 shall revert to the general fund.

Section 2. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.