§141. Duties of the office of telecommunications management

A. The office of telecommunications management shall have the following duties:

(1) To establish and coordinate all telecommunications systems and telecommunications services affecting the management and operations of the executive branch of state government. Telecommunications systems, including equipment and related services, and telecommunications services shall mean the equipment and services and means necessary to provide:

(a) Telecommunications transmission facilities and services.

(b) Voice telecommunications systems and services.

(c) Local area network systems and services.

(d) Wide area network systems and services.

(e) Video systems and services, except those video systems and services specifically reserved to the Louisiana Educational Television Authority pursuant to R.S. 17:2501.

(f) Wireless systems and services to include, but not be limited to, cellular and personal communications systems.

(g) Radio systems, to include but not be limited to two-way radio systems; however, the operational abilities and priorities of two-way communications of the departments in the executive branch shall not be impeded.

(h) Intercom and electro-mechanical paging systems.

(i) Any and all systems and services based on emerging and future telecommunications technologies relating to Subparagraphs (a) through (h) of this Paragraph.

(2) To act as the sole centralized customer for the acquisition, billing, and recordkeeping of all telecommunications systems or telecommunications services provided to state agencies. The ownership of such systems procured by the office of telecommunications management may vest in the respective agency, but control of the systems shall be retained by the office of telecommunications management.

(3) To charge respective user agencies for the cost of the telecommunications systems and telecommunications services provided by the office of telecommunications management including the cost of the operation of the office. These costs shall be charged in a consistent and equitable manner.

(4) To develop coordinated telecommunications systems or telecommunications services within and among all state agencies and require, where appropriate, cooperative utilization of telecommunications systems and telecommunications services by aggregating users. National Crime Information Center network usage is exempted from this Section.

(5) To review, coordinate, approve, or disapprove all requests by state agencies for the procurement of telecommunications systems or telecommunications services including telecommunications proposals, studies, and consultation contracts or services.

(6) To establish and define telecommunications systems and telecommunications services specifications and designs so as to assure compatibility of telecommunications systems and telecommunications services within state government.

(7) To promote, coordinate, or assist in the design and engineering of emergency telecommunications systems and telecommunications services within state government.

(8) To advise and provide consultation to agencies with respect to telecommunications management planning and related matters and to provide training to users within state government in telecommunications technology and system use.

(9) To develop policies, procedures, and long-range plans, consistent with the protection of citizens' rights to privacy and access to information, for the acquisition and use of telecommunications systems, and to base such policies on current information about state telecommunications activities in relation to the full range of emerging technologies.

(10) To manage, with the concurrence of the building owner, access by telecommunications common carriers to state facilities.

B. Agencies shall cooperate with the office of telecommunications management's fulfillment of the office's duties as established by this Part. However, nothing provided in this Part shall be construed to preempt the authorities granted to the higher education boards in Article VIII of the Constitution of Louisiana. Public postsecondary institutions of education, their management boards, and the Board of Regents shall be excluded from this Part unless the state chief information officer can verify that inclusion per contracted service would result in savings to the institution or board.

Added by Acts 1982, No. 153, §1, eff. July 12, 1982. Acts 1984, No. 617, §1; Acts 1985, No. 57, §1; Acts 1986, No. 469, §1; Acts 1990, No. 876, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1098, §1, eff. July 14, 1997; Acts 2001, No. 772, §3, eff. July 1, 2001; Acts 2015, No. 241, §1.