Monday, November 25, 2002

Apply Online for 711 Service I just discovered this service which wasn't included in our annual report of online services.  Relay Utah provides assistive services to Utahns who need assistive technology.  7-1-1 is a new statewide and nationwide telephone relay number that connects standard (voice) telephone users with the deaf, hard of hearing, and/or speech disabled people who use text telephones (TTY's).  Qualified individuals can apply online for the service.  The service is operated by the Utah Public Service Commission.  The PSC has also implemented an online report of personal injury or property damage report for use with all utilities. The Missouri Public Service Commission has a nice application for accepting online report filing which includes a digital id certification process.  They are reporting significant productivity gains by their staff as a result. 2:32:03 PM

Fiscal Crisis NGA's Fiscal Survey of the States is out today.  It starts with this statement: Nearly every state is in fiscal crisis.  That doesn't bode well for technology initiatives although if we could get past politics and incompetence, IT could continue to provide major productivity and performance gains to government.  We're going to have to deal with another $117 million shortfall here in Utah even before the General Session which begins in January.  Tighten your belt! 11:51:54 AM

Legislature Website During their recent meeting, the (Utah) Legislative Management Committee took the following actions: Approved a policy regarding the posting of information on the Legislature’s website. The policy requires in part that legislators may have information posted to the website only "with the prior approval of 2/3 of the Legislative Management Committee." Approved a Terms of Use and a Privacy Policy for the legislative website. [this will help with the Brown survey] Approved the placement of the APPLE Initiative on the legislative website. [This is the only item like this that I have seen approved in this way.  It is an initiative being promoted by House Speaker, Marty Stephens.] The Legislature also now publishes a regular newsletter called Interim Highights.  The November issue is now online. 8:20:24 AM

© Copyright 2002 David Fletcher.