EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 16, AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO - Office of the Governor of Alabama

WHEREAS, by Executive Order Number 16 and its Amendment Number One, this Office established the Alabama Geographic Information Program Office (the “Office”), and continued the Alabama Geographic Information Executive Council (“the Council”) and the Advisory Committee (“Committee”) (the Council and the Committee were previously established by Governor Riley’s Executive Order Number 38).

WHEREAS, the Executive Order Number 16, and its Amendment Number One recognized the following:

1. The State of Alabama is a large geographic region containing renewable resources, diverse economic activities, valuable public and private infrastructure, numerous business firms, government organizations, and a diverse population;

2. The management of geographic information describing the type and location of the state’s natural, physical, economic, cultural resources and human activity is becoming more important to both the public and private sectors;

3. State and local government information sharing capabilities, particularly in the geospatial data technical environment, have increased considerably;

4. Federal, state, and local governmental agencies, educational institutions, and private industries have developed increasingly powerful computer systems designed to process and analyze map and other spatial information, collectively called “Geographic Information System (GIS) technology”;

5. It is important that Alabama identify opportunities that will improve the effectiveness of State programs through the coordinated use of geospatial technology;

6. The coordination, promotion, development, use, and sharing of geographic information, geospatial data, and the efficient use of GIS and related technologies for economic development will provide a long term benefit to the citizens of Alabama;

7. It is necessary to require coordination and direction in the development and implementation of GIS technology to improve the delivery of public services including, but not limited to, emergency services, to reduce redundancy and duplication of effort, manage and protect natural resources, and provide for coordinated planning activities related thereto;

8. A vast majority of all information used by federal government, state and local can be spatially referenced;

9. Public agencies expend considerable resources collecting and managing geographic information records in diverse formats and scales;

10. A modern automated system of accessible geographic information management data and technologies is required to serve the essential needs of individuals, businesses, and government agencies;

11. It is beneficial to the State, local governments, education entities, nongovernmental organizations, businesses, and the citizens of Alabama to develop high-quality, accurate framework geospatial data; and

12. GIS technology can be used strategically as a management information and decision making tool in such areas as water resources, air resources, agricultural resources, energy resources, cultural resources, land resources, mineral resources, environmental management, forestry, geology, health, local government, planning, public safety, criminal justice, social services, transportation, utilities, waste management, homeland security, and wildlife management.

WHEREAS, limited changes to the management and governance of GIS technology and the GIS Office have been recommended.

WHEREAS, Amendment Number Two to Executive Order Number 16 is being executed in order to implement these recommended changes and restate the continuing provisions applicable to the Office, the Council and the Advisory Committee.

NOW THEREFORE, based upon those considerations, and for other good and valid reasons which relate thereto, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of the State of Alabama, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Alabama, do hereby amend Executive Order Number 16, Amendment Number One relating to the Alabama Geographic Information Program Office executed September 15, 2011.

BE IT ORDERED, that the Alabama Geographic Information Program Office is hereby authorized and shall be governed as follows:

Section 1. Governance and Management.

The Office shall be managed by a Director, who shall be the Geographic Information Officer (GIO) for the State of Alabama and a Deputy GIO, both of whom shall be designated by and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center (ACJIC), shall act as the fiscal agent (“Fiscal Agent”) for the Office.

The Office may receive funding, gifts, grants and any other funds available by law, and may recoup costs for services rendered or other expenditures directly related duties listed below. Funds from the State General Fund and Education Trust Fund may be appropriated by the Legislature to be expended for the purposes heretofore or hereinafter stated in this Executive Order, subject to any laws governing expenditure of appropriations from the General Fund and Education Trust Fund. The Office shall provide, upon request, an accounting to the Fiscal Agent of all funds consumed, available, or otherwise encumbered.

Section 2. Duties Generally.

The Office shall be the sole entity within the state for coordination of geographic information, geographic information systems (GIS), and other geospatial-related technologies by all state agencies and state-funded entities. The Office shall identify, plan, and implement the most efficient and effective way to utilize and integrate geographic information as a strategic management resource. The Office shall identify duplicative geospatial acquisitions, initiatives and operations across State government and recommend efforts to minimize duplication of such activities and services. The Office shall maintain a master index of all geographic information maintained throughout the State by any state or local governmental entity, or other state-funded entity. The Office may include within its index any other data that may lawfully be shared with the public or government.

The Office may maintain a central repository and data services for the storage of or access to any geographic information that may be lawfully used for government operations or accessible by the public in support of state and local government geospatial-related operations. The Office shall assist all government operations with the implementation of State Geospatial Standards as promulgated by the Alabama Geographic Information Council. The Office, through its Fiscal Agent, may coordinate procurements, pool funds, negotiate and enter into agreements or memorandums of understanding related directly to the Office’s mission. The Office shall act as the operational arm of the Alabama Geographic Information Executive Council, and will provide administrative, as well as technical, support to the Council.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, the Alabama Geographic Information Executive Council (the “Council”) is hereby continued as follows:

Section 1. Purpose.

The purpose of this statewide geographic information coordination effort is to establish policies and standards relating to the use of geographic information, geospatial data, and related technologies; to further cooperation among state, federal, and local government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector to improve the quality, access, cost-effectiveness, and utility of Alabama’s geographic information; and to facilitate the employment of geographic information as a strategic resource in the State.

Section 2. Duties.

The Council shall operate as an independent council. The Council shall have the duties, responsibilities, functions, and authority set forth in this order and otherwise provided by law.

The Council is charged with developing policies regarding the utilization of geographic information, GIS systems, and other related technologies. The Council shall continue to be responsible for the following activities:

1. Strategic planning for a sustainable state program to coordinate GIS;

2. Resolution of policy and technology issues;

3. Coordination of interagency development of high-quality, accurate framework for geospatial data;

4. Coordination, direction, and facilitation of state, county, and local government GIS efforts;

5. Developing an educational outreach program to coordinate geospatial training efforts;

6. Advising the Governor, the Legislature, and local governing bodies as to needed direction, responsibilities, and funding regarding geographic I information;

7. Evaluating and determining the staffing requirements for GIS coordination at the state level; and

8. Seeking input from all stakeholders at all levels of government, and the private sector to include public utilities, business professionals, industry leaders and others with a vested interest in GIS.

Section 4. Executive Council Members.

The Alabama Geographic Information Council shall consist of the following members, or their designees:

1. Commissioner, Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries

2. Commissioner, Alabama Department of Conservation

3. Director, Association of County Commissioners of Alabama

4. Director, Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center

5. Director, Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs

6. Director, Alabama Emergency Management Agency

7. Director, Alabama Department of Environmental Management

8. Secretary, Office of Information Technology

9. Director, Alabama Department of Finance

10. State Geologist, Geological Survey of Alabama

11. Director, Alabama Department of Labor

12. Secretary, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency

13. Director, Alabama League of Municipalities

14. Director, Alabama Department of Public Safety

15. Commissioner, Alabama Department of Revenue

16. Director, Alabama Department of Transportation

17. Any additional members appointed by and to serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

Council members shall serve terms coinciding with their respective offices or appointments. No person or individual shall continue to serve on the Council when he or she or whomever designated him or her, if a designee, no longer serves in the office or position to which they were elected or appointed. The Governor shall designate a Chairperson from the Council membership.

Section 5. Governance

The Council shall govern its proceedings subject to state laws and administrative procedures. The Council shall meet on the call of the Chair. The Council may subdivide itself into standing committees and workgroups to accomplish the stated purposes of the Council. All Council members shall serve without compensation and will be reimbursed for expenses by their respective agencies.

Section 6. Reporting

The GIO shall report on behalf of the Council, as appropriate, to the Governor and the Alabama Legislature on the progress made toward accomplishing its missions and that of the GIO.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, the Advisory Committee is continued to ensure that state and local interests are considered by the Council. The Advisory Committee’s purpose will continue to be to foster communication and cooperation among stakeholders throughout state, local, and federal agencies, educational institutions, private industry, and others in the field of GIS; provide guidance for the Council in fulfilling the objectives of the Strategic Plan; promote discussions of relevant GIS issues within the state; and provide advice to the Council and the GIS community on GIS related issues. Members of the Advisory Committee shall be designated by and serve at the pleasure of the GIO who shall serve as the Chair of the Advisory Committee.

The GIO, in his capacity as Chair, shall have the authority to create and abolish sub-committees, appoint members to sub-committees, replace or remove sub-committee members, and task sub-committees as needed. The Advisory Committee should have representation from stakeholders throughout the state and shall include those familiar with water resources, air resources, agricultural resources, energy resources, cultural resources, land resources, mineral resources, environmental management, forestry, geology, health, local government, planning, public safety, criminal justice, social services, transportation, utilities, waste management, homeland security, and wildlife management.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, all agencies of State government, subdivisions thereof and state-funded entities are encouraged to cooperate fully with the Alabama Geographic Information Program Office and participate with Virtual Alabama. Every effort should be made by all agencies to conform their practices to the State Geographic standards and procedures.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, that this Executive Order become effective immediately upon signing and shall remain in force until such time as it is modified or rescinded by the Governor.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, that if a conflict arises with regard to any previous or existing Executive Order, the provisions of this Executive Order shall prevail.

DONE AND ORDERED this 26th day of September, 2014.

Robert Bentley
Governor

Attested
Jim Bennett
Secretary of State