(a) The Office of Technology Services may acquire, install, equip, maintain, and operate new or existing business telecommunications systems and services. Acquisitions for information technology goods and services shall be made pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12100) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code. To accomplish that purpose, the Office of Technology Services may enter into contracts, obtain licenses, acquire personal property, install necessary equipment and facilities, and do other acts that will provide adequate and efficient business telecommunications systems and services. Any system established shall be made available to all public agencies in the state on terms that may be agreed upon by the agency and the Office of Technology Services.

(b) With respect to business telecommunications systems and services, the Office of Technology Services may do all of the following:

(1) Provide representation of public agencies before the Federal Communications Commission in matters affecting the state and other public agencies regarding business telecommunications systems and services issues.

(2) Provide, upon request, advice to public agencies concerning existing or proposed business telecommunications systems and services between any and all public agencies.

(3) Recommend to public agencies rules, regulations, procedures, and methods of operation that it deems necessary to effectuate the most efficient and economical use of business telecommunications systems and services within the state.

(4) Carry out the policies of this chapter.

(c) The Office of Technology Services has responsibilities with respect to business telecommunications systems, services, policy, and planning, which include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Assessing the overall long-range business telecommunications needs and requirements of the state considering both routine and emergency operations for business telecommunications systems and services, performance, cost, state-of-the-art technology, multiuser availability, security, reliability, and other factors deemed to be important to state needs and requirements.

(2) Developing strategic and tactical policies and plans for business telecommunications with consideration for the systems and requirements of public agencies.

(3) Recommending industry standards, service level agreements, and solutions regarding business telecommunications systems and services to ensure multiuser availability and compatibility.

(4) Providing advice and assistance in the selection of business telecommunications equipment to ensure all of the following:

(A) Ensuring that the business telecommunications needs of state agencies are met.

(B) Ensuring that procurement is compatible throughout state agencies and is consistent with the state’s strategic and tactical plans for telecommunications.

(C) Ensuring that procurement is designed to leverage the buying power of the state and encourage economies of scale.

(5) Providing management oversight of statewide business telecommunications systems and services developments.

(6) Providing for coordination of, and comment on, plans and policies and operational requirements from departments that utilize business telecommunications systems and services as determined by the Office of Technology Services.

(7) Monitoring and participating, on behalf of the state, in the proceedings of federal and state regulatory agencies and in congressional and state legislative deliberations that have an impact on state governmental business telecommunications activities.

(d) The Office of Technology Services shall develop and describe statewide policy on the use of business telecommunications systems and services by state agencies. In the development of that policy, the Office of Technology Services shall ensure that access to state business information and services is improved, and that the policy is cost effective for the state and its residents. The Office of Technology Services shall develop guidelines that do all of the following:

(1) Describe what types of state business information and services may be accessed using business telecommunications systems and services.

(2) Characterize the conditions under which a state agency may utilize business telecommunications systems and services.

(3) Characterize the conditions under which a state agency may charge for information and services.

(4) Specify pricing policies.

(5) Provide other guidance as may be appropriate at the discretion of the Office of Technology Services.

(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 353, Sec. 75. (SB 820) Effective September 26, 2013. Operative July 1, 2013, by Sec. 129 of Ch. 353.)