                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION NETWORK DIVISION ESTABLISHED; POWERS AND DUTIES; DIVISION
COORDINATOR (§ 44-146.18:6)

A. As used in this section, unless the context requires a different meaning:
			&#8220;Base map data&#8221; means the digitized common geographic data that
is used by most geographic information systems applications to reference or link
attribute or other geographic data.
			&#8220;Division&#8221; means the Geographic Information Network Division.
			&#8220;Geographic data&#8221; means data that contains either coordinates
that reference a geographic location or area or attribute data that can be
related to a geographic area or location.
			&#8220;Geographic information system (GIS)&#8221; means a computerized system
that stores and links geographic data to allow a wide range of information
processing and display operations, as well as map production, analysis, and
modeling.

B. There is established within the Department of Emergency Management a
Geographic Information Network Division (the Division), which shall foster the
creative utilization of geographic information and oversee the development of a
catalog of GIS data available in the Commonwealth. The Division shall be headed
by a Division Coordinator who shall be under the supervision of and report to
the State Coordinator of Emergency Management.

C. The powers and duties of the Division shall include:

   1. Requesting the services, expertise, supplies, and facilities of the
   Department of Emergency Management from the State Coordinator of Emergency
   Management on issues concerning the Division;

   2. Accepting grants from the United States government and agencies and
   instrumentalities thereof and any other source. To those ends, the Division
   shall have the power to comply with such conditions and execute such
   agreements as may be necessary or desirable;

   3. Fixing, altering, charging, and collecting rates, rentals, and other
   charges for the use or sale of products of, or services rendered by, the
   Division, at rates that reflect the fair market value;

   4. Soliciting, receiving, and considering proposals for funding projects or
   initiatives from any state or federal agency, local or regional government,
   public institution of higher education, nonprofit organization, or private
   person or corporation;

   5. Soliciting and accepting funds, goods, and in-kind services that are part
   of any accepted project proposal;

   6. Establishing ad hoc committees or project teams to investigate related
   technology or technical issues and providing results and recommendations for
   Division action; and

   7. Establishing such bureaus, sections, or units as the Division deems
   appropriate to carry out its powers and duties.

D. The Division Coordinator shall:

   1. Oversee the development of and recommend to the Department of Emergency
   Management the development of those policies, standards, and guidelines
   required to support state and local government exchange, acquisition, storage,
   use, sharing, and distribution of geographic or base map data and related
   technologies;

   2. Foster the development of a coordinated comprehensive system for providing
   ready access to electronic state government geographic data products for
   individuals, businesses, and other entities;

   3. Initiate and manage projects or conduct procurement activities relating to
   the development or acquisition of geographic data or statewide base map data
   or both;

   4. Plan for and coordinate the development or procurement of priority
   geographic base map data;

   5. Develop, maintain, and provide, in the most cost-effective manner, access
   to the catalog of Virginia geographic data and governmental geographic data
   users;

   6. Provide, upon request, advice and guidance on all agreements and contracts
   from all branches of state government for geographic data acquisition and
   design and the installation and maintenance of geographic information systems;

   7. Compile a data catalog consisting of descriptions of GIS coverages
   maintained by individual executive branch and local government agencies.
   Nothing in this article shall be construed to require that GIS data be
   physically delivered to the Division. All executive branch agencies that
   maintain GIS databases shall report to the Division the details of the data
   that they develop, acquire, and maintain. Each agency shall submit quarterly
   reports to the Division specifying all updates to existing data as well as all
   data development and acquisition currently in progress. Data exempt from the
   Virginia Freedom of Information Act (&#xA7; 2.2-3700 et seq.) need not be
   reported to the Division;

   8. Identify and collect information and technical requirements to assist the
   Division in setting priorities for the development of state digital geographic
   data and base maps that meet the needs of state agencies, institutions of
   higher education, and local governments;

   9. Provide services, geographic data products, and access to the repository at
   rates established by the Division; and

   10. Ensure the compliance of those policies, standards, and guidelines
   developed by VITA required to support and govern the security of state and
   local government exchange, acquisition, storage, use, sharing, and
   distribution of geographic or base map data and related technologies.

HISTORY: 2020, c. 423.