[open-government] Minnesota legislation to propel civic tech and open government forward - HF2611 SF2238 #opengov #openmn

[Steven Clift]

Big news from Minnesota.

Legislators have introduced a bill to push civic tech, open gov, and
open data across _all_ of Minnesota. The time for states to extend the
benefits and potential of civic innovation beyond a relatively few
cities is here.

We've been inspired by the work of resourced big city efforts like the
Smarted Chicago Collaborative, BetaNYC, etc.. Bringing real local
resources to our initiatives will be crucial to expanding and
extending civic tech impact. The time for state governments to show
leadership is here.

Without Open Twin Cities leaders volunteers, the inspiration from Code
for America Brigade, and efforts like the Sunlight Foundation and Open
Government Partnership this legislation would not have been possible.
The "there, there" is there and needs to be here, here, and
everywhere.

A huge thanks goes out to State Representative Steve Simon -
https://twitter.com/RepSteveSimon - and State Senator Foung Hawj -
https://www.facebook.com/senatorhawj - for introducing this
legislation. Rep. Simon said "I love this stuff" to Bill Bushey and I
in November when the idea for legislation first emerged in a
conversation about open government and civic technology. The proposal
received a big boost when President of the Senate, the Senate Finance
Chair, and House Ethics Committee Chair signed on as co-authors.

Even with a $1.2 billion dollar state budget surplus, this is still a
long shot - but whether we can secure a dime, a dollar or a goose egg
per state resident is up to us. Everyone in civic tech should be
taking long shots too in their states. Help us spread the word and we
will share our bumps, bruises, and successes with this legislation. If
we succeed in Minnesota, it will be that much easier in the next
state.

All the emerging details:

      http://openminnesota.org

The bill text is below. Our lead authors are working on securing hearings now.

Also, follow: http://twitter.com/openminnesota -
http://facebook.com/groups/openminnesota - http://bit.ly/otcelist

Thanks,
Steven Clift
E-Democracy.org

P.S. The simple bill text (we had a longer version, but legislators
felt the details are best left up to our partnering state agency):

1.1 A bill for an act

1.2 relating to state government; appropriating money for a grant for open

1.3 government, civic technology, and open data.

1.4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 Section 1. GRANT; OPEN GOVERNMENT, CIVIC TECHNOLOGY, AND

1.6 OPEN DATA.

1.7 $ ....... is appropriated from the general fund for the fiscal year
beginning June

1.8 30, 2014, to the commissioner of administration for a grant to
Minnesota E-Democracy

1.9 to implement and coordinate an Open Minnesota educational outreach
initiative to

1.10 promote statewide adoption of open government strategies, the use
of technology for civic

1.11 innovation, and the wide use of public data sets in the public
and private sector. The

1.12 commissioner of administration may retain up to three percent of
the grant amount for

1.13 costs associated with administering this grant, including
obtaining advice from interested

1.14 government units on the grant terms and objectives.






Steven Clift - http://stevenclift.com
  Executive Director - http://E-Democracy.org
  Twitter: http://twitter.com/democracy
  Tel/Text: +1.612.234.7072