Bill > S1982

This bill establishes an "innovative communities office" within the executive office of housing and economic development to connect municipalities with startups offering innovative technology solutions, aiming to encourage the adoption of new technologies by local governments. The office will be led by an executive director experienced in business and new technologies and will implement a program to support these innovations. To become a certified "innovative community," a municipality must pass a resolution accepting the program's principles, make public its non-personal data, attend technology events, conduct annual beta testing of approved technologies, and share trial results with other participating municipalities. The executive director will also develop educational programs for both municipalities and startups on procurement processes, organize marketing events, implement pilot programs, establish a grant program for technology adoption, provide technical assistance, create a pre-qualification process for startups, and set up collective purchasing options for approved technologies. Additionally, an "innovative communities advisory board" will be formed to foster relationships between startups and municipalities and improve the program, composed of various state officials, industry representatives, and appointed experts. The bill also creates a special commission to study barriers to innovative technology adoption by governments and report recommendations by January 1, 2017.