CONCEPT DRAFT

SUMMARY

This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208.

This bill proposes to establish an Internet policy for the State. The policy would include:

1. The facilitation of electronic commerce for Maine companies by:

A. Providing the same legal and binding status to transactions occurring over the Internet as to transactions in the traditional environment;

B. Requiring the Department of Economic and Community Development to establish and certify security procedures used to verify signatures, identity and the true form of a document or communication;

C. Providing support and encouraging effective industry self- regulation through the use of seals or other labels indicating that the business has been recognized as employing fair, honest and consumer friendly business practices;

D. Establishing a presence on the Internet where consumers may obtain information on the self-regulation program; common practices and conditions of electronic commerce and known consumer scams and frauds; and

E. Encouraging the establishment and growth of Maine-based digital enterprises by altering and extending current economic development incentives to the digital business environment.

2. Making government more accessible to the citizens by:

A. Requiring all state departments and agencies to expand service delivery and information gathering on an Internet-based platform at a minimum cost or no cost to users;

B. Providing assistance to state departments and agencies to ensure the expeditious implementation of the Internet policy;

C. Encouraging and supporting state and local governments, school systems and public libraries to pool their buying power to provide wider access at lower costs to information services and data bases purchased for public use or the provision of services to the public;