EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDE D TO EXISTING LAW .
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0221*
HOUSE BILL 221
P1 5lr0196
(PRE–FILED) CF SB 242
By: Chair, Health and Government Operations Committee (By Request –
Departmental – Information Technology)
Requested: September 19, 2024
Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Department of Information Technology – Maryland Digital Service 2
– Establishment 3
FOR the purpose of establishing the Maryland Digital Service within the Department of 4
Information Technology to support improved service delivery to Maryland residents 5
and agency staff through user–centered design, software development, and product 6
management best practices; and generally relating to the Maryland Digital Service. 7
BY adding to 8
Article – State Finance and Procurement 9
Section 3.5–901 through 3.5–905 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 9. Maryland 10
Digital Service” 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 13
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15
Article – State Finance and Procurement 16
SUBTITLE 9. MARYLAND DIGITAL SERVICE. 17
3.5–901. 18
IN THIS SUBTITLE, “SERVICE” MEANS THE MARYLAND DIGITAL SERVICE. 19
3.5–902. 20
2 HOUSE BILL 221
(A) THERE IS A MARYLAND DIGITAL SERVICE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT . 1
(B) THE SERVICE IS A CENTRALI ZED UNIT WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT THAT 2
COLLABORATES WITH UN ITS OF STATE GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT IMPROVED 3
SERVICE DELIVERY TO MARYLAND RESIDENTS AN D AGENCY STAFF THROU GH 4
USER–CENTERED DESIGN , SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT , AND PRODUCT MANAGEME NT 5
BEST PRACTICES . 6
3.5–903. 7
THE SERVICE IS RESPONSIBL E FOR: 8
(1) ASSISTING UNITS OF STATE GOVERNMENT TO P RIORITIZE THE 9
DEVELOPMENT AND PROC UREMENT OF USER –FRIENDLY, ACCESSIBLE, AND 10
MULTILINGUAL DIGITAL PLATFORMS TO ENSURE THAT ALL MARYLAND RESIDENTS , 11
INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL S WITH DISABILITIES , CAN EASILY ACCESS AN D USE 12
GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND INFORMATION ; 13
(2) WORKING COLLABORATIV ELY WITH UNITS OF STATE 14
GOVERNMENT TO : 15
(I) CONSOLIDATE AND STRE AMLINE MARYLAND’S WEBSITES 16
AND DIGITAL APPLICAT IONS TO REDUCE REDUN DANCY, COMPLEXITY, AND 17
MAINTENANCE COSTS ; AND 18
(II) PRIORITIZE PROJECTS THAT ARE FINANCIALLY EFFICIENT 19
AND DRIVE POSITIVE O UTCOMES FOR MARYLAND RESIDENTS ; AND 20
(3) OVERSEEING THE IMPLE MENTATION OF USER –CENTERED DESIGN 21
PRINCIPLES, ACCESSIBILITY STANDA RDS, AND BEST PRACTICES I N DIGITAL 22
SERVICE DELIVERY ACR OSS UNITS OF STATE GOVERNMENT . 23
3.5–904. 24
THE SECRETARY SHALL APPOI NT A CHIEF DIGITAL EXPERIENCE OFFICER TO 25
LEAD THE SERVICE. 26
3.5–905. 27
UNITS OF STATE GOVERNMENT SHAL L COLLABORATE WITH T HE SERVICE TO 28
ENSURE THE ALIGNMENT AND FUNDING OF DIGIT AL INITIATIVES WITH THE 29
OVERALL GOALS AND PR IORITIES OF THE STATE CONSISTENT WITH THE STATEWIDE 30
INFORMATION TECHNOLO GY MASTER PLAN . 31 HOUSE BILL 221 3
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 1
1, 2025. 2