C.R.S. § 24-21-116: Business intelligence center program - creation - public data - contests - legislative declaration - definitions.

(1) (a) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:

(I) Public data is a valuable resource that can assist businesses with strategic planning and decision-making;

(II) State agencies collect volumes of public business and economic data, but this data is often held in legacy systems or difficult-to-use formats and made available on disparate websites;

(III) The data would be more easily accessible if it was made available on a single, publicly available platform, such as the Colorado information marketplace;

(IV) The data is more valuable if it is machine-readable and formatted in a manner that allows for reference across data sets;

(V) The private sector can be an important partner in creating tools that analyze the data for greater insight;

(VI) The department of state, which has expertise with a digital business registry and other public data, has received appropriations in the annual general appropriations act and successfully operated a business intelligence center as a pilot project; and

(VII) The continuation of the business intelligence center program will provide businesses with greater access to public data, which will foster a better business environment in the state.

(b) Now, therefore, it is the intent of the general assembly to create a business intelligence center program in state law to streamline access to public data and provide resources to make the data more useful.

(2) As used in this section:

(a) Repealed.

(b) "Department" means the department of state.

(c) "Program" means the business intelligence center program created in subsection (3) of this section.

(d) "Public data" means data collected by a state agency or local government that is not required by law to be confidential.

(e) "State agency" means any department, commission, council, board, bureau, committee, institution of higher education, agency, or other governmental unit of the executive branch of state government.

(3) The business intelligence center program is created within the department of state. The purpose of the program is to streamline access to public data and to provide resources to make the data more useful. In operating the program, the department may:

(a) Assist state agencies in formatting and publishing data to a publicly available platform in a machine-readable format;

(b) Provide resources to facilitate the more effective use of public data;

(c) Solicit feedback from the business community to identify the types of public data and research tools that would be helpful;

(d) Conduct public contests to develop application software or other tools to help businesses effectively use public data, which contests may include cash awards and other incentives; and

(e) Assist local governments in publishing public data.

(4) Repealed.

(5) The department may contract with public or private entities to operate any part of the program.

(6) A public contest conducted by the department in accordance with subsection (3)(d) of this section is not subject to the "Procurement Code", articles 101 to 112 of this title 24.

(7) A state agency is not required to provide any public data to the department under the program. A state agency's participation in the program is voluntary. If a state agency accepts the department's assistance, the state agency controls the scope, timeline, and format of the publication of the public data.

(8) The secretary of state may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources for direct and indirect program costs. Any state money received in accordance with this subsection (8) is deposited into the department of state cash fund created in section 24-21-104 (3) and continuously appropriated to the department for direct and indirect program costs.