Title 15. Natural Resources And Economic Development.

Subtitle 2. Land And Water Resources Generally.

Chapter 21. Land

Subchapter 5. Arkansas Geographic Information Systems Board.

15-21-501 Purpose | 15-21-502 Definitions | 15-21-503 Creation | 15-21-504 Duties

15-21-501. Purpose.

(a) In recognition that a vast majority of all information used in the management of government can be spatially referenced and that public institutions and private firms expend considerable resources collecting and managing land information records in diverse and disparate formats and scales, a modern automated system of accessible land information data and technologies is required to serve the essential needs of individuals, businesses, and government agencies.

(b) Unnecessary duplications of effort and cost are incurred since currently available spatial data and land records are not consistently collected and maintained from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and state agency to state agency, are not maintained in a manner to assure total integrity, often do not meet National Map Accuracy Standards, and are not readily available or useful for cooperative planning or policy decisions.

(c) The essential component of all automated land information systems is valid, consistent, comprehensive, available, and current data. Since federal, state, regional, county, and municipal agencies, state universities and colleges, private firms, and others require the same spatial data, it is desirable that unnecessary duplication of effort be avoided, that existing data be shared in a coordinated manner, and that new data be developed in an accurate and usable form in accordance with the State of Arkansas Shared Technical Architecture. Pursuant to this, all state agencies, boards, and commissions are required to cooperate and participate with the Arkansas State Land Information Board.

(d) Implementation of an overall Arkansas land and geographic resources program requires cooperative methods for development and maintenance of spatial data between state and local governments in the State of Arkansas.

(e) The board will determine, define, and implement short and long-term strategies that will result in improved decision making, effective asset management, and reduced costs for the citizens of Arkansas.

History. Acts 1995, No. 1259, § 3; 2001, No. 1250, § 1.

15-21-502. Definitions.

(1) “Agency” means any agency or instrumentality of the State of Arkansas that utilizes geographic information systems data;

(2) “Arkansas Geographic Information Office” means the office that provides administrative and technical support to the Arkansas State Land Information Board, including, but not limited to, staff, hardware, software, and representation;

(3) “Arkansas Spatial Data Infrastructure” means the combination of state framework data, data repository, or GeoStor, distribution mechanisms, and the staff and organizational structures necessary to accomplish these activities;

(4) “Board” means the Arkansas State Land Information Board;

(5) “Digital basemap” means a computerized representation of map information;

(6) “Digital cadastre” means the storage and manipulation of computerized representations of parcel maps and linked parcel databases;

(7) “Framework data” means commonly needed data themes developed, maintained, and integrated by public and private organizations within a geographic area. These data themes include, but are not limited to, digital cadastre, public land survey system, elevation, geodetic control, governmental units, hydrography, orthoimagery, transportation, soils, and geology;

(8) “Metadata” means a description of the content, ancestry and source, quality, database schema, and accuracy of digital map data;

(9) “Spatial data” means information that identifies the geographic location and characteristics of natural or constructed features and boundaries on the earth. This information may be derived from, among other things, remote sensing, mapping, and surveying technologies;

(10) “Spatial data repository” means the physical location and content of the state's consolidated spatial data;

(11) “State Geodetic Advisor” means the coordinator of the state's network of geodetic control monuments;

(12) “State Geographic Information Coordinator” means the person who provides administrative and technical support to the board; and

(13) (A) “State of Arkansas Shared Technical Architecture” means the structure of program or system components, how these components relate to one another, and the principles that govern their design and evolution over time.

(B) Important aspects include the division of functions among system parts, the means of communication among them, and the representation of shared information.

History. Acts 1995, No. 1259, §§ 2, 7; 1997, No. 914, § 27; 2001, No. 1250, § 2; 2003, No. 1473, § 32.

15-21-503. Creation Board.

(a) The Arkansas State Land Information Board is created.

(b) (1) (A) The board shall be composed of twelve (12) voting members appointed by the Governor for terms of four (4) years.

(B) At the time of appointment or reappointment, the appointing authority shall adjust the length of terms to ensure that the terms of members of the board are staggered so that, insofar as possible, an equal number of members shall rotate each year.

(2) The board shall be composed of the following members or their designees:

(A) Three (3) state entity representatives;

(B) Three (3) city, county, and local government representatives;

(C) Three (3) private sector representatives; and

(D) Three (3) representatives of institutions of higher education.

(3) All members of the board shall have knowledge of the use and usefulness of digital land and geographic information in the management of government and a general awareness of the role of mapping as related to that management.

(4) No person shall serve as a member of the board for more than two (2) full consecutive terms.

(5) Upon the death, disability, resignation, removal, or refusal to serve of any member, the Governor shall appoint a qualified person to complete board membership.

(c) (1) (A) A chair and a vice chair shall be elected by the board membership to oversee all board and committee meetings.

(B) Members of the board must elect a chair and vice chair every year.

(2) (A) The board will work with the State Geographic Information Coordinator assigned by the Director of the Department of Information Systems with approval from the board.

(B) The State Geographic Information Coordinator will:

(i) Assist the board in developing a comprehensive plan and evaluation procedures on how the state should implement tactical and strategic geographic information systems and land information systems planning;

(ii) Implement informational and educational programs; and

(iii) Coordinate intrastate geographic information systems and land information systems efforts.

(C) The State Geographic Information Coordinator shall report directly to the Director of the Department of Information Systems.

(d) (1) The State Geographic Information Coordinator shall administer daily operations of the Arkansas Geographic Information Office with direction from the board.

(2) This may include liaison between the board and the Governor, the Director of the Department of Information Systems, and public or private sector entities involved in spatial data and land records modernization, project management in the preparation of the strategic planning documents related to spatial data and land records modernization, developing policy and procedures for land records modernization, and developing policy and procedures for the activities of the board.

(3) Additional requirements are the implementation of educational programs, coordinating vendor exhibits, and facilitating technical assistance and consulting.

(e) The board may conduct meetings at such places and such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish its objectives and purposes.

(f) Members of the board shall receive no compensation for their services.

(g) The board will be provided administrative support through the Arkansas Geographic Information Office.

(h) The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this subchapter shall come from the Geographic Information Systems Fund.

(i) The board shall seek the review and advice of the Joint Committee on Advanced Communications and Information Technology prior to issuing guidelines, proposed legislation, and strategic plans.

History. Acts 1995, No. 1259, §§ 1, 5; 1997, No. 914, § 28; 2001, No. 1250, § 3; 2003, No. 1473, § 33; 2005, No. 264, § 1; 2007, No. 751, § 7.

15-21-504. Duties, responsibilities, and authority.

(a) The Arkansas State Land Information Board shall be empowered to:

(1) Provide a strategy for the continuing development of the Arkansas Spatial Data Infrastructure;

(2) Develop standard metadata reports through the Arkansas Geographic Information Office; and

(3) Direct available funds to mapping and land records modernization projects at various levels of government.

(b) The board shall:

(1) Undertake a continuing study of the land information needs of federal, state, county, local agencies, and private entities in the state;

(2) Review current and projected technology, standards, and collection methods and all statutes pertaining thereto;

(3) Develop strategies and guidelines for spatial data systems and land records modernization; and

(4) Pursue activities that result in coordinated, cost-effective programs for spatial data development and distribution.

(c) The board shall coordinate completion and maintenance of shareable statewide framework data, applications of geographic information system technologies, spatial project methodologies, and methods of funding.

(d) (1) The board will develop and implement a program to further the process of land records modernization.

(2) (A) The board, using the technical support provided by the Arkansas Geographic Information Office, shall conduct a comprehensive study of the costs, requirements, and benefits of a digital cadastre system.

(B) The digital cadastre manages and provides access to cadastral information. Digital cadastre does not represent legal property boundary descriptions, nor is it suitable for boundary determination of the individual parcels included in the cadastre.

(e) The duties of the board shall include, but not be restricted to:

(1) Identifying issues, problems, and solutions in implementing an overall Arkansas land and geographic resources program;

(2) Identifying and clarifying the roles of participants;

(3) Developing an overall coordinating schedule for framework data projects;

(4) Recommending methods of financing;

(5) Developing recommended priorities for the distribution of funds;

(6) Developing procedures for the inventory, storage, and distribution of spatial information;

(7) Implementing an ongoing information and education program to promote understanding and productive use of spatial and land information systems by public and private entities and individuals; and

(8) Encouraging and coordinating collaborative spatial project efforts and rewarding participants of collaborative efforts that result in economies of scale or demonstrable cost savings.

(f) (1) The board, through the Arkansas Geographic Information Office, shall assist local and state government agencies in defining technical specifications and standards to use in the collection, distribution, and reporting of spatial information including metadata as required by the State of Arkansas Shared Technical Architecture.

(2) The revised National Map Accuracy Standards shall provide the basis for digital basemap standard guidelines.

(3) The Federal Spatial Data Infrastructure Standard will be followed for standard metadata reports by public entities that create digital geodata.

(g) (1) The board will coordinate with the United States Geological Survey and other federal agencies in the development of Arkansas spatial data.

(2) The board will serve as a point of contact for existing or proposed federal programs that impact the creation of spatial data or the Arkansas Spatial Data Infrastructure, or both.

(h) The board, through the Arkansas Geographic Information Office, shall review the strategic plans for digital mapping and land records modernization and make recommendations for the distribution of public funds for land records modernization, enhancement, and implementation.

(i) The Arkansas Geographic Information Office will serve as a statewide source of mapping and land information technology information and will coordinate with the United States Geological Survey and the Federal Geographic Data Committee on metadata requirements of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure.

(j) The board will develop and require a data quality report to be prepared and attached to all publicly funded mapping and digital maps and their associated databases.

(k) (1) The board shall enter into agreements with the Department of Information Systems and other qualified entities for the purpose of providing geographic information systems services and shall establish a system of uniform fees or special charges to be paid by the state and local government entities thus served to enable the board to defray the cost of providing the services as provided in this subchapter.

(2) (A) Agreements will be interagency service agreements and are exempt from the provisions of the Arkansas Procurement Law, § 19-11-201 et seq., and regulations.

(B) Further, these agreements will not be considered professional services or consulting service contracts.

(l) (1) The board is authorized to contract with the department to support the Arkansas Spatial Data Infrastructure and to provide framework data and metadata for geographic information systems development to the public.

(2) The department will maintain the Arkansas Spatial Data Infrastructure and may utilize existing repositories as appropriate.

(m) The board, the State Geographic Information Coordinator, the Arkansas Geographic Information Office, and the Director of the Department of Information Systems or the director's designee shall submit an annual maintenance plan and budget for geographic information systems and geodata services relating to the Arkansas Spatial Data Infrastructure.

(n) As directed by the board, the Arkansas Geographic Information Office will coordinate framework data development and maintenance, provide technical processing of data sets, evaluate adherence to state-approved mapping standards, and work with both state and federal spatial data stakeholders on statewide projects.

History. Acts 1995, No. 1259, § 4; 1997, No. 914, § 29; 2001, No. 1250, § 4.

15-21-505. [Repealed.]