Section 24-37.5-121 - Digital access to government services - strategic plan - reporting - legislative declaration - definitions(1) The general assembly finds and declares that: (a) The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the fact that Colorado residents need digital access to government services to allow them to safely access government services while carrying on necessary business and other activities;(b) Even as the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, it remains important to provide digital access to government services to modernize government operations, save taxpayers time and money, and improve accessibility to government services and information throughout the state; and(c) The office is well positioned to advance and innovate the state's adoption of, and increase its offerings for, digital access to government services, which offerings would further maximize the value of the state's investment in broadband deployment.(2)(a) The office shall enter into an enterprise agreement with a third-party vendor to develop and implement a strategic plan to expand and improve digital access to government services through the use of broadband.(b) In developing the strategic plan, the office and the vendor shall consult with stakeholders throughout the state that represent various interested parties including: (I) Residents of the state;(II) Groups representing or advocating for historically marginalized communities or residents of the state;(IV) The statewide internet portal authority created pursuant to section 24-37.7-102; and(V) Local and regional government officials.(4) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Agency" has the meaning set forth in section 24-4-102(3).(b) "COVID-19" means the coronavirus disease 2019 caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, also known as SARS-CoV-2.Added by 2021 Ch. 371,§6, eff. 6/28/2021. For the legislative declaration in HB 21-1289, see section 1 of chapter 371, Session Laws of Colorado 2021.