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This policy governs use of state-owned personal computers assigned to legislators and authorized personnel.

As used in this policy, an authorized user is limited to a member of the General Assembly who has been assigned a personal computer, any person authorized by that member to use that member's computer for legislative purposes for that member, and any other person specifically authorized by name by the Office of the Controller General.

An authorized user who is a member of the General Assembly is not restricted in the use of the assigned personal computer and associated equipment and installed software so long as that use does not interfere or inhibit legislative functions, or violate Delaware Laws relating to political activity.

An authorized user may utilize the Internet access provided by the State. An authorized user who accesses the Internet has an obligation to use this access in a responsible and informed way, conforming to State policies, network etiquette, customs, and courtesies.

Each user is individually responsible for the content of any communication sent over or placed on the Internet. All users shall conform to State policies regarding use and access of "home pages".

The hardware assigned to an authorized user and the software installed in that hardware before assignment to the authorized user and upgrades to that software are property of the State of Delaware. An authorized user acknowledges that use of electronic mail (e-mail) does not necessarily ensure privacy of e-mail messages. For example, a deletion command does not necessarily mean a document has been eliminated from the computer system or that there is not a record that a message has been transmitted. Also, e-mail messages might be used as evidence that there has been a violation of law or policy.

The Office of the Controller General is responsible for providing reasonable maintenance and support of personal computers and associated hardware provided by the State and software installed on computers before assignment to authorized users. The authorized user, or any unauthorized user, as applicable, is responsible for the cost of repairing state-owned equipment or authorized software damaged as the result of negligence or abuse, or of installing non-supported equipment or software, including the cost of repairing any equipment or software adversely affected by the non-supported hardware or software.

Neither the Office of the Controller General nor any other State agency is responsible for installing any additional software or computer memory or storage requirements necessitated by a user's installation of non-supported hardware or non-supported software or an authorized user's maintenance of an unreasonable number of files.

An authorized user may not replace or attach hardware to assigned hardware without advance notice to and approval of the Office of the Controller General. An authorized user may not sell or provide to any other person any state-owned computer and associated hardware assigned to that user; sell, copy, provide to, or download for any other person any software loaded on or provided with assigned computer equipment; or sell or provide any access to legislative information systems to which that user has been authorized or granted access.

The authorized user shall notify the Office of the Controller General as soon as possible after any damage to or loss of the assigned personal computer or associated hardware.

The authorized user assumes responsibility for any damage or loss resulting from use of the hardware and software by the authorized user and by any unauthorized user of the assigned hardware and software. The authorized user is not responsible for any damage resulting from complying with approved policies or practices. If practicable, the Office of the Controller General shall arrange for repairs under any applicable warranty.

Hardware and associated equipment, along with software installed by the Office of the Controller General or persons authorized by the Office of the Controller General, must be returned to the Office of the Controller General upon the authorized user's death or resignation or retirement from the General Assembly and upon recall of the hardware or software for replacement or trade-in of hardware, upgrade of software, or reassignment to another member of the General Assembly. In case of resignation from the General Assembly, recall for replacement or trade-in of hardware or upgrade of software, recall for reassignment to another legislator, or death of the authorized user, the authorized user or personal representative, as appropriate, shall return the hardware and software within 30 days of the resignation, recall, or death. In case of retirement from the General Assembly, the authorized user shall return the hardware and software before December 1 of the year preceding the regular session of the General Assembly.

Before return to the Office of the Controller General as required under this policy, the authorized user shall delete any non-supported software, shall delete any files personal to that user, and shall place the software in a condition as near as practicable to the software provided to that user upon receipt of the hardware and software from the Office of the Controller General. The Office of the Controller General shall not be responsible for any lost or damaged software, personal files, or documents upon the return of such hardware.

The Office of the Controller General, as well as other State agencies, cannot assume responsibility for hardware and/or software installation or maintenance on any personal computer not issued through this office.

3271410054

Rev. 10/21/02

___________________, 2002 as applying to me and my use of hardware and software assigned to me.

____________________________________________________ ______________

(Legislator - Authorized User) Date