Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee
Information Technology Task Force
Task Force Report on
A Model Policy for Appropriate Use of The Internet
 Guide to NCSL
Contents
Introduction and Guidelines
Appropriate Use
Inappropriate Use
Suggested for adoption by legislatures
to govern use of legislative computer
systems by members and staff
Electronic mail and access to the Internet provide a valuable
communications tool for legislators, legislative staff, state
agencies and the public. As with all other forms of communication,
this tool must be managed in a manner that maintains public trust
and confidence in the legislature. One of the greatest distinctions,
and dangers, of electronic mail and other forms of access to the
Internet, is that people treat it far more informally than other
forms of business communications. People can copy and circulate
it far more easily than traditional paper communications. It
must be remembered that it is writing and constitutes a permanent
record. Legislatures should use careful management so electronic
mail will constitute clear and appropriate communications. In
the interest of protecting the Legislature and its employees,
the Legislature adopts the following guidelines to apply to all
access of internal and external data communications systems:
- Users of the system must respect the privacy of other users
and their intellectual property or data. Users shall not intentionally
seek information, obtain copies, modify files or data, or use
passwords belonging to other users without proper authorization.
- Users shall not represent themselves as another user, unless
authorized to do so by that user.
- Users shall respect the legal protection provided by copyright
and licensing laws to software and data.
- Users shall protect the integrity of the Legislature's computer
system. Users shall not intentionally propagate programs and
harass other users or infiltrate a computer or computer system.
- Users shall not damage or alter the software or other components
of legislative computers or computer systems, or install unauthorized
software or hardware peripherals.
- Users shall only use functions and components of the legislative
computer system for which they have been trained.
- Users shall not sell access to computer systems.
Appropriate Use
Members and staff may use legislative computers and computer systems
to:
- facilitate communications between legislators, staff, state
agencies, citizens of the state, and others concerned with state
business, including the transfer of documents;
- access databases and files to obtain work-related reference
material or to conduct legislative-related research, or other
appropriate legislative business;
- expedite administrative duties in direct support of work-related
functions;
- prepare information for use in bill preparation, committee
hearings, and floor debate;
- preserve historical information related to the Legislature;
and
- communicate with others to pursue professional and career
development, including professional organizations.
- [Optional Term] As with telephones, electronic mail is intended
for fast and efficient communications. However, personal use
of electronic mail should be limited in the same manner as local
telephone calls so as not to interfere with the employee's duties.
Inappropriate
Use
No person shall use legislative computers and computer systems
to:
- violate any state or federal law or regulation;
- promote any commercial venture, political campaign, or personal
purpose;
- raise funds or engage in public relations activities that
are not directly related to state business;
- intentionally disrupt network or system use by others, either
by introducing worms or viruses or by other means;
- misrepresent oneself, a state agency, the Legislature, a legislator,
a state employee, or the state (including unauthorized use of
another's password or login code); or
- transmit or, with foreknowledge, receive pornographic, racist,
sexist or harassing material.
Revised
Adopted by the Task Force, June 6, 1997
Newport, Rhode Island
9/24/97
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