2014 -- S 2469 SUBSTITUTE A

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LC004241/SUB A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCE - POST AUDIT OF ACCOUNTS

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Felag, Lombardi, Jabour, and Archambault

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     (Administration)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 35-7 of the General Laws entitled “Post Audit of Accounts” is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     35-7-15. Audit of information security systems. – (a) The general assembly recognizes

that the security of government computer systems is essential to ensuring the stability and

integrity of vital information gathered and stored by the government for the benefit of the

citizenry and the breach of security over computer systems presents a risk to the health, safety,

and welfare of the public. It is the intent of the legislature to insure that government computer

systems and information residing on these systems are protected from unauthorized access,

compromise, sabotage, hacking, viruses, destruction, illegal use, cyber attack or any other act

which might jeopardize or harm the computer systems and the information stored on them.

     (b) In conjunction with the powers and duties outlined in this chapter, the bureau of

audits may conduct reviews and assessments of the various government computer systems and

the security systems established to safeguard these computer systems. Computer systems subject

to this section shall include systems which pertain to federal, state, or local programs, and quasi-

governmental bodies, and the computer systems of any entity or program which is subject to audit

by the bureau of audits. The bureau of audit’s review may include an assessment of system

vulnerability, network penetration, potential security breaches, and susceptibility to cyber attack

and cyber fraud.

     (c) The bureau of audit's findings shall be deemed public records and available for public

inspection; provided, however, in the event the review indicates a computer system is vulnerable,

or security over the system is otherwise deficient, reasonably segregable portions of the findings

shall be subject to public inspection after the redaction of any information the disclosure of which

would endanger the security of the system or reveal the specific nature of the vulnerabilities

found. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the work papers developed in

connection with the review of computer systems and the security over those systems authorized

by this section shall not be deemed public records and are not subject to disclosure.

      (d) In order to maintain the integrity of the computer system, the bureau of audits may

procure the services of specialists in information security systems or other contractors deemed

necessary in conducting reviews under this section, and in procuring those services shall be

exempt from the requirements of the state purchasing law or regulation.

     (e) Any outside contractor or vendor hired to provide services in the review of the

security of a computer system shall be bound by the confidentiality provisions of this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCE - POST AUDIT OF ACCOUNTS

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     This act would provide that the bureau of audits may conduct reviews and assessments of

government computer systems and the security systems that safeguard the computer systems.

This act would further provide that in the event the bureau of audits determines a system to be

vulnerable or lacking such findings shall not be publicly disclosed or considered a public record.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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