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

15-21-504. Duties, responsibilities, and authority. (a) The Arkansas Geographic Information Systems 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 Systems 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, and 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 office, shall coordinate the development and maintenance of a statewide 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 digital cadastre. (C) The board, using the technical support provided by the office, shall coordinate the development and maintenance of a statewide road centerline database. (D) The board, using the technical support provided by the office, shall coordinate the development and maintenance of a statewide digital orthophotography database with a priority to be taken in leaf-off conditions. (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 office, shall define technical specifications and standards to use in the collection, distribution, and reporting of spatial information as required by the State of Arkansas Enterprise Architecture. (2)(A) The board shall require metadata to be prepared and attached to all publicly funded mapping and geographic information systems databases. (B) The metadata shall follow the Federal Geographic Data Committee content for the geospatial metadata standard. (g) 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 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 office will serve as a statewide source of mapping and geographic information technology and will coordinate with federal agencies on state components of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure. (j)(1) The office may utilize existing repositories as appropriate in order to maintain the Arkansas Spatial Data Infrastructure. (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 rules. (B) Further, these agreements will not be considered professional services or consulting service contracts. (k) The office shall submit an annual maintenance plan and budget for geographic information systems and geodata services relating to the Arkansas Spatial Data Infrastructure to the board. (l) As directed by the board, the office will coordinate framework data development and maintenance, provide technical processing of data sets, evaluate adherence to state-approved mapping standards, and work with spatial data stakeholders on statewide projects. (m)(1)(A) The board may administer a statewide parcel mapping grant program at the direction of the office. (B) The office shall develop and implement a program to provide funding support to counties to assist in the completion of statewide parcel mapping. (2)(A) The program shall be supported by funds and appropriations provided by the General Assembly and the counties. (B) Counties in the state are eligible to apply for a grant under the program to: (i) Initiate parcel map automation; (ii) Accelerate the completion of parcel map automation; or (iii) Support parcel map improvements. (C) Grants under the program shall be funded as follows: (i) State funding equaling up to sixty percent (60%) of the cost of the approved projects; and (ii) The balance of the cost from required matching funds from the county. (D) At least forty percent (40%) of the cost of any parcel mapping project shall come from the counties participating in a project awarded under the program. (E)(i) The matching funds may be provided by counties, affected school districts, and affected cities. (ii) The matching funds shall be deposited by the office into the Geographic Information Systems Fund. (3) The office may promulgate rules necessary to administer the program. (n)(1) The board shall provide mapping services to an entity undertaking an: (A) Annexation, consolidation, or detachment proceeding under § 14-40-101 et seq.; or (B) Incorporation or disincorporation proceeding under § 14-38-101 et seq. (2) The office shall submit a consolidated report of changes in legal boundaries because of an annexation, consolidation, detachment, incorporation, or disincorporation proceeding on an annual basis to the United States Bureau of the Census's Boundary and Annexation Survey.