T H E O F F I C E O F T H E G O V E R N O R
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
STATE OF IDAHO
BOISE
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 97-17
ESTABLISHING STATEWIDE POLICIES ON COMPUTER, THE INTERNET AND
ELECTRONIC MAIL USAGE BY
STATE EMPLOYEES
WHEREAS,computers, the Internet and electronic mail are powerful
research, communication and time-saving tools
that are made available to state employees; and
WHEREAS, like any tools, computers, the Internet and electronic mail
have the potential to be used for inappropriate purposes; and
WHEREAS, perceptions are important and state employees must constantly
be aware of how their actions are perceived by the public;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, PHILIP E. BATT, Governor of the State of Idaho, by
the authority vested in me under the Constitution and laws of this
state do hereby order as follows:
The following statewide policies on computer, the Internet and
electronic mail usage shall be observed by all
state employees:
1. The following uses are acceptable and encouraged:
a. Communications and information exchanges directly relating to
the mission, charter and work tasks of the
state agency;
b. Announcements of state laws, procedures, hearings, policies,
services or activities;
c. Use for advisory, standards, research, analysis and
professional
society or development activities related to
the user's state governmental duties; and
d. Use in applying for or administering grants or contracts for
state government research programs.
2. It is unacceptable to knowingly or intentionally submit,
publish, display, transmit, retrieve or store on
the network or on any computer system any information or
image
which:
a. Violates or infringes on the rights of any other
person, including the right to privacy;
b. Contains defamatory, false, inaccurate, abusive,
obscene, pornographic, profane, sexually
oriented, threatening, racially offensive or otherwise
biased, discriminatory or illegal material;
c. Violates state government regulations prohibiting
sexual harassment;
d. Restricts or inhibits other users from using the
system or the efficiency of the computer systems;
e. Encourages the use of controlled substances or uses
the system for the purpose of criminal intent;
f. Uses the system for any other illegal purpose;
g. Contains incendiary statements which might incite
violence or describe or promote the use of
weapons or devices associated with terrorist
activities.
3. It is also unacceptable for a state employee to use the
facilities and capabilities of the system to:
a. Conduct any non-approved business;
b. Solicit the performance of any activity that is
prohibited by law;
c. Transmit materials, information, images, or software
in violation of any local, state or federal
law;
d. Conduct any political activity;
e. Conduct any non-governmental-related fund raising or
public relations activities;
f. Engage in any activity for personal gain or personal
business transactions;
g Make any unauthorized purchases.
h. Use any and all games on state government-provided
computer equipment.
i. Use unauthorized screen savers;
j. Place advertisements for commercial enterprises
including but not limited to goods, services or
property;
k. Abuse electronic mail privileges. An occasional note
to another person, similar to a telephone call
is acceptable; or
l. Download, disseminate, store or print copyrighted
materials, including articles and software, in
violation of copyright laws.
m. Promote or advertise any non-profit charitable
organization or event.
4. The following sanctions shall be imposed by state
government agencies for violations of the above
policies:
a. Upon the first abuse of this policy, the staff
member
will receive at a minimum: a verbal warning
of the infraction.
b. Upon the second occurrence of abuse, the staff
member
will receive at a minimum: a written
reprimand placed in the employee's permanent file.
c. Upon the third occurrence of abuse, the employee may
receive additional sanctions deemed
appropriate by the state agency head, up to, and
including dismissal.
5. The above policies are the minimum standards for usage of
computers, the Internet and electronic mail.
Individual state agencies may implement more restrictive
policies as long as those policies are consistent
with those developed by the Governor's Information
Technology
Resource Management Council (ITRMC).
This Executive Order shall cease to be effective four years after
its entry into force.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused
to
be affixed the Great Seal of the
State of Idaho at the Capitol in Boise on this thirtieth day
of October in the year of our Lord nineteen
hundred ninety-seven and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred
twenty-second and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred
eighth.
PHILIP E. BATT
GOVERNOR
PETE T. CENARRUSA
SECRETARY OF STATE
-- ----- Chris Magagna, Senior Network Analyst U of Idaho Computer Services chris@uidaho.edu http://www.uidaho.edu/~chris
****************** LuAnn Scott University of Idaho Department of Biological Sciences Moscow, ID 83844-3051 (208)885-6494 lscott@uidaho.edu