CHIEF DATA OFFICER.

(a) The executive director, using existing department funds, shall employ a chief data officer to:

(1) improve the control and security of information collected by state agencies;

(2) promote between state agencies the sharing of information, including customer information;

(3) reduce information collection costs incurred by this state; and

(4) assist the department in the development and management of a data portal for use by state agencies.

(b) The chief data officer shall develop and implement best practices among state agencies to:

(1) improve interagency information coordination;

(2) reduce duplicative information collection;

(3) increase accountability and ensure compliance with statutes and rules requiring agencies to share information;

(4) improve information management and analysis to increase information security, uncover fraud and waste, reduce agency costs, improve agency operations, and verify compliance with applicable laws;

(5) encourage agencies to collect and post on the agencies' Internet websites or the data portal managed by the department information related to an agency's functions or other data maintained by the agency that is in an open file format and is machine-readable, exportable, and easily accessible by the public; and

(6) encourage the evaluation of open document formats for storing data and documents generated by state agencies.

(c) Each state agency shall cooperate with the chief data officer in fulfilling the requirements of this section.