The Planning and Coordinating Task Force is comprised of governmental entities and associations from all levels of government: local, state, federal, and participating private sector organizations which have signed letters of commitment to this project.

The Planning and Coordinating Task Force will:

• Develop a business plan and case study to gain funding and support for both the uniform application and use of information technology in the building regulatory process to make it more effective, efficient and accessible to citizens and the construction community.

• Quantify the value of streamlining the building regulatory process.

• Develop a listing for I.T. issues.

• Participate in and support the activities of the Technology Task Group, including giving the I.T. community an understanding of the actual needs of the building regulators and the drafting of model uniform systems requirements for federal, state, and local governments to use when procuring and implementing information technology services for use in the oversight and regulation of construction.

• Develop grant awards criteria for the project.

Planning and Coordinating Task Force (Public and Private Sectors)

(Timetable from Implementation Plan)

It is anticipated this task force will meet at least three times each year and will conduct many of the task assignments on-line. (It is expected several tasks of this task force will be undertaken in coordination with the Technology Task Force.)

1. Hold organizational meeting and develop mission statement for task force and set/adopt milestones for measuring progress in meeting both short- and long- term task assignments – April 1, 2002
2. Identify components of the building regulatory process where information technology (I.T.) is currently in use and share that information with jurisdictions nationwide – January 1, 2002
3. Develop a compendium of software in use including information on the purpose, cost, extent of use, level of available support, training needed, interoperability (if applicable) with other software. Compendium will include commentary on relative strengths/ weaknesses of software (in coordination with Technology Task Force) – June 30, 2002
4. Develop compendium of hardware in use including details of costs, numbers in use, typical use, percentage of time in use, and commentary on relative strengths and weaknesses of hardware (in coordination with Technology Task Force) – June 30, 2002
5. Develop a series of sets of minimum requirements for software for typical uses and identify commercial software that currently meets these minimum requirements. Hardware requirements for use of software are to be included. (In coordination with NASCIO and Technology Task Force.) Minimum set of requirements and list of current software meeting these requirements – June 30, 2002
6. Develop model purchase specifications for software (in coordination with NASCIO) – September 30, 2002
7. Develop a cost/benefit analysis of streamlining the nation’s existing building regulatory system. (Examples of streamlining at each level of government) – October 30, 2002
8. Outline of grant criteria – June 30, 2002
9. Identify interagency and multi-jurisdictional issues and models involved in streamlining – June 30, 2002
10. Identify public/private issues involved in streamlining – June 30, 2002
11. Compile and list different basic regulatory laws in states – September 30, 2002
12. Develop model enabling legislation for multi-jurisdictional streamlined building regulatory processes – December 31, 2002
    

B. Long-term Task Assignments based upon completion of short- term tasks (between 1 and 5 years). Consider adopting 3 or more of the following long-term actions:

1. Advocate for regulatory streamlining – On-going throughout project
2. Examine legal, insurance, accountability and multi-tier issues that effect requirements in model codes and standards used in construction process - October 2002
3. Review and issue for national debate/consideration optional approaches towards building regulatory systems (include look at other nations systems) - February 2003
4. Work with academic community to create centers for building regulatory studies - February 2003
5. Develop and complete a comparative analysis of alternate building regulatory systems in growth and no-growth environments (state and local) - February 2003