User Experience Task Force
Introduction
During the 2014 Legislative session, the Florida Legislature enacted CS/HB 5401, which was approved by the Governor.
Chapter 2013-54, Laws of Florida. The law modifies and amends the Transparency Florida Act, section 215.985, F.S. In
addition to making many changes and updates to existing transparency websites, the legislation also created a User
Experience Task Force.
The key purpose of the Florida Transparency Act, as modified, is to require specified government fiscal and contract
information to be publicly accessible through a website or management system. The Act requires the Executive Office of
the Governor to establish and maintain a single Web portal that will provide public access to state transparency
websites relating to the state’s budgeting and financial planning data, and requires the Chief Financial Officer to provide
public access to information relating to contracts executed by state agencies.
Section 2 of CS/HB 5401 created the User Experience Task Force. The Task Force, consisting of four members, is charged
with reviewing all relevant state-managed websites, providing options for reducing the number of websites without
losing detailed data, and providing options for linking expenditure data with related invoices and contracts. The Task
Force must submit a recommended website design that provides “an intuitive and cohesive user experience that allows
the users to move easily between various types of related data” by March 1, 2014.
Authority
The User Experience Task Force was created in Section 2, Chapter 2013-054, Laws of Florida, to develop and recommend
a design for consolidating existing state-managed websites that provide public access to state operational and fiscal
information into a single website.
Members
Appointed by Governor Rick Scott
Jason Allison, Information Technology Policy Coordinator, Executive Office of the Governor (Chair)
Appointed by Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater
Charles Ghini, Chief Information Officer, Department of Financial Services (Vice Chair)
Appointed by Senate President Don Gaetz
Barbara A. Petersen, President, First Amendment Foundation
Appointed by Speaker of the House Will Weatherford
Jordan Raynor, Co-founder and Partnerships Director, Citizinvestor
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User Experience Task Force
Deliverables
By October 1, 2013, a work plan must be submitted to the Governor, Chief Financial Officer, President of the Senate, and
the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The work plan must include a review of all relevant state-managed
websites with options for reducing the number of websites without losing detailed data, as well as options for linking
expenditure data with related invoices and contracts.
By March 1, 2014, a complete recommendation must be submitted to the Governor, Chief Financial Officer, President of
the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The recommended website design must provide an
intuitive and cohesive user experience that allows users to move easily between various types of related data. The
recommendation must also include a cost estimate for implementation of the design.
Benefits
Section 2, Chapter 2013-054, Laws of Florida, identifies multiple websites that currently provide state operational and
financial information to the general public. The Transparency Florida Act directs that transparency websites be designed
for public access that, to the extent possible, provide an intuitive user experience. To accomplish this goal, all state
transparency websites should provide a consistent visual design, standard interaction or navigation design, and
consistent information display or presentation of data. These websites must be developed and deployed in compliance
with the Americans with Disabilities Act. In addition, these websites should be compatible with all major web browsers,
such as Internet Explorer, Apple Safari, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, and Google Chrome, to provide broad public access.
Communication
The User Experience Task Force is subject to Florida’s open government laws. All Task Force meetings will be held in
compliance with sections 286.011 – 286.012, F.S., better known as the “Sunshine Law,” and s. 286.26, F.S. All
documents, minutes, and other material related to the work and mission of the Task Force are public records subject to
disclosure pursuant to Chapter 119, F.S., Florida’s public records law. To the extent possible, all Task Force records will
be posted to a publically available website at:
http://www.myfloridacfo.com/division/dis/transparencytaskforce/default.html
The link is accessible via navigation from the home page of the Chief Financial Officer http://www.myfloridacfo.com/ .
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User Experience Task Force
Deliverable 1: Work Plan
The User Experience Task Force, created in Chapter 2013-054, Laws of Florida, is directed to develop a work plan for
submission to the Governor, Chief Financial Officer, President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives by October 1, 2013.
The work plan must include a review of all relevant state-managed websites with options for reducing the number of
websites without losing detailed data and options for linking expenditure data with related invoices and contracts.
Work Plan Outline
Item
#
1.0
Deliverable
Task
Website
Inventory
Creation of an inventory of all in-scope websites hosted by State of Florida
Governmental entities.
Survey state agencies and review current inventory of state transparency websites
Finalize draft inventory of state transparency websites
Distribute review of websites to members
Create inventory of website content, functionality, and attributes
Finalize inventory with description of content, functionality and attributes
Identification of redundant sites and subsequent recommendations for
consolidation as applicable
Review inventory and make recommendation to identify duplication of functionality
on multiple sites
Review inventory and make recommendation on consolidated – Identify specific
sites to be moved to/hosted on another site
Review inventory and recommend sites to be consolidated by sharing base data
from one site to -another
Review inventory and make recommendation of appropriate state agency manager
for each website and any other roles
Analysis and determination of value of centralized/distributed model
Finalize recommendations to reduce number of transparency websites
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
2.0
Reducing Number
of Websites
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
Item
Deliverable
User Experience Task Force
Task
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User Experience Task Force
#Item
3.0
Linking Financial
and Operational
Data
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
4.0
User Experience
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
5.0
Education and
Training
5.1
5.2
6.0
Operational
Model
6.1
6.2
7.0
Approach and
Report
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
7.5
7.6
Recommendation of opportunities and determination of relevancy of providing links
to existing data found in other in-scope websites.
Review current state transparency websites providing expenditure data
Review current state transparency websites providing invoice data
Review current state transparency websites providing contract data
Recommend linkage requirements for financial data
Finalize recommendations to reduce number of transparency websites
Determination and subsequent recommendation of the most cohesive and intuitive
website presentation.
Review best practice and industry standards for web site presentation
Review other public sector transparency sites and initiatives
Review other states’ transparency sites and initiatives
Recommend usability standards for consistency and intuitive navigation
Solicit public feedback on what the State can do to enhance the public’s experience
Finalize recommendations for the user experience
Analysis and recommendation of education and training methods and strategies
regarding use and navigation of new website.
Determine methods needs to instruct the public on how to use the Transparency
websites (videos, instructions, etc…)
Create glossary of terms
Analysis and recommendation of best approaches for development of ongoing
management, maintenance, and support of the website.
Determine appropriate managers for systems
Determine levels of support needed
Finalization and submission of report.
Create final design recommendation including results from tasks
Provide design recommendation to appropriate state sites managers for review and
impact analysis
Develop and define a cost estimating methodology
Provide impact analysis and cost estimate
Consolidate recommendations and cost information
Finalize and submit complete recommendation report
Please note: The information provided in the above User Experience Task Force Work Plan table may be completed in any order or change
consistent with Task Force direction as the project progresses.
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User Experience Task Force
Out of Scope
The Task Force will not initiate or implement any modifications to existing or proposed state transparency websites.
Assumptions
The Task Force will have access to staff and facilities for the purpose of providing administrative and meeting support.
State agencies will be available to provide subject matter expertise on their transparency websites and transparency
initiatives. Additionally, state agencies will be engaged to provide costing information related to the implementation of
the recommended design of the Task Force.
Definitions
Term
Definition
Web Portal
Is defined as a web page at a website which brings information together from
diverse sources and displays the content in a uniform way. Web portals can include
search functionality to assist in locating the desired content across the diverse
sources and a site map to identify the various web pages accessible by the Web
portal.
State Operational and
Financial Data
Is defined as data that is comprised of the state budget as defined in the annual
General Appropriations Act and expenditure information as managed in the state
accounting system.
Please note: Definitions will continue to be added to the above table as terms are identified, defined and agreed to by the Task Force through
production of their Final Recommendation on or before March 1, 2014.
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