|
Plugged In, Tuning Up: An Assessment of State Legislative Websites
State Responses and Updates
Connecticut
Connecticut responded by pointing out the sites available for Internet Explorer 5.+ (IE5+) and non-IE5 browsers. The non-IE5 site is considered an Independent Browser (IB) site and is tested on Netscape, lower versions of Internet Explorer and Macintosh platforms.
LEGISLATOR INFORMATION
Profile
- Background information on legislators, including biographical information, details on their role in the legislature, and data on the district they serve.
- IE5+ Site - The MEMBERS link under the House and Senate sections, as well as the FIND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE and FIND YOUR SENATOR links under their respective sections will provide complete biographical and legislative history on each member from their caucus page (all links are from the home page)
- IB Site - The HOUSE and SENATE link on the home page provide options for linking to FIND REPRESENTATIVE, FIND SENATOR and MEMBERS (both sections) links which provide complete biographical and legislative history on each member from their caucus page
Member Contact Information: Contact information for legislators, within the state legislature and any district office
- IE5+ Site - Once navigation to the member's caucus page is complete, home and legislative contact information is provided as well as email addresses. Also, via the MEMBERS link from the House or Senate section on the home page, a user can select to email the Representative or Senator without navigating to the member's caucus page
- IB Site - Once navigation to the member's caucus page is complete, home and legislative contact information is provided as well as email addresses
Considerations
The FIND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE and FIND YOUR SENATOR links from the IE5+ site and the IB site navigate to Town maps, not district maps, that aid a user in locating their legislator
EXPLANATIONS OF LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
Frequently asked Questions
- IE5+ Site - An FAQ page is available from the top navigation bar under the "Support and Contacts" link
- IB Site - An FAQ page is not available and we thank you for bringing that to our attention
State Constitution, Code of Laws, and Regulations
IE5+ and IB Sites - A link named TEXT SEARCH 2001-->1988, INCLUDES STATUTES will navigate to the search system allowing for a user to search the Statutes. We have also just recently placed on our web site the statutes in a browseable by Chapter, including Tables of Contents by Title, Chapter and Section.
Legislative Primer, or similar explanation of the process.
- IE5+ Site - A HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW is available from the Legislative Process dropdown link on the home page
- IB Site - A HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW link is available from the Legislative Information page
Rules of the full legislature and individual bodies.
- IE5+ Site - A HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW is available from the Legislative Process dropdown link on the home page
- IB Site - A 2001 RULES AND PRECEDENTS link is available from the Legislative Information page
LEGISLATIVE TRACKING AND MONITORING
Floor Schedule: Daily schedule of legislative activity.
- IE5+ Site - A calendar is available on the Home page in the Today's' Information section. A user can click on any day of the month and retrieve the legislative schedule for that particular day (as available)
- IB Site - A Legislative Schedule which displays all the legislative activity for the current day is available on the Legislative Information page
- NOTE: Additionally, the Legislative Bulletin is available on both sites and users can browse for upcoming session dates, etc.
Committee Meetings, Hearings and Agendas
- IE5+ Site - A calendar is available on the Home page in the Today's' Information section. A user can click on any day of the month and retrieve the legislative schedule for that particular day (as available) including all public hearings, meetings, etc. Links to the latest agenda for each committee are available directly on the home page
- IB Site - A Legislative Schedule which displays all the legislative activity for the current day is available on the Legislative Information page. Links to the latest agenda for each committee are available on the page for each committee (available from the COMMITTEE link on the home page)
- NOTE: Additionally, the Legislative Bulletin is available on both sites and users can browse for upcoming public hearings, meetings, etc.
Reports/Journals: Compendium of cumulative legislative activity:
- IE5+ Site - A JOURNAL link is available in the House and Senate sections on the home page which will display in a separate window the latest journal for each chamber. Selecting the HOUSE or SENATE link on the home page will then provide users with a page that provides a JOURNALS link. This link will list cumulatively all the Journals for the year
- IB Site - Selecting the HOUSE or SENATE link on the home page will then provide users with a page that includes a JOURNALS link. This link will list cumulatively all the Journals for the year
LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATION
Oversight Body
- IE5+ Site - A link to the Office of Legislative Management is provided on the home page
- IB Site - Selecting the STAFF OFFICES link on the home page will then provide users with a page that includes a link to the Office of Legislative Management. You are correct in the fact that they are not on the home or major entry page
- NOTE: Office of Legislative Management is assumed to be the "oversight body".
Legal, Ethics, or Legislative Affairs
- IE5+ Site - A link to the Legislative Commissioner's Office is provided on the home page
- IB Site - Selecting the STAFF OFFICES link on the home page will then provide users with a page that includes a link to the Legislative Commissioner's Office.
- These are not on the home or major entry page
Library and Legislative Research
- IE5+ Site - Links to the Office of Legislative Research and the Legislative Library are provided on the home page
- IB Site - Selecting the STAFF OFFICES link on the home page will then provide users with a page that includes links to the Office of Legislative Research and the Legislative Library. You are correct in the fact that they are not on the home or major entry page
Special Bodies and Task Forces
- IE5+ Site - Links to Commissions are available in the "Other Legislative Agencies" section on the home page.
- IB Site - Selecting the LEGISLATIVE AGENCIES link on the home page will then provide users with a page that includes links to various legislative commissions. You are correct in the fact that they are not on the home or major entry page.
- NOTE: Special task forces are often linked on the home page for each committee under which they were formed
STATE RESOURCES
State constitution, code of laws, and regulations
IE5+ and IB Sites - A link named TEXT SEARCH 2001 --> 1988, INCLUDES STATUTES will navigate to the search system allowing for a user to search the Statutes. We have also just recently placed on our web site the statutes in a browseable by Chapter, including Tables of Contents by Title, Chapter and Section.
State budget information and resources
IE5+ and IB Sites - A link to the Office of Fiscal Analysis is available from both sites (on the IE5+ site it is on the home page, on the IB site it is under Staff Offices). After the budget is passed, a separate link is available on both home pages
STATEMENTS ADDRESSING USER EXPECTATIONS:
External Link Statement: Whether the site outlines to what degree it is responsible for the content it presents
- IE5+ Site - Has a link on the home page for External Links.
- IB Site - No External Link available
- NOTE: The disclaimer does outline to what degree the CGA is responsible for the content it presents.
Cookie Statement: if cookies were found, whether there was a statement to that effect on the site outlining their use:
- IE5+ Site - Privacy Policy (includes explanation of the cookie used) was added after the site was rated by OMB Watch
- IB Site - Privacy Policy (includes explanation of the cookie used) was added after the site was rated by OMB Watch
Feedback: If there were features through which users can provide comments, or ask questions… what type of method the feature employed
- IE5+ Site - Email links are available in the site to provide feedback, questions, concerns, etc.
- IB Site - Email links are available in the site to provide feedback, questions, concerns, etc.
Registration for Site Updates: If users can elect to receive updates on new features, services, improvements, or modifications to a website (but not the content contained therein), it was noted:
Although it is indicated in the report that this functionality exists on the CGA site, it does not exist.
Legislative Activity Updates: Whether a site allow users to elect to receive updates on specific content…
Although it is indicated in the report that this functionality exists on the CGA site, it does not exist.
Member Contact Services: Whether a services exists through which visitors and constituents can target communications directly to a specified member or set of elected officials:
- IE5+ Site - Email contact information is available on the CGA site.
- NOTE: Additionally, a legislator's email, phone and mail delivery information is available through their home page on the caucus sites (accessible via the CGA site)
Privacy Policy
IE5+ and IB Sites - Privacy Policy (includes explanation of the cookie used) was added after the site was rated by OMB Watch
SITE DESIGN
Text Only Version: A plain text version with no-graphics, but HTML functionality
NOTE: While the CGA does not have a plain text version of their web site that contains no graphics, the Independent Browser site is tested with Netscape, IE5+ and older version of Internet Explorer, as well as Macintosh browsers.
Links to New Window: If links that are followed (including links to other sections of a site) open new windows:
NOTE: Not all navigation opens a new window on the two CGA sites but certain functions such as the retrieval of the status on a bill and text search will always start a new instance of the browser with the results
SITE NAVIGATION:
Site Index
IE5+ Site - A SITE MAP link is available from the LEGISLATIVE SITE GUIDE link on the navigation bar that is present through all pages on the IE5+ site (except search result pages)
Navigation Bar: A persistent or semi-persistent element on a majority of web pages, consisting of text or graphics, that helps users move among various sections of a website
IE5+ and IB Sites - A persistent navigation bar is present in both sites throughout each on the majority of pages
What's New/Site Updates
IE5+ and IB Sites - A "What's New" section is available on both sites
Registration for Site Updates: the ability to receive updates notices regarding site modifications
Although it is indicated in the report that this functionality exists on the CGA site, it does not exist.
|