SECTION 3. Procurements and contracts for development of statewide health information exchange technology

(a) The executive office shall conduct procurements and enter into contracts for the purchase and development of all hardware and software in connection with the creation and implementation of the statewide health information exchange. The executive office may, in consultation with the council and the commission, oversee the technical aspects of the development, dissemination and implementation of the statewide health information exchange including any modules, applications, interfaces or other technology infrastructure necessary to connect provider electronic health records systems to the statewide health information exchange.

(b) The executive office shall:

(i) in consultation with the council, develop a health information exchange strategic and operating plan;

(ii) implement, operate and maintain the statewide health information exchange; and

(iii) develop and implement statewide health information exchange infrastructure, including, without limitation, provider directories, certificate storage, transmission gateways, auditing systems and any components necessary to connect the statewide health information exchange to provider electronic health records systems.