(a) The authority shall have the following powers:

(1) To have a seal and alter the same at its pleasure;

(2) To make and execute contracts, lease agreements, and all other instruments necessary or convenient to exercise the powers of the authority or to further the public purpose for which the authority is created;

(3) To acquire by purchase, lease, or otherwise and to hold, lease, and dispose of real or personal property of every kind and character, or any interest therein, in furtherance of the public purpose of the authority;

(4) To apply for and to accept any gifts or grants or loan guarantees or loans of funds or property or financial or other aid in any form from the federal government or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or from the state or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or from any other source for any or all of the purposes specified in this chapter and to comply, subject to the provisions of this chapter, with the terms and conditions thereof;

(5) To contract with state agencies or any local government for the use by the authority of any property, facilities, or services of the state or any such state agency or local government or for the use by any state agency or local government of any facilities or services of the authority; and such state agencies and local governments are authorized to enter into such contracts;

(6) To fix and collect fees and charges for data, media, and incidental services;

(7) To deposit or invest funds held by it in any state depository or in any investment which is authorized for the investment of proceeds of state general obligation bonds; and to use for its corporate purposes or redeposit or reinvest interest earned on such funds;

(8) To establish standards for agencies to submit information technology plans to the authority. Standards shall include without limitation content, format, and frequency of submission;

(9) To provide and approve a technology plan to include strategic planning and direction for technology acquisition, deployment development, and obsolescence management as well as a communications plan to manage costs for voice, video, data, and messaging services for all agencies. The state technology plan shall incorporate plans from agencies and other sources;

(10) To set technology policy for all agencies except those under the authority, direction, or control of the General Assembly or state-wide elected officials other than the Governor;

(11) To prescribe procedures for the procurement of technology resources for agencies;

(12) To provide oversight and program management for all technology resources for projects exceeding a cumulative investment of $1 million to accomplish goals of technology portfolio management;

(13) To require agencies to submit periodic reports at such frequency and with such content as the board shall define;

(14) To prepare fiscal impact statements relating to necessary modifications and development of technology to support policies required by proposed legislation;

(15) To establish architecture for state technology infrastructure to promote efficient use of resources and to promote economic development;

(16) To provide processes and systems for timely and fiscally prudent management of the state's financial resources to include, without limitation, cash management;

(17) To establish advisory committees from time to time, including, without limitation, a standing advisory committee composed of representatives from agencies which shall make recommendations to the authority concerning such matters as policies, standards, and architecture;

(18) To coordinate with agencies, the legislative and judicial branches of government, and the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, regarding technology policy;

(19) To coordinate with local and federal governments to achieve the goals of the authority;

(20) To identify and pursue alternative funding approaches;

(21) To establish technology security standards and services to be used by all agencies;

(22) To conduct technology audits of all agencies;

(23) To facilitate and encourage the conduct of business on the Internet;

(24) To expand and establish policies necessary to ensure the legal authority and integrity of electronic documents;

(25) To provide and approve as part of the state technology plan an implementation plan and subsequent policies and goals designed to increase the use of telecommuting among state employees;

(26) To create a center for innovation to create applications of technology that will yield positive, measurable benefits to the state;

(27) To establish benchmarks for contracts requiring approval by the board;

(28) To canvass sources of supply and to contract for the lease, rental, purchase, or other acquisition of all technology resource related supplies, materials, services, and equipment required by the state government or any of its agencies under competitive bidding or to authorize any agency to purchase or contract for technology;

(29) To establish and enforce standard specifications which shall apply to all technology and technology resource related supplies, materials, and equipment purchased or to be purchased for the use of the state government or any of its agencies, which specifications shall be based on and consistent with industry accepted open network architecture standards;

(30) To establish processes, specifications, and standards for procurement, which shall apply to all technology to be purchased, licensed, or leased by any agency;

(31) To exercise any power granted by the laws of this state to public or private corporations which is not in conflict with the public purpose of the authority; and

(32) To do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the powers conferred by this chapter.

(b) The authority shall transfer to the general fund of the state treasury any funds of the authority determined by the authority to be in excess of those needed for the corporate purposes of the authority.