HOUSE BILL REPORT
ESHB 2385
As Passed House:
February 7, 1998
Title: An act relating to the department of information services.
Brief Description: Regarding the department of information services.
Sponsors: By Committee on Government Administration (originally sponsored by Representatives Radcliff, Wolfe, D. Schmidt and Scott).
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Government Administration: 1/20/98 [DPS].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 2/7/98, 93-0.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 10 members: Representatives D. Schmidt, Chairman; D. Sommers, Vice Chairman; Scott, Ranking Minority Member; Gardner, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Doumit; Dunn; Dunshee; L. Thomas; Wensman and Wolfe.
Staff: John Carmichael (786-7093).
Background: The Information Services Board is composed of 13 members. The Governor appoints eight members of the board, including two members representing the private sector. The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate each appoint a member. The representatives from the House of Representatives and the Senate shall not be from the same political party. The remaining members are the director of the Department of Information Services, the Superintendent of Public Instruction (or the superintendent's designee), and a member appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
The board's responsibilities relating to information services include: (1) setting standards for the acquisition, maintenance, and disposal of equipment, software, and purchased services; (2) developing statewide or interagency technical policies; and (3) setting policies for the periodic review of agency performance, including review of planning, management, control, and use of information services. The board convenes at scheduled times or at the request of a majority of its members, the chair, or the director of the Department of Information Services.
The Open Public Meetings Act generally requires that state boards conduct official business only at meetings held at times and places published in the state register. Exceptions are made for emergencies and "special meetings." Special meetings may be held after providing written notice 24 hours in advance to local media and to each member of the board, unless the member has waived the right to be notified or is present when the meeting convenes. The board shall not take final disposition of any matter at a special meeting except matters described in the notice of the meeting.
The Department of Information Services, with the approval of the board, establishes standards for evaluating major information technology projects by state agencies and evaluates projects during development. The department submits copies of project evaluations to the chairs, ranking minority members, and staff coordinators of the appropriations committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The director of the department may terminate a project if the project is not meeting or is not expected to meet performance standards.
Summary of Bill: The composition and responsibilities of the Information Services Board are altered. The responsibilities of the Department of Information Services are also altered.
Composition of the Board
Membership of the board is increased from 13 to 15. The representation of the Legislature is increased from two members to four members, one from each of the two largest caucuses of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Responsibilities of the Board
The board shall report at least twice a year on the status of information technology projects and initiatives in state government. The report shall be sent to the fiscal committees of both houses with responsibilities for funding the review. A copy of the report shall be forwarded to the policy committees of both houses that oversee the responsibilities of the agency reviewed in the report.
The board may hold meetings only if notice of the meeting is given to members of the board and public notice of the meeting is given at least five days prior to the meeting. The board may no longer hold special meetings under the Open Public Meetings Act.
Responsibilities of the Department
Copies of the department's project evaluations shall also be submitted to the policy committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate with responsibilities for issues relating to the agency that undertakes the project.
Before terminating a major information technology project, the director must provide reasons in writing to a person in the Governor's Office and to the chairs of the committees in the House of Representatives and Senate with oversight over the agency subject to the review. A copy of each notice, signed by the person to whom it is addressed, must be filed with the official minutes of the Information Services Board. A signature on the notice indicates that the person has received notice of the termination and does not necessarily signify agreement with the decision.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: The bill will avoid miscommunication about the status of information technology projects.
Testimony Against: (As originally drafted) It is hard to get private sector people to serve on the board. The Governor should have flexibility in making appointments to the board. Requiring the board to coordinate agency efforts to prepare for the year 2000 may expose board members to liability.
Testified: Representative Radcliff, prime sponsor; and Sam Hunt, Department of Informational Services (neutral).