SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESHB 2385

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

             Energy & Utilities, February 26, 1998

Title:  An act relating to the department of information services.

Brief Description:  Regarding the department of information services.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Government Administration (originally sponsored by Representatives Radcliff, Wolfe, D. Schmidt and Scott).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Energy & Utilities:  2/23/98, 2/26/98 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Finkbeiner, Chair; Hochstatter, Vice Chair; Brown, Jacobsen, Rossi, T. Sheldon and Strannigan.

Staff:  Karen Kirkpatrick (786-7403)

Background:   The Information Services Board (ISB) is currently comprised 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 one member.  The representatives from the House of Representatives and the Senate may not be from the same political party.  The remaining members are the director of the Department of Information Services (DIS), the Superintendent of Public Instruction (or the superintendent's designee), and a member appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

The ISB's responsibilities relate to information services and 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 ISB convenes at scheduled times or at the request of a majority of its members, the chair, or the director of DIS.

DIS, 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.

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 is prohibited from taking final dispositive action of any matter at a special meeting except those matters described in the notice of the meeting.

Summary of Bill:  The composition and responsibilities of the Information Services Board (ISB) and the Department of Information Services (DIS) are altered.

Membership of the ISB 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.

The ISB is directed to report at least twice a year on the status of information technology projects and initiatives in state government.  The report must be sent to the fiscal committees of both houses with responsibilities for funding the review, and a copy of the report must be forwarded to the policy committees of both houses that oversee the responsibilities of the agency reviewed in the report.

The board may no longer hold special meetings under the Open Public Meetings Act.  The ISB 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. 

DIS is directed to submit copies of its project evaluations to the policy committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate with responsibilities for issues relating to the agency undertaking 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 ISB.  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:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  No one.