SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6504

              As Passed Senate, February 13, 1998

Title:  An act relating to technology planning.

Brief Description:  Broadening distribution of technology plans.

Sponsors:  Senators Horn, Haugen, Benton, Goings, Wood and Winsley.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  1/28/98, 1/29/98 [DP].

Passed Senate, 2/13/98, 45-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Prince, Chair; Benton, Vice Chair; Wood, Vice Chair; Goings, Haugen, Heavey, Horn, Jacobsen, Oke, Patterson, Prentice, Rasmussen and Sellar.

Staff:  Reema Shawa (786-7301)

Background:  Under current law, the Department of Information Services prepares a state strategic information technology plan which establishes a statewide mission, goals, and objectives for the use of information technology.  Upon approval by the Information Services Board, copies of the plan are sent to the Governor and the chairs and ranking minority members of the appropriations committees of the Senate and House.

Additionally, the department prepares a biennial state performance report on information technology projects.  This report is distributed biennially to the Governor and the chairs and ranking minority members of the appropriations committee of the Senate and House.

In providing the oversight of agency information technology projects, the department evaluates projects at different stages and provides copies of their evaluations to the Office of Financial Management and the chairs, ranking minority members, and staff coordinators of the appropriations committees of the Senate and House.

Summary of Bill:  The Department of Information Services is required, during the legislative session, to submit copies of the approved state strategic information technology plan to the chairs and ranking minority members of the transportation committees of the Senate and House.  During the legislative interim, the department must submit its state strategic plan to the Legislative Transportation Committee.

The department is required to submit, during the legislative session, copies of its biennial state performance report on information technology projects to the chairs and ranking minority members of the transportation committees of the Senate and House.  During the legislative interim, the department must submit its biennial performance report to the Legislative Transportation Committee.

Regarding the department's project evaluations, if a project receives funding from a transportation fund or account, copies of those project's evaluations must be submitted, during the legislative session, to the chairs and ranking minority members of the transportation committees of the Senate and House.  During the legislative interim, the project evaluations must be submitted to the Legislative Transportation Committee.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The Department of Information Services supports any effort that will improve communication between their agency and the Legislature.  They fully support the bill and welcome the opportunity to provide the standing and interim transportation committees with their information technology reports.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Todd Sander, DIS.