Title: An act relating to membership of the information services board.

Brief Description: Modifying membership of the information services board.

Sponsors: By Representatives Hudgins, Crouse and Morris.

Brief History:

Technology, Energy & Communications: 1/31/06 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/14/06, 95-1.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TECHNOLOGY, ENERGY & COMMUNICATIONS

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 11 members: Representatives Morris, Chair; Kilmer, Vice Chair; Crouse, Ranking Minority Member; Haler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Ericks, Hudgins, Nixon, P. Sullivan, Sump, Takko and Wallace.

Staff: Kara Durbin (786-7133).

Background:

The Information Services Board (Board) provides authorization and oversight for managing large information technology projects administered by executive branch agency staff. Board members develop state information technology standards, govern acquisitions, review and approve the statewide information technology strategic plans, develop statewide or inter-agency technical policies, and provide oversight on large information technology projects.

The Board is comprised of 15 members who represent the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of government, higher education institutions, and the private sector. Eight of the 15 members are appointed by the Governor. Of those eight members, one is a representative of higher education, one is a representative of an agency under a statewide official other than the Governor, and two are representatives of the private sector. The representation of the other four Governor-appointed members is not specified in statute.

Summary of Bill:

One of the Governor-appointed members of the Board must have direct experience using the software projects overseen by the Board, or reasonably expect to use new software developed under the oversight of the Board.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: (In support) Someone who has experience using the software should play a role in overseeing these types of projects. State employees are tired of new systems being developed that do not work. We would like to see better representation on the Board.

(With concerns) We agree that users should be involved in the use and development of the software, but we think this should occur at the agency level, not at the Board level.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Zack Hudgins, prime sponsor; and Bev Hermanson, Washington Federation of State Employees.

(With concerns) Gary Robinson, Department of Information Services.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.