Title: An act relating to administrative practices concerning the information processing and communications systems of the legislature overseen by the joint legislative systems committee.

Brief Description: Revising provisions relating to administrative practices concerning the information processing and communications systems of the legislature overseen by the joint legislative systems committee.

Sponsors: Senator Kohl-Welles; by request of Joint Legislative Systems Committee.

Brief History:

State Government & Tribal Affairs: 3/20/07, 3/21/07 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT & TRIBAL AFFAIRS

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 8 members: Representatives Hunt, Chair; Appleton, Vice Chair; Chandler, Ranking Minority Member; Armstrong, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Green, Kretz, Miloscia and Ormsby.

Staff: Marsha Reilly (786-7135).

Background:

The Joint Legislative Systems Committee (Systems Committee) consists of four legislative members, one from each of the two largest caucuses in each chamber of the Legislature. Its function is to oversee the Legislature's information systems and technology policy.

The Legislative Systems Administrative Committee (Administrative Committee) consists of five members, two from Senate administration, two from House administration, and one from the Office of the Code Reviser. The Administrative Committee manages the information processing and communications systems of the Legislature and is delegated the following duties:

• adopt policies, procedures, and standards for information processing and communications systems of the Legislature;
• establish charges for services, equipment, and publications provided by the legislative information processing and communications systems;
• employ and fix the compensation for personnel;
• enter into contracts for the sale, exchange, or acquisition of equipment, supplies, services and facililities, and the distribution of legislative information; and
• assist the Systems Committee as directed.

The Administrative Committee oversees the Joint Legislative Service Center (LSC). The LSC provides automated data processing services, equipment, training, and support to the Legislature and legislative agencies, and may also provide services to agencies of the judicial and executive branch. The Systems Committee employs and fixes the salary of the coordinator for the LSC. The coordinator of the LSC serves as the administrative head of the center and assists the Administrative Committee.

Summary of Bill:

The Systems Committee must adopt a personnel plan and the coordinator of the LSC, in accordance with the personnel plan, has the authority to employ and fix the compensation of employees of the LSC. The responsibility to enter into contracts for the sale or acquisition of equipment, supplies, services, and facilities, and for the distribution of legislative information is transferred to the coordinator of the LSC.

The Administrative Committee is required to approve strategic and tactical information technology plans and provide guidance in operational matters as required.

The authority of the LSC to provide services to agencies of the judicial and executive branch, as well as provide public access to legislative information, is clarified.

The Systems Committee, Administrative Committee, and the LSC are exempted from the provisions contained in statutes relating to the Department of Information Services.

The Legislative Systems Revolving Fund is abolished. The committees and the LSC will operate on funds appropriated by the Legislature.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed, except section 2, which, because of prior double amendments, takes effect June 30, 2008.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) The Joint Legislative Systems Committee requested this bill and the changes are primarily technical. It eliminates the revolving fund at the recommendation of the Attorney General, and funding will now be appropriated in a non-revolving fund. It exempts the committees from the purview of the Department of Information Services (DIS) and in doing so, eliminates the issue of separation of powers. It transfers more responsibility to the Director of the the LSC which will allow for more efficiency. The LSC will abide by the DIS standards when working with other agencies.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Senator Kohl-Welles, prime sponsor; Representative Cody; and Kathy Munson, Legislative Service Center.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.