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:

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 2/26/07 [DP].

Passed Senate: 3/07/07, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Fairley, Chair; Oemig, Vice Chair; Roach, Ranking Minority Member; Benton, Kline, Pridemore and Swecker.

Staff: Mac Nicholson (786-7445)

Background: The Joint Legislative Systems Committee (JLSC) oversees the legislature's information systems and technology policy. JLSC consists of four legislative members, one from each of the two largest caucuses in each chamber of the Legislature. JLSC is advised by an administrative committee, the Joint Legislative Systems Administrative Committee (JLSAC), consisting of five members; two from Senate administration, two from House administration, and one from the Office of the Code Reviser.

Among other duties, JLSAC is responsible for adopting policies and standards regarding information processing and communications systems of the Legislature. JLSAC is also responsible for entering into contracts for the sale or acquisition of equipment, supplies, services, and facilities, and for the distribution of legislative information. JLSAC also employs and fixes the compensation for personnel as required.

JLSC employs the Legislative Systems Coordinator, who is the executive head of the Legislative Service Center (LSC). LSC provides data processing services, equipment, training, and support to the Legislature.

Summary of Bill: The coordinator of LSC, rather than JLSAC, must employ or engage and fix the compensation for personnel as required in accordance with an adopted personnel plan. The coordinator, rather than JLSAC, must also enter into contracts for the sale or acquisition of equipment, supplies, services, and facilities, and for the distribution of legislative information.

JLSAC is required to approve strategic and tactical information technology plans and provide guidance in operational matters as require.

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

JLSC, JLSAC, and LSC are exempted from Information Services Board and Department of Information Services oversight.

The legislative systems revolving fund is abolished. JLSC, JLSAC, and LSC will operate on funds appropriated by the Legislature.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on July 1, 2007.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: The bill makes a number of technical changes related to the administration of JLSC. The bill would explicitly exempt JLSC, JLSAC, and LCS from the purview of the Department of Information Services and the Information Services Board. The auditor and Attorney General gave LSC guidance regarding the revolving fund and the way LSC and JLSC funded operations out of the revolving fund. That funding practice stopped in 2003, and this bill simplifies accounting by removing the revolving fund.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Kohl-Welles, prime sponsor; Cathy Munson, Legislative Service Center.