Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Technology, Energy & Communications Committee

ESSB 6356

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Background:

Office of the Chief Information Officer

In 2011, the Legislature enacted ESSB 5931, which created the Department of Enterprise Services as an executive branch agency vested with some or all of the powers and duties of the Department of General Administration, the Public Printer, the Department of Personnel, the Office of Financial Management, and the Department of Information Services. As part of the bill, the Office of the Chief Information Officer (Office of the CIO) was created within the Office of Financial Management with some of the policy and planning related information technology (IT) functions formerly performed by the Department of Information Services.

The Office of the CIO is headed by a chief information officer appointed by the Governor. The primary duties of the Office of the CIO include: (1) preparing and leading the implementation of a strategic direction and enterprise architecture for IT for state government; (2) enabling the standardization and consolidation of IT infrastructure to support enterprise-based system development and to improve and maintain service delivery; (3) establishing standards and policies for IT services throughout state government; and (4) establishing statewide architecture to serve as the organizing standard for IT for state agencies.

Executive Order 12-01

In January of 2012, the Governor issued Executive Order 12-01 related to regulatory reform. As part of the executive order, the Governor directed the state's Chief Information Officer (CIO), the Department of Commerce, the Department of Revenue, the Office of Regulatory Assistance, and other executive agencies that license businesses or collect taxes and insurance premiums to: (1) review business community needs; and (2) evaluate technical options for creating an integrated enterprise system using a single sign-on or portal for business interactions with state agencies. The state CIO was directed to collaborate with agencies and the small business community to develop a high-level enterprise architecture design and implementation plan for an integrated online system by September 30, 2012.

Summary of Bill:

The Chief Information Officer (CIO) must establish an integrated enterprise system using a single internet portal for Washington businesses. The portal must be designed to: (1) allow access to state government records; (2) permit the electronic filing of documents and payment of taxes and fees; and (3) enable convenient access to information from state agencies that have functions related to business registration, licensing, permitting, or taxation.

The portal must provide information regarding how to:

operate or expand a business in Washington;
register and obtain necessary business permits;
identify the applicable state and local government rules, ordinances and policies;
receive assistance with exporting, public contracting, hiring, and training; and
obtain information about financing and tax credits that may be available to businesses.

The CIO must consider the potential for private sector involvement in setting up the portal, including the potential to lower costs through private sector delivery of the portal and attendant services. This portal must be implemented by January 1, 2013.