| VETO MESSAGE ON ESSB 5931 |
| June 15, 2011 |
| To the Honorable President and Members, |
| The Senate of the State of Washington |
| Ladies and Gentlemen: |
| I am returning herewith, without my approval as to Sections 815 and 816 and Sections 901 through 909, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5931 entitled: |
"AN ACT Relating to reorganizing and streamlining central service functions, powers, and duties of state government." |
| Sections 815 and 816 require the State Auditor to conduct a performance audit of the consolidated state data center during the same period that the Department of Information Services and Office of Financial Management will be fully engaged in the transformative activities associated with implementation of this bill and the consolidated data center business plan. Such activities will include designing and installing the consolidated state data center infrastructure; moving staff to the new office building; structuring the new Department of Enterprise Services, Consolidated Technology Services, and Office of the Chief Information Officer; and conducting a statewide information technology total cost of ownership study. A performance audit during this timeframe will redirect key leadership and staff capacity and attention from implementing these complex and resource intensive initiatives to reviewing the rationale for the current strategies underway. |
| Sections 901 through 909 transfer the Education Research Data Center (ERDC) from the Office of Financial Management's Forecasting Division to the Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program Committee (LEAP). The ERDC and LEAP are collaboratively involved in building a robust and informative research capability that informs decision-making for both the executive and legislative branch. This transfer would not accomplish the goals that are shared among the legislative and executive branches and may actually slow the federally funded initiatives underway. The ERDC will continue to serve our shared commitment to transparency, education data quality, and useful information for decision makers while remaining at the Office of Financial Management. |
| For these reasons, I have vetoed Sections 815 and 816 and Sections 901 through 909 of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5931. |
| With the exception of Sections 815 and 816 and Sections 901 through 909, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5931 is approved. |
| Respectfully submitted, |
| Christine Gregoire |
| Governor |