Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

General Government & Information Technology Committee

HB 1470

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.

Brief Description: Establishing a blue-ribbon panel on cybersecurity.

Sponsors: Representatives Hudgins, Smith, Stanford, S. Hunt, Ormsby, McBride and Tarleton.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Directs the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) to convene a blue-ribbon panel focused on local government cybersecurity issues.

  • Requires the OCIO to submit a report detailing the recommendations of the panel by December 2015.

Hearing Date: 1/30/15

Staff: Derek Rutter (786-7157).

Background:

Office of the Chief Information Officer

The Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) was created in 2011 within the Office of Financial Management (OFM). The OCIO is responsible for the preparation and implementation of a strategic information technology (IT) plan and enterprise architecture for the state. The OCIO's duties include standardization and consolidation of IT infrastructure and establishment of IT standards and policies, including state IT security policies. The OCIO also prepares a biennial state performance report on IT, evaluates current IT spending and budget requests, and oversees major IT projects.

Summary of Bill:

The Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) must convene a blue-ribbon panel on cybersecurity to review issues such as protecting critical infrastructure from the threat of cyberattack, enhancing the security of the state's intergovernmental network, and best practices for local government response in the event of a cybersecurity incident. The OCIO provides staff support for the panel. The panel must publish its meeting schedule, and the OCIO must submit a report of the panel's recommendations to the legislature, the governor, and organizations representing local governments or utilities by December 12, 2015.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested.

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