FINAL BILL REPORT

E2SSB 5315

C 1 L 15 E 3

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Aligning functions of the consolidated technology services agency, office of the chief information officer, office of financial management, and department of enterprise services.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Roach, Liias, McCoy, Pearson and Benton; by request of Office of Financial Management).

Senate Committee on Government Operations & Security

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

House Committee on Appropriations

Background: The Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO). OCIO sits within the Office of Financial Management (OFM) and is responsible for the preparation and implementation of a strategic information technology (IT) plan and enterprise architecture (EA) for the state. OCIO, led by the Chief Information Officer (CIO), works toward standardization and consolidation of IT infrastructure, establishes standards and policies for EA, educates and informs the state on IT matters, evaluates current IT spending and budget requests, and oversees major IT projects, including procurements. The CIO is appointed by the Governor and subject to Senate confirmation.

Consolidated Technology Services (CTS). CTS provides a variety of technology-based services to state and local agencies including telecommunications and computing services; procurement of technology equipment through master contracts; and IT support functions such as server hosting and network administration, telephony, security administration, and email.

The Department of Enterprise Services (DES). DES, an executive branch agency, is tasked with providing products and services to support state agencies, other governmental entities, and nonprofits. DES provides various IT services to state agencies, including purchase of wireless devices and digital signature authority. DES also maintains and operates the state's central personnel-payroll system.

Summary: The functions of OCIO, CTS, and IT services within DES are consolidated in a new executive branch agency, the CTS Agency. The CIO serves as director of the Consolidated Technology Services Agency. The CIO's powers and duties include the following:

• developing statewide IT standards and policies, including policies for the acquisition, management, staffing, oversight, and disposition of information technology investments;

• developing statewide technical policies and procedures;

• approving standards for new or expanded telecommunications networks proposed by state agencies;

• providing direction concerning strategic planning goals and objectives;

• establishing standards for periodic state agency performance review;

• identifying and monitoring opportunities for savings and efficiencies in IT expenditures;

• developing statewide standards for purchases of IT networking equipment and services;

• establishing technical standards to facilitate information sharing, access, and interoperability of information systems; and

• oversight and management of significant IT investments.

Several IT revolving accounts are created, for the following specified purposes:

• the CTS revolving account, to be used for the acquisition of equipment, software, supplies, and services, and the payment of salaries, wages, and other costs related to those acquisitions;

• the statewide IT system development revolving account, to be used for the development and acquisition of enterprise IT systems;

• the statewide IT system maintenance and operations revolving account, to be used for maintenance and operations of enterprise IT systems;

• the shared IT system revolving account, to be used for development, acquisition, and maintenance of shared IT systems; and

• the OFM central service revolving account to be used to fund the budget, accounting, and forecasting functions at OFM.

Nonsubstantive updates are made to  the statutory responsibilities of Office of Financial Management (OFM).  Certain duties of the OFM are transferred to the Department of Transportation and DES.

A workgroup is created with DES, CTS, OCIO, the Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program Committee, and legislative staff to review the central service model and chart of accounts of the agencies after the reorganization.

A taskforce is created to review and make recommendations on IT human resources issues. The Select Committee on Pension Policy is requested to review pension options for IT professionals.

Votes on Final Passage:

Third Special Session