Renames the office for technology as the office of the chief information officer

Summary of provisions

Section 1 of the bill would amend the title of Article I of the State Technology Law (STL) renaming the Office for Technology (OFT) as the "Office of the Chief Information Officer" (Office).

Section 2 of the bill would set forth the legislative intent, describing the alignment of the functions, powers, and duties of OFT with the responsibilities of the Office. The legislative intent also recognizes the State's continuing efforts to breach the digital divide and foster affordable high-speed Internet access in underserved areas of the State.

Section 3 of the bill would make several amendments to STL §§ 101-105, including:

* STI § 101 would be amended to make conforming definitional changes to accommodate the newly named Office. * STL § 102 would be amended to replace the OFT Director with the Chief Information Officer (CIO) as executive of the Office and would continue the existing statutory powers of the executive: overseeing office administration; establishing information technology policies and standards; facilitating information sharing with . State and local governments; strategic planning; and appointing deputies and assistants in accordance with the Civil Service Law. This section would now allow the CIO to appoint workgroups and related bodies to assist in carrying out the respective duties, functions and powers of the Office. * STL § 103 would be amended to clarify the functions, powers and duties of the Office including building a State enterprise technology center, and clarifying that the Office may provide technology to agencies, local governments and private entities where permitted by law. The Office shall also develop disaster recovery plans; consult with other agencies on IT workforce development and economic opportunities within the State; and assist state agencies in the protection of state technology infrastructure.

* STL §§ 104 and 105 would be amended to rename the "Advisory Council for Technology" as the "Information Technology Executive Strategic Council," and to clarify that the Council will now be chaired by the CIO.

Section 4 of the bill would amend State Finance Law § 163-a to make a conforming change substituting the new name of the Office, as it concerns the Advisory Council.

Section 5 of the bill would provide for the effective date.

Existing law

Executive Order No. 117 of 2002 established the position of the New York State Chief Information Officer. This Executive Order was continued by Governor Eliot Spitzer through Executive Order 5 of 2007 and by Governor David A. Paterson through Executive Order 9 of 2008.

STL § 101 prescribes definitions for the Article concerning OFT.

STL § 102 prescribes certain powers for the OFT Director regarding the organization of the office and resources.

STL § 103 prescribes the functions, powers and duties of OFT.

STL §§ 104 and 105 prescribe an Advisory Council for Technology and the Council's powers and duties.

State Finance Law § 163-a places controls on bids or proposals from private vendors who assist the State with preparation of specifications for technology procurements and provides for a review function by the CIO and the Advisory Council for Technology.

Legislative history

Departmental Bill #66 in 2009.

Statement in support

The bill would merge the responsibilities of the CIO with the functions, powers and duties of OFT. This would help to create a unified direction on the State's enterprise strategic technology plan and major technology operations. The proposed bill will eliminate overlap and align the functions, powers and duties of the single, newly renamed office.

Executive Order 117 of 2002 established the position of the CIO. Powers delegated to the CIa by the Executive Order 117 include the following:

* Overseeing and supervising the management and operations of OFT; * Overseeing, directing and coordinating the establishment of information technology policies, protocols and standards for State

government, including hardware, software, security and business re-engineering; * Overseeing and coordinating the development, acquisition, deployment and management of information technology resources for State government; * Developing strategies to improve the State workforce's ability to employ needed information technologies, and overseeing and coordinating the implementation of such strategies; * Coordinating and facilitating information sharing between and among State government, local governments, other states, the federal government and institutions of higher learning to promote the use and deployment of information technology that will improve the delivery of government services; and * Working with State government, local governments, the federal government, institutions of higher learning and private enterprises to further the State enterprise strategic technology plan.

Since the establishment of the CIO position in 2002, the CIO's central focus has been to support State and local government entities through the development of policies to guide the State strategic technology plan. The CIO, with the advice and assistance of a CIO advisory group, has furthered the State's ability to advance a statewide technology agenda. The proposed bill would align the powers and duties of the CIO and OFT into a single statutory framework. Streamlining the functions of the CIO and OFT creates a unified voice for directing the State strategic technology plan and major technology operations.

Additionally, the streamlined Office will consult and collaborate with other State agencies to develop, grow and train a skilled information technology (IT) State workforce; create opportunities across the State to use IT for workforce development and educational enhancement; and deploy the State's technology assets to help achieve public purposes as determined by the Legislature.

Budget implications

None.

None.

Effective date

This bill would take effect immediately.