JITOC reviews statutory duties and special fund role as committee considers rules and oversight scope
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Summary
At its Aug. 26 meeting, JITOC staff reviewed the committee’s statutory charge under 2 VSA §614, the Technology Modernization Special Fund codified in 3 VSA §3306, and the committee’s authority to require approval before certain fund releases, prompting discussion about adopting formal rules of procedure and executive session guidance.
The Joint Information Technology Oversight Committee (JITOC) reviewed its statutory charge and the role it may play in approving releases from the Technology Modernization Special Fund during its Aug. 26, 2025, organizational meeting.
Rick Sagal of the Office of Legislative Council and Maria Bridal explained that JITOC’s statutory charge (2 V.S.A. §614) is oversight of investments in and use of information technology in Vermont state government. They emphasized that JITOC’s role is oversight and advice, not a policy committee that enacts law; policy committees of jurisdiction include the Senate Committee on Institutions and the House Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure.
Committee staff highlighted a recurring statutory mechanism in which the General Assembly has, in some past appropriations, required JITOC approval before releasing funds. Examples cited included Act 3 of 2023, which authorized $40 million from the technology modernization special fund for an enterprise resource planning (ERP) project but required JITOC approval of fund release, and a 2022 appropriation that required JITOC approval before releasing $10 million for the unemployment insurance (UI) project.
Staff pointed to the Technology Modernization Special Fund statute (noted as 3 V.S.A. §3306 in briefing materials) and summarized that the fund “shall be used to fund business process transformation and to purchase, implement, and upgrade technology platforms, systems, and cybersecurity services used by state agencies.” The committee discussed the operation of the fund: Representative Kathleen James noted it is a holding account without a dedicated revenue stream, and staff confirmed amounts are transferred into it and interest and balances remain available for appropriation.
Members also discussed the need to adopt formal rules of procedure. Maria Bridal and Rick Sagal said the statute calls for rules and that JITOC has historically not adopted a separate set; they explained joint committee practice is governed by Senate and House rules and statute, and that because the chair is a senator, Senate rules take precedence for unresolved points. The staff recommended drafting rules (including procedures for executive sessions) for committee consideration at a future meeting.
No binding policy change occurred at the meeting. The committee agreed to follow up on rules drafting and on staff briefings about the tech modernization fund when requested.
