Senate panel adopts amendment on IT project review for state agencies

The Senate Appropriations Committee on Oct. 12 adopted amendment 1001 to Senate Bill 2048, reinforcing that the IT department should be involved in planning and study of state IT projects with estimated costs of $100,000 or more and that state agencies must receive an IT department recommendation before proceeding with such studies.

Committee Chair Rohrs led the discussion and called the motion to adopt the amendment. "I move we adopt the amendment 1001 for Senate bill 2048," said Senator Lee, who made the motion. Senator Barta seconded the motion. The clerk recorded aye votes from Chair Rohrs, Vice Chair Castaneda, Senators Barta, Brownberger, Lee and Wallin; the amendment passed 6-0.

After adopting the amendment, Senator Wallen proposed a do-pass recommendation on the amended bill. The committee approved the do-pass as amended on a 6-0 vote; a motion to carry the bill to the next stage was agreed and the committee discussed who would serve as carrier when it moves forward.

The discussion referenced statutory language numbered 545911.1 describing thresholds and exclusions for entities that maintain their own IT systems, and committee members noted that some institutions — the legislature, boards of higher education and the courts — operate separate IT systems and therefore are excluded from some ITD rules.

The committee did not further change the amended text during the hearing and the chair and members agreed to track the bill as it moved to the next committee.

Ending: The committee recorded a 6-0 vote both to adopt amendment 1001 and to give the amended bill a do-pass recommendation. The committee discussed carrier assignment for floor action and next steps for legislative scheduling.