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Joint Technology Committee unanimously backs prioritized IT and campus safety projects, sends list to budget committee
Summary
The Joint Technology Committee voted 6–0 to recommend a $9.8 million package of general‑fund priorities (plus cash and federal items) that includes benefits‑eligibility systems work, higher‑education safety upgrades and several state IT modernizations; members flagged cash‑balance and audit risks and requested follow‑up briefings.
The Joint Technology Committee voted unanimously to recommend a prioritized list of technology and campus‑security projects to the Joint Budget Committee, the panel said after reviewing competing requests from higher‑education institutions and state agencies.
Samantha Falco, legislative council staff, read the committee's prioritized list and the funding totals, saying the package would total about $9.8 million in general‑fund requests, roughly $17.1 million in cash‑fund requests and about $7.2 million in federal funds. "This is the prioritized list from the joint technology committee," Falco said, listing projects that included reimagining Colorado's benefits eligibility systems (the CBMS replacement), education school‑finance modernization, stationary‑sources technology modernization, the COSHI behavioral‑health project, the Department of Corrections' IGOR records‑replacement, the statewide HRIS at DPA, the University of Northern Colorado life‑safety modernization, Fort Lewis College door‑access upgrades, and several other agency and community‑college projects.
Why it matters: The committee's recommendation guides the Joint Budget Committee's work on capital and IT funding. Members stressed they wanted to balance investing in public‑safety and security upgrades with vigilance about cash‑fund balances and later procurement decisions.
Key projects and amounts: Falco summarized several requests by name and amount. She said the University of Northern Colorado's Life Safety Technology Modernization asked for $1,860,000 from capital construction and $120,000 from cash funds. Fort Lewis College asked for $700,000 to replace exterior controlled‑access doors. Colorado Northwestern Community College sought just under $1,000,000 for security camera upgrades across Craig and Rangely campuses; Pueblo Community College requested a little over $800,000 for wireless network upgrades. Committee members also discussed larger agency projects: DPA has a separate payroll system appropriation approaching $51,100,000 and the HRIS study before the committee was a smaller, earlier‑phase request.
Concerns and follow‑up: Members asked for targeted follow‑ups before final JBC action. The committee flagged two cash funds administered by CDPHE (health‑facilities general licensure and home‑care agency funds) that could fall below $500,000 by FY 2027–28 if the requested amendments proceed; the Chair asked the department for an information brief on operating costs and projected balances. On the DPA HRIS and related payroll work, members noted contractual and labor‑agreement implications and said they would monitor upcoming legislation and procurement choices.
Vote and next step: Vice Chair moved that the committee "recommend the aforementioned list of projects to the JBC for funding in the order in which we said it was." The committee polled members and recorded a 6–0 vote in favor. Falco was directed to prepare a letter transmitting the committee's priorities to the Joint Budget Committee. The panel then agreed to skip next week's meeting and reconvene in two weeks.
What the committee did not decide: The recommendation is advisory to the Joint Budget Committee; the JBC retains final appropriation authority. Members also left several technical and cash‑balance questions open and requested department briefings prior to any final funding actions.
