Council moves cybersecurity policy toward third reading, citing House Bill 96

Parma City Council on Dec. 1 voted to refer Resolution 215-25, which would adopt the City of Parma's cybersecurity program, back to the Governmental Operations Committee for additional work ahead of a third reading.

A staff presenter said House Bill 96 requires each political subdivision to adopt a cybersecurity program or policy and described interdepartmental coordination on a draft policy. "Early this year, the state legislature passed House Bill 96, which requires the political subdivisions ... to adopt a cybersecurity program/policy," a staff member said. He said he and the IT director, Roger Poole, have coordinated with the clerk of courts, safety departments and public housing and attended multiple webinars while assembling the draft.

Staff emphasized that the council will adopt the public-facing policy or program while internal procedures used by departments will remain confidential and not part of the public record. "The policy program is what a council will be adopting. Procedures are not public record," the presenter said. The staff said a template from the state had been issued only recently and the city had worked largely in-house and with some outside assistance to prepare the draft.

Council voted to send the resolution back to committee with a second reading expected at the next meeting so the policy can be passed before the end of the year, per staff remarks about statutory timing.

The referral will allow staff and committee members to refine the policy language prior to a third reading and final vote.