INFORMATION RESOURCES CABINET
(a/k/a Government Council of Nebraska Information Technology Commission)
Minutes of February 2, 1998 Meeting
IRC Members in Attendance:
Al Abbott, Roads
Al Abramson, Motor Vehicles
Berri Balka, Revenue
Dick Brown, Asst. Clerk of the Legislature
Tom Conroy, DAS-Central Data Processing
Al Curtis, Crime Commission
Dorest Harvey, GDE Systems
Yvonne Norton Leung, Governor's Policy Research Office
Bill Miller, DAS-Communications
The Honorable Scott Moore, Secretary of State
Gerry Oligmueller, DAS-Budget
Steve Schafer, DAS-Intergovernmental Data Services
Joe Steele, Nebraska Supreme Court Administrator
Dennis Zimmerman, Commercial Federal Bank
Others in Attendance:
Rod Armstrong, State Information Technology Coordinator
Howard Boardman, Health & Human Services System
Loralee Byrd, Treasurer's Office
Keith Dey, Motor Vehicles
Tim Erickson, DAS-Intergovernmental Data Services
Lyn Heaton, DAS-Budget
Steve Henderson, DAS-Central Data Processing
Don Herz, DAS-Accounting
Keith Larsen, HHS-Finance & Support
Wes Mohling, DAS-Accounting
Jon Ogden, Roads
Jim Ohmberger, DAS-Central Data Processing
Ed Perry, DMG/DAS
J.L. Schmidt, Administrative Services
Robert Shanahan, Labor
The meeting convened at 1:30 p.m. in Governor's mansion basement, with Yvonne Norton Leung chairing.
Rod Armstrong invited the IRC members to attend an IBM Executive Program on February 17-18, 1998, at the Nebraska Center for Continuing Education, 33rd & Holdrege, Lincoln. He explained that Lieutenant Governor Kim Robak attended the IBM's Executive Role in the Information Age course at IBM's Advanced Business Institute last November and that IBM has offered to bring the program to Nebraska for state government executives. The program has a maximum of 25 registrants, with a small registration fee. Since space is limited, IRC members must let Rod Armstrong know ASAP whether he/she can attend. Other non-IRC members can place their name on a waiting list. The program is not technical in nature, but rather demonstrates ways for executives to make IT policy decisions.
Gerry Oligmueller led discussion on technology planning and budgeting. Preliminary budget planning must be completed prior to June, 1998, for FY 1999-2001 biennium. Gerry asked IRC if agencies should be required to submit an updated IT plan. Secretary of State Scott Moore stated that noncode agencies deserve an explanation as to how their 1996 IT plans were used, prior to requesting an updated plan from them. It was explained that the 1996 IT plans caused agencies to take inventory of their IT systems and to develop goals and objectives concerning technology investments. However, most agencies did not use their plans as leverage to request additional funds for technology during the FY 1997-1999 biennium budget process. And, the inventory and cost information was not as useful as had been hoped.
The time between the possible passage of LB 924 and the June, 1998 deadline for the budget planning process will be very tight. Waiting for direction from the IT legislation is not feasible. Thus, the IRC has formed a subcommittee to determine what type of IT planning and budgeting information the state needs for the next biennium. Gerry Oligmueller of DAS-Budget, Howard Boardman of HHS, and Bill Miller of DAS-Communications volunteered, and a noncode agency representative will be selected by Secretary of State Scott Moore, to serve on this subcommittee and report back at the March 2 IRC meeting.
Jim Ohmberger of DAS-Central Data Processing gave a report on Standards. The IRC Standards Committee made the following recommendations to IRC: (1) that an Information Resource Manager (IRM) be designated in each agency, who would be responsible for implementing technology in their agency; (2) that the existing IRC Standards Committee would work with the IRMs to develop, implement and maintain IT standards; and, (3) that all standards should be approved by the IRC before being published by the Standards Committee. Discussion ensued.
Secretary of State Moore will designate a noncode agency representative to serve on the IRC Standards Committee. Al Curtis suggested that other entities, such as counties and cities, be included on the Committee as well, rather than requiring them to follow standards without an opportunity for input. The Standards Committee will report back with recommendations on additional representatives.
Ohmberger asked if the IRC endorsed the concept of IRMs being designated in each agency. Al Abbott made a motion to endorse recommendation, Berri Balka seconded. Vote was unanimous. Ohmberger will draft a letter for IRC to mail out to all code and noncode agencies, describing the focus of the IRC Standards Committee and requesting that each agency designate an IRM.
Steve Henderson of DAS-Central Data Processing reported on the Century Date Change Project. Currently, there are no legal matters pending. PKS grievance was denied in September, 1997 and the appeal time period as run out.
The Century Date Change (CDC) Project started in August of 1996. Pilots have been completed and an enterprise schedule was set by March, 1997. An assembly-line approach is now being used to complete CDC projects. Scheduled completion date is December 31, 1998. Currently, 64% of the projects are complete. Henderson will post an activity/status report on the web, which will be accessible from the IRC website. Berri Balka of Revenue gave kudos to Henderson and CDC staff, indicating that the income tax system CDC project went smoothly and is up and running in time for the April 15 income tax deadline.
Henderson explained that the initial assessment for the CDC Project was $28.9 million. The CTA bid was selected at $22.7 million. A July 17, 1997 change order lowered the original contract with CTA to $16.7 million. The change order also added work on the technical environment called CICS, the cost of which is approximately $6.3 million and is separately funded by CDP and does not use cigarette tax dollars. (Contract back up to $23 million.) A second change order is in progress, which will address primarily the Department of Labor's needs, but will reduce the original contract. And, a third change order will address primarily the Health and Human Services System, with another cost reduction anticipated.
Henderson stated that DAS-Central Data Processing and DAS-Materiel are working together on developing a list of service providers to assist agencies with century date change compliance on personal computers. A letter will be mailed soon to all boards and commissions, asking if they have identified all systems that require CDC compliance.
Henderson also explained the Foster Care Review Boards' prior request to not be a part of the CDC Project, and its recent request for Information Technology Infrastructure Fund Support in the amount of $9,667. Gerry Oligmueller mentioned that the Foster Care Review Board currently has a $21,000 budget request before the Appropriations Committee and to make sure this IT infrastructure fund support request isn't duplicative of its budget request. Berri Balka motioned to approve the $9,667 request, Dorest Harvey seconded. Vote was unanimous.
Secretary of State Scott Moore reported on the State Records Board. He stated that the Boards' minutes, etc. can be found at the Secretary of State's website.
He also stated that LB 998 (Change, provide, and eliminate provisions relating to fees and distribution of fees) would be heard by the Transportation Committee on February 3.
Tom Conroy and Rod Armstrong indicated that the E-Mail Standards will be posted soon.
Bill Miller reported on the One-Stop Government or Electronic Commerce initiative. On January 21, Bill met with representatives from Revenue, Health & Human Services System, Secretary of State's Office, Game & Parks, DAS-Materiel Division, Motor Vehicles, and Nebraska@Online to provide an overview of One-Stop Government. The agencies gave examples of electronic commerce which they are exploring and/or currently use.
Dorest Harvey made a motion to recommend to the Governor that Nebraska@Online be designated as the official State Government Web Page. Gerry Oligmueller seconded. Vote was unanimous. (There are currently 42 state agencies using Nebraska@Online.)
Together, the State Records Board and the IRC Standards Committee will study and develop a Web Page Policy and Guidelines for State Government Web Pages. Bill Miller will continue to take the lead in moving forward with the one-stop government initiative.
Al Abbott and Bill Miller distributed a report on the Telcom Right-Of-Way Issue. The IRC members will review the report and vote on same at its March 2 meeting. If IRC approves a motion supporting the project, it will forward same for consideration by the Nebraska Information Technology Commission at its March 20 meeting.
Don Herz of DAS-Accounting and Ed Perry of David M. Griffith & Associates, Ltd. reported on the Accounting/Financial Management System. Secretary of State Moore made a motion that the Appropriations Committee be approached concerning the funding of a RFP for the [fully integrated, relational database, client server human resource and financial management information] system. Berri Balka seconded. Vote was unanimous. Clarification was made that no vendor has been selected nor has any decision been made concerning the final system. But that DAS-Accounting is simply approaching the Appropriations Committee for funding of a RFP.
Rod Armstrong reported on the status of LB 924 (Create the Nebraska Information Technology Commission, Chief Information Officer position, a training program, etc.). The hearing before the Appropriations Committee is set for February 11, 1998. Differences concerning the language content will be resolved prior to the hearing.
LB 42 (digital signatures) has been advanced from the Transportation Committee. Governor Nelson and Secretary of State Moore are supportive of this initiative.
Tom Conroy reported on IT Personnel. He reported that Mollie Anderson believes the final draft of the Information Technology Employee Recruitment and Retention Study should be completed this week.
The meeting was adjourned at 4 p.m. The next meeting is set for Monday, March 2 from 1:30-3 p.m. in the Governor's mansion basement.
(Minutes taken by Kris Leininger, Administrative Assistant to Lieutenant Governor)
meeting minutes