TECHNICAL PANEL

Nebraska Information Technology Commission

Tuesday, September 13, 2005, 9:00 a.m.

Varner Hall-Board of Regents Conference Room

3835 Holdrege, Lincoln, Nebraska

APPROVED MINUTES

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Steve Henderson, Department of Administrative Services, State of Nebraska

Christy Horn, University of Nebraska, Compliance Officer
Mike Beach, Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission

Kirk Langer, Lincoln Public Schools
Walter Weir, University of Nebraska

MEMBERS ABSENT: Brenda Decker, Chief Information Officer, State of Nebraska

CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

Mr. Weir called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. There were five members present at the time of roll call. A quorum existed to conduct official business. The meeting notice was posted to the Nebraska Public Meeting Calendar on August 18, 2005. The meeting agenda was posted to the NITC Website on September 7, 2005.

PUBLIC COMMENT

There was no public comment.

APPROVAL OF JULY MINUTES

Mr. Henderson moved to approve the July 12, 2005 minutes as presented. Ms. Horn seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Beach-Yes, Henderson-Yes, Horn-Yes, Langer-Yes, and Weir-Yes. Results: Yes-5, No-0. Motion carried.

STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES – RECOMMENDATION TO THE NITC

At the July meeting, the Technical Panel recommended approval of this standard; however, two changes were discussed but not acted upon. This item is on the agenda again to address the following changes:

• In Section 1.0. change the word "should" to "shall".
• In Section 4, regarding the exemption process, state the following: "The NITC Technical Panel will consider, in consultation with representatives of the Nebraska GIS Steering Committee, the request and grant or deny the exemption."

Ms. Horn moved to recommend the Geospatial Metadata Standard (PDF 38k), with the changes discussed, to the NITC for final approval. Mr. Henderson seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Weir-Yes, Langer-Yes, Horn-Yes, Henderson-Yes, and Beach-Yes. Results: Yes-5, No-0. Motion carried.

STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES – REQUESTS FOR EXEMPTION
Commission of Public Advocacy (PDF 24k)

Chief Counsel, James Mowbray, was present for the discussion. He expressed the agency’s concern regarding the high level need of confidentiality for attorney/client information and communications. Documents are not part of the public domain. Utilizing the state’s servers and access to records may violate the Code of Professional Responsibility. The Federal Public Defenders office has their own server in their office - not off site. Since the last Technical Panel meeting, the agency’s server has been moved to a locked room to assure more security. Agency staff met with Mr. Becker, Mr. Ritchey and Mr. Carr, and options were discussed.

Mr. Weir moved to grant the Commission on Public Advocacy an exception to the Email Standard with the following stipulations: 1) that a security audit be conducted within three months and 2) the exemption is valid for two years. Mr. Henderson seconded. Roll call vote: Henderson-Yes, Horn-Yes, Beach-Yes, Langer-Yes, and Weir-Yes. Results: Yes-5, No-0. Motion carried.

STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES – REQUESTS FOR EXEMPTION
Department of Roads

The panel reviewed and discussed the agency’s request an exception for two applications.

Mr. Beach moved that the Technical Panel, having reviewed the Department of Roads request for exemption from the Identity and Access Management Standard, finds that:

• An exemption is merited for the “Nebraska Automated Truck Permit System (NTAPS)” application based on the following: 1) for the anonymous log-ons allowed by the application, this type of access is not covered by the standard and 2) for the account creation and log-on process, the application is already in production. The exemption is valid for two years or upon an upgrade to the application, whichever comes first.
• An exemption is merited for the “Highway Condition Reporting System (HCRS)” application based on the following: the application is already in production. The exemption is valid for two years or upon an upgrade to the application, whichever comes first.

Mr. Henderson seconded. Roll call vote: Horn-Yes, Henderson-Yes, Weir-Yes, Beach-Yes, and Langer-Yes. Results: Yes-5, No-0. Motion carried.

PROJECT REVIEWS - APPROVAL OF REVIEWERS FOR COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY FUND GRANTS

Ms. Byers explained that most of the grant requests are for project planning and off the shelf computer software purchases - limited technical aspects. Project reviews are to be completed by the end of September. At the October meeting, the Technical Panel will take action on the project reviews. For the next funding cycle, Mr. Weir suggested including a section in the application on Disaster Recovery plans. Ms. Byers presented the slate of reviewers for approval by the Technical Panel.

Mr. Beach moved to approve the reviewers for the CTF TIGER grants (PDF 25k). Ms. Horn seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Langer-Yes, Beach-Yes, Henderson-Yes, Weir-Yes and Horn-Yes. Results: Yes-5, No-0. Motion carried.

PROJECT REVIEWS - BOARD OF BARBER EXAMINERS

Mr. Henderson moved that the Technical Panel, having reviewed the State Records Board grant application entitled "Barber Licensing System Update” (PDF 912k) project and based on the technical information provided, finds that:

• The project is technically feasible.
• The proposed technology is appropriate for the project.
• The technical elements can be accomplished within the proposed time frame and budget.

Mr. Beach seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Beach-Yes, Henderson-Yes, Horn-Yes, Langer-Yes, and Weir-Yes. Results: 5-Yes and 0-No. The motion was carried.

TECHNICAL PANEL REVISED CHARTER

Mr. Becker reviewed the recommended changes. Members discussed Section 6.3, Membership Recommendations and Approval. It was recommended to have the State of Nebraska and the University of Nebraska CIOs make a recommendation for 6.2.6 (“One member with expertise in assistive technology.”)

Mr. Langer moved to approve the Revised Technical Panel Charter (PDF 50k), with the change to Section 6.3, for final approval by the NITC. Mr. Beach seconded. Roll call vote: Beach-Yes, Henderson-Yes, Horn-Yes, Langer-Yes, and Weir-Yes. Results: Yes-5, No-0. Motion carried.

INFORMATION ITEMS (as needed)

Accessibility, Christy Horn. No report.

CAP, Brenda Decker. The group is meeting today right after the Technical Panel meeting.

Security, Steve Henderson. Steve Hartman, Information Management Services for the State of Nebraska, will chair the work group. He has met with Mr. Carr of the University of Nebraska.

Statewide Synchronous Video Network, Mike Beach. Mr. Beach has been attending the LB689 Task Force meetings. The group has been informed of the issues of scheduling. The work group will be looking at scheduling software.

OTHER BUSINESS

Mr. Weir stated the University of Nebraska and the State of Nebraska have been working together on disaster recovery and have an umbrella agreement. Collaborative efforts for continuity of operations are being discussed. The University is looking forward to additional areas for partnerships.

The University of Nebraska is exploring option to improving high speed research capabilities. An RFP is being developed. The University is experiencing a lot of activity in the area of I.T. project management.

Mr. Becker announced that Chancellor Doug Kristensen, University of Nebraska-Kearney, has been appointed to serve on the NITC and will be attending his first meeting on September 23rd.

MEETING ADJOURNMENT AND NEXT MEETING DATE

The next meeting of the NITC Technical Panel will be held on Thursday, October 11th, 9:00 a.m., Varner Hall, 3835 Holdrege Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Mr. Beach moved to adjourn. Mr. Henderson seconded. All were in favor. Motion was carried by voice vote.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:06 a.m.

Meeting minutes were taken by Lori Lopez Urdiales and reviewed by Rick Becker of the Office of the CIOC/NITC.

Meeting Minutes