BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                  AB 2523
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 7, 2014

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                   AB 2523 (Cooley) - As Amended:  April 21, 2014 

          Policy Committee:                              Accountability  
          and Administrative Review                     Vote: 12 - 0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              

           SUMMARY  

          The bill requires the Director of the Department of Technology  
          (DOT) to provide a report to the Legislature by July 1, 2016,  
          recommending how a team of senior consulting information  
          technology (IT) experts could be developed to support state  
          agencies and senior project team members in state government IT  
          projects. 

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Minor costs to the DOT to produce the report. However, absent a  
          sunset extension the DOT will sunset prior to the deadline for  
          the report.

           COMMENTS

          1)Purpose  . The author states this bill is intended to provide a  
            roadmap for developing a cadre of senior IT experts to serve  
            as consultants for top agency managers statewide when they are  
            tasked with managing complex, long-term technology projects.   
            The bill requires the Director of DOT to evaluate how such a  
            team could aid projects in avoiding pitfalls in 13 key areas.   


           2)Background . At a March 20, 2014, joint informational hearing  
            of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on State Administration  
            and the Select Committee on Government Efficiency, Technology,  
            and Innovation, DOT presented on its recently launched  
            Planning and Consulting Division that aims to provide early  
            intervention and hands-on coaching to projects experiencing  
            challenges.  DOT reports that it has already hired experts in  








                                                                  AB 2523
                                                                  Page  2

            a variety of 12 issue areas that are similar to the 13  
            identified in this bill.  DOT indicates that the process to  
            hire experts in the remaining areas is ongoing.  

           3)Existing Law  . The DOT is established until January 1, 2015, to  
            serve as the central IT organization for California,  
            responsible for approving and monitoring all statewide IT  
            projects; providing centralized IT services and training to  
            government entities; developing statewide IT security policies  
            and procedures; and, providing oversight of telecommunication  
            and IT procurements.

           4)DOT Sunset Date  . Absent a Legislative extension, the  
            Department of Technology will sunset January 1, 2015, the day  
            this bill would take effect, and 18 months before the required  
            report is due.  

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Jennifer Swenson / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081