House GIves Preliminary Approval to Information Technology Centralization Bill

The House gave preliminary approval this morning to a bipartisan bill that would centralize administration of the state's information technology programs in a news Office of Information Technology.

"We have witnessed Colorado's IT wins and losses," sponsor Rep. Andy Kerr, D-Lakewood, said. "Unfortunately the losses have come far too often and have been far too costly. There's no doubt that this plan and the Colorado consolidation plan will move Colorado's future IT projects into the win column."

"Up to this point we've had a disjointed, disassociated and disconnected system," Rep. Dorothy Butcher, D-Pueblo, said. "Hopefully we'll be able to bring all our systems into this century and make sure they operate."

Under current law each of the executive branch's 16 agencies, as well as the state's legislative and judicial branches, operate their own computer information systems. According to the governor's office, Colorado spends more than $270 million each year on information technology resources.

The House rejected an amendment by Rep. Douglas Bruce, R-Colorado Springs, to remove the emergency clause from SB 155.

The bill must gain approval on third reading before heading back to the Senate for consideration of House amendments.

It would not affect management of the legislative and judicial branches' computer systems.