Politics & Government

Massachusetts Senate Passes $999 Million Information Technology Bond Bill

Sen. Karen Spilka: "Innovative technology drives economic growth in Massachusetts, and this bill makes important investments to allow the state to take full advantage of the opportunities that modern technology offers."

The Massachusetts Senate passed legislation authorizing up to $999.2 million in spending for the improvement of information technology equipment and related projects in Massachusetts, said Senator Karen Spilka (D-Ashland), Co-Chair of the Tech Hub Caucusin a press release.

The bill also includes important reforms to the state’s information technology systems and management, including increased oversight of all information technology projects and recommending best practices.

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“Innovative technology drives economic growth in Massachusetts, and this bill makes important investments to allow the state to take full advantage of the opportunities that modern technology offers,” said Spilka, who represents Framingham in the Senate. “These technology upgrades allow the Commonwealth to better support our schools, public safety, transportation and other government operations, while also increasing internet and technology access.”

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The bill increases coordination, planning and centralization of information technology systems through greater oversight of the Information Technology Division and creates an Information Technology Oversight Committee to provide consistent review of information technology projects. Additionally, the bill establishes an Enterprise Project Management Office to oversee and manage large information technology projects.

The bill also requires the Commonwealth's Executive Office of Administration and Finance to issue regulations on the hiring of former employees of information technology vendors for management positions in the executive branch.

To enforce consistency and encourage competition, the bill establishes best practices for project procurement, including minimizing the scope of projects to improve flexibility and allow smaller companies and startups to submit proposals. This effort will increase the likelihood of finding the best vendor to create the highest-quality product for the Commonwealth.

In an effort to encourage offering online services in all agencies and departments, the bill requires executive offices to issue a report detailing the level of services offered by each office and available over the internet.

 The capital plan also includes:

 

  • $9 million for support of the Commonwealth’s second active data center;
  • $300 million for IT equipment and projects;
  • $60 million for improvements to the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission;
  • $140 million for federally-reimbursable IT equipment and projects;
  • $220 million for self-supporting information technology projects;
  • $50 million for the Massachusetts Broadband Incentive Fund;
  • $68.2 million to upgrade the state police’s existing statewide communication network;
  • $38 million for a public school district broadband access improvement grant program;
  • $12 million for a data system to track diagnosis, treatment, services and outcomes of individuals with autism;
  • $2 million for capital equipment for general government operations; and,
  • $100 million for IT improvements at MassDOT

 

In addition, the bill requires the Commonwealth's Executive Office of Administration and Finance to issue a report on making financial information from agency contracts valued at over $1 million available online and to submit biannual reports to the Legislature detailing the spending on projects funded through this bill.

The Senate bill and the House bill will now go to a conference committee to produce a compromise bill for final passage and consideration of the Governor.


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