IE11 Not Supported

For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers.

7 Places Where State Departments Have New IT Needs

Several state entities with technology needs have submitted revised budget requests to fund IT positions and new computers, and to give the public more access to data and state court files. The budget change proposals are before lawmakers who are currently reviewing the administration’s budget plan in various budget subcommittees.

Several state entities with technology needs have submitted revised budget requests to fund IT positions and new computers, and to give the public more access to data and state court files.

The budget change proposals are before lawmakers who are currently reviewing the administration’s budget plan in various budget subcommittees at the state capitol. In May, Gov. Jerry Brown is scheduled to release his proposed revision to the budget he released earlier this year.

Here is a look at the various updated technology-related requests made on April 1:

  • The California Conservation Corps (CCC) wants authority to spend $625,000 a year through 2020 to replace outdated computers purchased more than a decade ago. The budget request also includes funding for existing personnel to carry out the computer replacement plan for the entire department, which provides job, education and life skills training to young adults.
In its budget request, the CCC emphasized its need for updated computers to efficiently carry out the administrative and logistical tasks of managing a diverse workforce. If approved, the money would come from the Collins-Dugan California Conservation Corps Reimbursement Account.

  • The Department of Conservation has requested lawmakers reappropriate $10 million from an oil and gas administrative fund to continue development of a centralized database system to track well stimulation. Known as Well Statewide Tracking and Reporting, or WellSTAR, the database under development at the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources is intended to move the state away from a paper-based system and comply with requirements of the federal Safe Water Drinking Act.
  • New technologies and programs intended to improve customer services at the Department of Motor Vehicles has led to increased data center costs, according to the department. A budget change proposal submitted by the DMV requests $7 million in FY 2017/18 and future years to cover the additional costs.
In recent years, the department has leveraged new technologies such as the Automated Knowledge Testing System, Self Service Terminals, additional online transaction options, and other alternative customer service channels. It also transitioned from a DMV-managed environment to one managed by the Office of Technology Services, which acts as a cloud services provider for the DMV, according to the budget request.

  • Project delays at the Department of Pesticide Regulation have led it to ask lawmakers to revert $3.4 million allocated in fiscal years 2015-16 and 2016-17 for an integrated electronic data management system. Instead, the department wants the money to come out of the 2017-2018 budget to allow for “easier tracking and flexibility” in the funding plan.
It has also asked for a four-year encumbrance period to accommodate an extended procurement process after several changes in the project approval life cycle. The overall funding amount has not changed for the Pesticide Registration Data Management System, which is intended to replace the manual registrations of pesticide products.

  • The Judicial Council is seeking $1.5 million to build a data center at the new East County Hall of Justice Courthouse, which is scheduled to open in June 2017. Alameda County, which is building the courthouse in Dublin, has agreed to transfer existing courthouse construction funds to the Judicial Council to pay for the data center. The budget change proposal would authorize the Judicial Council to spend that money to build the data center, which is needed to operate the information technology aspects of the new courthouse.
  • A second request by the Judicial Council seeks a $5.3 million bump in funding to continue the rollout and maintenance of its e-filing program at California’s appellate courts. The courts in 2014 adopted the e-filing program and it is now used in all but two courts — the 2nd District Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. Both are slated for deployment this year.
The Appellate Court Trust Fund has built up a sufficient reserve to cover the $5.3 million in expenses for a Document Management System that will capture, manage, store, share and preserve essential case documents, according to the budget change proposal.

  • A third request by the Judicial Council asks lawmakers for a $1.1 million loan over two years to pay for three positions tasked with developing and maintaining a standards-based statewide e-filing environment. Once implemented, a “digital court” will give litigants, lawyers, justice partners and the public meaningful access to the courts, according to the budget change proposal.
The request seeks two loans from the general fund: $671,000 in 2017-18 and $491,000 in 2018-19. User fees to access online court documents will be collected to pay for the program and pay back the state general fund by 2021.