IE11 Not Supported

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

Brown Will Have Last Word on Campaign and Lobbying Database

A $1.8 million appropriation for Cal-Access is tucked into the $170.9 billion budget that lawmakers sent to the governor. Brown has until June 27 to review and sign the budget bills, which is 12 days after lawmakers sent him the budget.

California lawmakers last week boosted funding to upgrade the state’s online campaign and lobbying database, but Gov. Jerry Brown will have the final word on whether the project should be fast-tracked with additional money.

The $1.8 million appropriation for Cal-Access is tucked into the $170.9 billion budget that lawmakers sent to the governor. Brown has until June 27 to review and sign the budget bills, which is 12 days after lawmakers sent him the budget.

The additional money for Cal-Access would allow the Secretary of State’s office to move ahead with two phases of the project – drafting the business requirements of a new data-driven system and publishing a Request for Proposals.

The administration’s budget request — $757,000 — would have allowed for only one phase, delaying the release of an RFP until the next budget year, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.

“I am glad money was added to the budget for Cal-Access” Sen. Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, said in a statement to Techwire. “The reality is much more needs to be done.”

In particular, Hertzberg would like the Secretary of State’s Office to have the independence to run the project without the oversight currently required by the Department of Technology.

His bill, SB 1349, which is currently moving through the Assembly, would exempt the Cal-Access project from the state’s new information technology process. The so-called Stage Gate process is intended to mitigate the risks associated with large state IT projects after a string of high-profile IT project failures in recent years.

Instead, the Secretary of State’s office would be required to submit quarterly reports to the Legislature about the progress of the project, according to the latest version of the bill amended on Tuesday. And the office would only need to consult with the Department of Technology when it develops the project “in order to maximize project success, minimize lifecycle costs, and ensure the security of the system and its data.”

The language is intended to give the Secretary of State’s office the flexibility to rebuild the antiquated online campaign and lobbying database as expeditiously as possible  avoiding any time delays that could occur with additional approvals from another state entity.

 “With all the money spent in this year’s primary election, disclosure is more important than ever, and California should lead the way in providing voters the most modern and efficient online database for campaign and lobbying disclosures,” Hertzberg said.

It’s unclear whether lawmakers will endorse Hertzberg’s approach. At an Assembly budget subcommittee hearing in May, several lawmakers questioned whether it was wise to allow the Secretary of State’s office to circumvent a process put in place to avoid IT project failures or cost overruns.

For its part, the Secretary of State’s office, which supports Hertzberg’s bill, has pledged to continue collaborating with the Department of Technology.

“We would continue to work with the Department of Technology for their insight on the procurement process,” Secretary of State spokesman Sam Mahood said.