As the Legislature waits to see Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed budget, due Wednesday, Techwire looks back on the adjustments made to the current year’s IT spending.
“Investment in California’s IT and cyber infrastructure should be a key consideration for the governor and the Legislature this budget cycle,” said Assembly member Jacqui Irwin. “With Californians expecting to interact online with their state government, we need to ensure that we are investing the resources to provide secure and timely services to everyone.”
Some adjustments — "Budget Change Proposals," or BCPs, in state government parlance — can be used to predict whether more funding will be provided on specific projects in an effort to continue secure and consistent IT operations.
The following information comes from the Budget Change Proposal Database on the Department of Finance’s website.
The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), which is replacing its Workers’ Compensation systems, proposed $14.7 million for the year. The request was made in March and the funds will be used to meet the requirements of SB 1160 and AB 1244, which establish service management databases.
The DIR will be building out its first injury reference database over the next two years, so it is likely more funding will be provided for that project in the proposed budget.
In January, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control proposed $278,000 in 2017-18 and $274,000 in 2018-19 to build an Information Security Office. A second request included $129,000 in 2017-18 and $127,000 in 2018-19 for administration of the Alcoholic Beverage Information System.
Since the department hired chief information security officer Douglas Leone in February, it is likely the Information Security Office will receive funding in the next budget.
The State Board of Equalization (BOE) is continuing its Centralized Revenue Opportunity System implementation and proposed funds through 2021-22. The request for 2017-18 was $30 million and $50.9 million for 2018-19.
Funding for 2018-19 is likely because it is an ongoing project but may not be the total proposed.
The Health and Human Services Agency has made five budget change proposals throughout the year, most of which would have been spent on leasing or consulting services. One proposal, for an increase of $51 million to support the Child Welfare Services – New System solution, indicates continued funding for the project is likely.
The California Highway Patrol, which is responsible for some of the state’s cybersecurity, submitted proposals for the support of the department’s use of the Department of Technology’s Integrated Database Management System. And $1.8 million was also proposed to create a Privacy and Risk Management Program, which will likely receive more funding for its 12 permanent positions. Another proposal included $1.2 million and two positions to create a cloud-based disaster recovery plan. Ongoing funding would benefit the state’s cybersecurity posture.
The Department of Conservation will likely see funding for the Well Statewide Tracking and Reporting project. The department proposed $15 million in 2018-19 for the project in response to the Public Resources Code requiring the department to track well use.
The Department of Consumer Affairs is one of the agencies responsible for controlling the use of recreational cannabis since its legalization. The department proposed $3.6 million in 2018-19 toward external contracts for the implementation and maintenance of IT systems for that purpose. Since most of the licensing and track and trace systems are still in their early stages, continued funding is likely.
The Department of Food and Agriculture has proposed $16 million for 2018-19 and 2019-20 for similar implementation. Continued funding is likely.
The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation proposed $2.6 million of General Fund money for a Security Operations Center. Since Vitaliy Panych has served as the department’s chief information security officer since 2016, funding for the center is likely.
With proposed changes for the appellate court document management system and statewide electronic filing program in 2017, paired with the branch’s tactical plan, it is likely the Judicial Branch will see funding for continued modernization in 2018-19.
The California Department of Technology is likely to see more funding for the implementation of the Microsoft Office 365 Enterprise Agreement. It proposed a $17.6 million spend for the project in 2018-19.
The State Controller’s Office requested $684,000 in 2018-19 for the Automated Travel Expense Reimbursement system. Funding is questionable since the project has not received final approval. A similar request was made for $337,000 for 2018-19 for the Electronic Claims Processing project, which is underway.
The Secretary of State is likely to see funding for new vote centers and voting technology replacement.
