| AI Summary |
This bill enhances oversight, transparency, and fiscal accountability in how Colorado state agencies budget for, procure, and manage information technology (IT) projects, especially major IT initiatives. It strengthens the role of the Joint Technology Committee (JTC), establishes new market research requirements, and adjusts rules for contracts, budgeting, and IT procurement.
Key Provisions by Section
SECTION 1: Oversight by the Joint Technology Committee (JTC)
- Grants the JTC the option to annually review the rates charged by the Office of Information Technology (OIT) to its service users (state agencies).
- JTC can choose to hold these rate reviews in executive or public session.
SECTION 2: Budgeting Requirements (C.R.S. § 24-37-302)
- Any IT budget request must include:
- For major IT projects: Results of a formal Request for Information (RFI).
- For non-major IT projects: Results of market research.
- Aligns OIT and JTC processes to ensure all tech-related budget proposals are backed by research or competitive inquiry.
SECTION 3: Changes to OIT’s Revolving Fund (C.R.S. § 24-37.5-103)
- Changes the IT revolving fund from continuously appropriated to subject to annual appropriation by the legislature.
- Increases legislative control over how OIT spends its fund, especially on maintenance and upgrades.
SECTION 4: Procurement and Contracting Authority (C.R.S. § 24-37.5-105)
- Clarifies that:
- OIT can either initiate IT contracts directly or be added as a party to contracts initiated by state agencies.
- State agencies must obtain OIT approval before soliciting contracts, unless OIT doesn’t respond within 30 days.
- Requires OIT to set procurement standards for IT purchases, including security and technology standards for all parties involved.
SECTION 5: State Agency Responsibilities for IT Projects (C.R.S. § 24-37.5-105.2)
- State agencies must:
- Get OIT approval for major IT project plans and significant changes.
- May request OIT be a contracting party for security and oversight.
- Clearly states that agencies retain project management authority if OIT is only a contract signatory.
SECTION 6: Market Research Mandate (C.R.S. § 24-103-201.5)
- For major IT projects:
- State agencies must issue a Request for Information (RFI) and include results in budget requests.
- Responses to RFIs must be shared with the JTC if requested.
- For non-major IT projects:
- Agencies must conduct market research and include findings in budget materials.
Implications
- Increases legislative oversight of IT funding and project planning.
- Adds rigor and competition to how state agencies request IT funding.
- Gives the JTC greater insight into IT-related costs, vendor engagement, and project planning.
- Prevents automatic spending of OIT’s revolving fund without legislative review.
- Promotes security, standardization, and accountability in IT contracts.
Summary
HB25-1310 strengthens the checks and balances around public IT spending in Colorado. It ensures that major tech projects are justified through market research, that state legislators can review billing rates and contract structures, and that the Office of Information Technology adheres to clear oversight and coordination responsibilities with agencies and the Joint Technology Committee.
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| Summary |
Joint Technology Committee. Section 1 of the bill authorizes the
joint technology committee to conduct an annual review of all rates that
the office of information technology (office) charges when billing users
for the office's services.
Section 2 requires that budget requests submitted to the joint
technology committee include:
•
Information and responses from a request for information
for any budget request related to a major information
technology project; and
•
Formal market research for any budget request that is not
related to a major information technology project.
Section 3 provides that money in the information technology
revolving fund, which the office expends to pay the costs of consolidation
and information technology maintenance and upgrades, is no longer
continuously appropriated to the office and instead is subject to annual
appropriation by the general assembly.
Section 4 repeals the office's ability to approve procurement
contracts related to information technology resources on behalf of state
agencies. The office may be a party to a procurement contract related to
the procurement of information technology resources for a state agency
if the state agency requests that the office be a party to the contract.
Section 5 provides that state agencies are not required to obtain
approval from the office before commencing work on a major
information technology project or planning to make significant changes
to the major information technology project or budget, and makes other
conforming changes.
Section 6 requires certain governmental bodies to issue a request
for information prior to awarding a contract related to a major
information technology project, and requires that the request for
information be submitted to the joint technology committee as part of any
budget request related to a major information technology project.
Responses to a request for information related to a contract for a major
information technology project must be presented to the joint technology
committee if requested by the committee, and the committee shall meet
in executive session to review the responses. Section 6 also requires
certain governmental bodies to conduct market research prior to awarding
a contract related to an information technology project that is not a major
information technology project, and requires the market research to be
submitted to the joint technology committee as part of any budget request
related to the project.
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