Joint Budget Committee. The bill requires the office of
information technology (office) to evaluate, or to contract with a third party to evaluate, the information technology functions and services of the department of higher education for the purpose of assessing possibilities for a consolidation of existing information technology functions and services with those information technology functions and services managed by the office. The office is required to complete this evaluation by November 1, 2024. If the evaluation shows that consolidation would be beneficial, the office shall create a proposed plan and accompanying budget for consolidating the information technology functions and services of the department of higher education with those information technology functions and services managed by the office. For the 2024-25 state fiscal year, $280,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the office to implement the act.