Ensuring
Innovation
Through IT
The Council has the
knowledge and experience
to offer assistance in this
very critical area. |
Why Does it Matter? |
Florida’s state government has
aging IT equipment and a
shrinking number of professionals
that are able to maintain them. The
time is past due to address the
state’s IT needs. Figures reveal that
Florida presently ranks 49th out of
the 50 states in per capita IT
spending. Information Technology
is one of the few areas where
government can actually spend
money to save money while at the
same time improving service
delivery to its citizens and
businesses.
Increasing state government’s IT
capacity is a matter of public safety,
but it is also vital to economic
development. Business activity
often is dependent on government.
When government operates inefficiently,
it weighs down the ability
of a business owner to move
forward on economically productive
activities.
|
In 2006, AIF created the Information
Technology (IT) Council
(a group of some of the most
prominent IT corporations and service
providers in Florida) to help
address Florida’s technological
deficit. For the 2007 Regular Session,
the Council is ready to make a difference in the way the state of Florida
utilizes IT in all of its agencies and departments. This session the IT Council’s
legislative priorities include working with the Chief Information Officer
(CIO) Council, Technology Work Group and the Council for Efficient Government
to minimize obsolescence of the state’s IT hardware and software
through encouraging refresh cycles of no less than four years. In order to
accomplish this, the Council will seek legislation that encourages leasing
certain hardware rather than purchasing it outright. This policy would help
ensure security and maximize performance and efficiency in fulfilling an
agency’s or other state entity’s core mission.
Another priority is to improve the professionalism of agency CIOs by providing
increased training and increased compensation. The IT Council believes
that the Legislature must recognize the important role state CIOs play
in helping deliver the highest level of service to Florida citizens. Achieving
this goal will attract top IT industry talent to state government.
Further, the Council will strive to pass legislation that will incentivize state
agencies to be more innovative in providing their services by creating an
“Innovation Fund.” This fund would be used for agencies that implement
changes to their service delivery resulting in improved quality and decreased
cost. In addition, the Council will advocate for increasing the monetary
awards for all “Davis Productivity Award” winners.
Finally, the Council will offer help and experience to the Legislature in its
efforts to modify the state’s current IT Governance. The method of governing
IT in Florida has evolved over the years and with a new governor will
most likely be examined again this session. The Council has the knowledge
and experience to offer assistance in this very critical area. |
