Information Technology Commission
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION
June 15, 1998 - 1:30 p.m. - Room 403 - State Capitol
Sen. David H. Steele, Chair
Rep. Blake D. Chard, Chair
Rep. Brent H. Goodfellow
Rep. Martin Stephens
Mr. Cliff L. Ames
Mr. Gerald R. Capps
Mr. Ronald L. Fox
Mr. Peter R. Genereaux
Ms. Nancy Gibbs
Ms. Eileen B. Longsworth
Commissioner Stephen F. Mecham
Mr. Leon Miller
Mr. David C. Moon
Mr. David A. Packer
Members Absent:
Judge Norman H. Jackson
Members Excused:
Sen. Scott N. Howell
Sen. Robert Montgomery
Mr. Randall G. Harmsen
Mr. Robert W. Hood
Mr. Jerry P. Peterson
Dr. Mike Petersen
Staff Present:
Mr. Richard North,
Research Analyst
Ms. Tani Pack Downing,
Associate General Counsel
Ms. Junie Anderson,
Legislative Secretary
Note: A list of others present and a copy of materials distributed in the meeting are on file in the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.
1. Call to Order - Chair Chard called the meeting to order at 1:38 p.m. He indicated that Sen. Montgomery is a new member of the Commission.
MOTION: Mr. Genereaux moved to approve the minutes of the April 23 and May 19, 1998 meetings. The motion passed unanimously, with Rep. Goodfellow, Mr. Capps, Mr. Fox, and Mr. Packer absent for the vote.
2. Year 2000 (Y2K) Implementation Plan - A Detailed Look - Mr. David Fletcher, Year 2000 Program Manager Utah, reported on the education community's efforts to achieve Y2K compliance. He distributed an organizational chart titled "University of Utah Computing Organizational Structure."
Mr. Fletcher pointed out that every university and higher education institution in the state has an individual who is responsible for Y2K compliance. He said contingency planning to address potential failure points is a priority at the state level. He indicated much work is yet to be done at the university level, and none of the larger institutions have a written Y2K plan in place. He informed members that the University Hospital currently has a plan in place.
Mr. John Flagg, Office of Education, District Computer Services (DCS) Manager, distributed a handout titled "District Computer Services, 1996-97 School Year." A chart displaying the Utah State Office of Education's current level of completion toward the conversion to Y2K was included in the handout. He explained that DCS is in charge of external systems. He reported on fiscal systems and student information systems and explained the conversion process.
Mr. John Brandt, Office of Education, Agency Computer Services (ACS) Manager, explained that ACS is in charge of internal systems for agencies. He discussed information pertaining to his office which was included in the handout distributed by Mr. Flagg. He noted that his office is concentrating on areas such as embedded systems, custom software, operating systems, and micro computer bios.
Mr. Fred Hunsaker, Board of Regents, explained the contents of a document titled "Year 2000 Plan Summary," mailed to Commission members prior to the meeting. He informed the Commission that higher education institutions will request $750,000 in the 1999 General Session for the purpose of identifying noncompliance Y2K systems. He also said identifying problems with departmental computing has been difficult.
Mr. Jerry Fullmer, Director, Computer Services, Higher Education, reported on the financial aspect of the Y2K problem for higher education.
3. Electronic Commerce - Mr. David Moon, Chief Information Officer, Utah, distributed a handout titled "Electronic Commerce Initiatives." He discussed the initiatives and recommendations as outlined in the handout and provided the Commission with a memo he received from Roger Andrus regarding "Enhanced Payment Options," which outlined the goals of the newly-formed Electronic Commerce Council.
4. Privacy Issues
Privacy Survey Results - Ms. Tani Pack Downing, Associate General Counsel , Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel (OLRGC), distributed a handout titled "IT Commission - Privacy Study Items 1998." She briefed members on the top five study items selected by the Commission for study this interim that were outlined in the handout. The issues to be studied are electronic surveillance, computer crime, privacy of medical records, consumer access to own credit report, and penalty for identity theft.
Electronic Surveillance & Computer Crime - Mr. Mike Wims, Attorney General's Office (AG) , discussed electronic surveillance, wire taps, and other forms of interception of electronic communications and explained the Utah statutes on the topic. He also compared Utah's statutes with federal statutes on the same subject. He said the American Bar Association recently commissioned a study committee to draft standards relating to electronic and physical surveillance.
Mr. Steven Morrissett, (AG), explained changes to the law concerning computer crimes. Neither AG believed changes were needed at this time to the Utah statutes on electronic surveillance or computer crimes.
5. Election Candidate Forms - Digitally Signing Proposal - Ms. Kelleen Potter, State Election Officer, Utah, discussed statutory changes necessary to allow candidates' financial forms to be digitally signed. She also described other election forms that could be digitally signed if approved by the Legislature.
Chair Chard suggested Ms. Potter and staff study the statute on election forms and digital signatures to determine if changes need to be made, and if so, bring a recommendation to the Commission at a future meeting.
6. Commission Business - Chair Chard asked Commission members to complete the recommendation survey sheet for four vacancies to be filled in July and to return them to staff at the closure of the meeting.
He also informed Commission members they would receive an electronic copy, along with a paper copy, of the mailing packet for the meeting in July. He indicated that the Commission is a pilot for the electronic mailings in an effort to eliminate paper mailings in the future.
Mr. Genereaux informed the Commission of the annual Information Technology Summit which will take place on September 29 and 30.
Mr. Steve Proctor, Information Technology Services, distributed handouts titled "UCAN Executive Committee," and explained that the committee was formed to study the 800 megahertz program. He also distributed a document titled "Utah Communications Agency Network Resolutions of Participation," which identifies agencies that have signed formal resolutions to participate in the program. He briefed the Commission on the radio plan to provide system coverage throughout certain areas.
Mr. Proctor also distributed a letter from Joseph E. Brann, Director, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), U.S. Department of Justice, congratulating the Department of Public Safety on receiving a COPS Technology Grant of $3 million.
Mr. Fox recommended that Y2K compliance by water power and electrical systems be discussed in a future meeting.
7. Adjournment -
MOTION: Mr. Genereaux moved to adjourn the meeting at 4:20 p.m. The motion passed unanimously, with Rep. Stephens absent for the vote.
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