Makes an appropriation for the development of an alternate data center. (SD2)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. Government operations are increasingly dependent on reliable information processing and telecommunications services as more of the State's services become automated. Any major breakdown or interruption of information processing and telecommunications services would severely impact the ability of state agencies to maintain and continue their business operations and serve the public. The State's information processing and telecommunications capabilities and capacities are necessary state resources that require contingency plans, processes, and accommodations in the event services are disrupted by natural disasters or malicious activities. The State needs to implement a disaster recovery and business continuity program as soon as possible, including a data center recovery site and a business continuity plan that specifies the policies and processes to activate and operate the recovery site.

The need for a disaster recovery and business continuity plan was documented by the Gartner Group in the study entitled, State of Hawaii Assessment of Central Data Center Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Strategies, 19 December 2005, prepared in accordance with the provisions of section 78 of Act 178, Session Laws of Hawaii 2005. The study noted that the State is in a critical and precarious environment without access to alternate data processing services when the central data center is out of service. Should the central data center become inoperable, the State would experience an extended disruption of its ability to continue its daily business processes and restore them after a disaster or other disruptive event. State agencies are highly dependent on their computers and networks to provide services to the public and conduct their daily business, and are essentially ineffective without them. The State would not be able to perform financial transactions, nor would the State be able to ensure continuity of health and safety services, without operational computers and networks.

Based on the analysis of the strategies available to the State, the State's most viable strategy is to implement an interim alternate data center site equipped with sufficient processing capability, daily updated copies of critical data and computer programs, alternate plans and means of network connectivity, business continuity plans to ensure the timely restoration of public services, especially those related to health and public safety, and development of a solution for a permanent alternate data center site.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the information processing services program to implement an interim alternate data center that will recover and restore information processing and telecommunications service, if services are disrupted by a natural disaster or malicious activity, and to prepare a business plan for its implementation.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for the information processing services program to implement an interim alternate data center site and to prepare a business continuity plan while a solution for a permanent alternate data center site is developed.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of accounting and general services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.