SB2526

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that in today's digital world, government data is the lifeblood of effective governance. It powers critical services, from tax collection to emergency response, and underpins the very fabric of our society. As such, safeguarding and ensuring the uninterrupted availability of government information technology (IT) systems is not merely an option; it is imperative.

The legislature further finds that a power outage, a cooling system malfunction, or a network disruption could bring an entire system to a standstill, with negative consequences for the State's citizens and businesses. Any data center or hosting facility should possess multiple power sources, fuel storage, power distribution paths, cooling systems, and heat exchange distribution paths. This redundancy will ensure that the data center or hosting facility can continue to operate even if one redundant component fails, preventing downtime and safeguarding the availability of critical government services.

The benefits of a resilient data center or hosting facility extend far beyond the avoidance of downtime. It will foster greater public trust in government operations, as citizens can be confident that their data is secure and accessible even in the face of unforeseen events. Moreover, it will enhance the state's ability to respond to emergencies and natural disasters, ensuring that critical information remains available when it is needed most.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the technology services consolidation working group to assist the office of enterprise technology services in working with certain state agencies to ensure critical state IT systems and data are hosted in a facility with the redundancy necessary to continue to operate even if one redundant component fails, preventing downtime and safeguarding the availability of critical government services.

SECTION 2. Act 179, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, is amended by amending section 2 as follows:

1. By amending subsection (a) to read:

"(a) There is established a technology services consolidation working group, that shall:

(1) Develop a plan for the phased consolidation of all state executive branch information technology services and staff, where determined practicable by the working group, within five years, excluding the department of education, Hawaii health systems corporation, University of Hawaii, and office of Hawaiian affairs, under the office of enterprise technology services. The plan shall include:

(A) An identification of the specific positions and functions to be transferred in each department;

(B) Proposed dates of transfer for each position and function;

(C) Proposed information technology facility, personnel, and operational infrastructure needs of the consolidated information technology agency, with projections on future integration needs as additional agencies' information technology staff and services are added;

(D) Recommendations to enable the office of enterprise technology services to provide expert support to all state agencies regarding information technology activities in order to meet the needs of the agencies and the public; and

(E) Recommendations to ensure that agency services are not interrupted during the phased consolidation; [~~and~~]

(2) Make recommendations to attract high-quality information technology professionals to the State, including the use of internships[,] and partnering with private providers and carriers, and assess the feasibility of exempting certain positions from the requirements of chapters 76 and 89, Hawaii Revised Statutes[.];

(3) Assist the office of enterprise technology services in working with state agencies, excluding the university of Hawaii and department of education, to:

(A) Inventory and categorize the business criticality of each major state information technology systems or data set; and

(B) Determine the appropriate data center or hosting facility requirements based on the business criticality level of the system or data set; and

(4) Submit to the legislature, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session each year until 2028, a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation."

2. By amending subsection (f) to read:

"(f) The working group shall be dissolved on [~~December 31, 2023.~~] June 30, 2028."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Technology Services Consolidation Working Group; Information Technology; Office of Information Technology Services; Consolidated State Information Technology Data; Safeguards; Report

Description:

Requires the Technology Services Consolidation Working Group, established by Act 179, SLH 2022, to assist the Office of Information Technology Services in working with certain state agencies to inventory and categorize the business criticality of each major state information technology systems or data set and determine the appropriate data center or hosting facility requirements. Requires a report to the Legislature. Extends the working group's dissolution date to 6/30/2028.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2526
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII