OKLAHOMA CITY (April 7, 2009) – Legislation streamlining and consolidating technology services across state agencies passed the House today.

Senate Bill 980, by Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee and Rep. Jason Murphey, would create a Chief Information Officer, who would direct technology purchases for state agencies. The consolidation of technology contracts will lead to millions of dollars in savings to the state as improved purchasing power drives prices down.

Instead of each state agency having its own small information technology (IT) contract, this legislation would allow the state to better leverage its purchasing power by buying IT equipment in bulk for agencies that have similar needs.

Oklahoma is only one of four states in the country without a centralized technology officer.

"This bill cuts through bureaucracy. Right now, each agency has its own IT department and the state is spending $340 million a year on IT not including personnel and salaries. We must treat this area of government like a business," said Murphey, R-Guthrie. "The current configuration is an antiquated system that other states have abandoned and we shouldn’t let Oklahoma be the last state to realize these savings."

A task force created by 2005 legislation concluded that Oklahoma lacked a state technology strategy after listening to the concerns of agency information technology personnel. In 2007, as part of an initiative to streamline and modernize state government, the House Republican leadership further examined the costs savings potential in restructuring the state’s technology services.

Most recently, experts from across the nation appeared before a joint meeting of the House and Senate Appropriation and Budget committees to provide examples of other states’ successes in modernizing their information technology services, often resulting in tremendous savings.

"In a down budget year, we must do all we can to use the taxpayer dollars as efficiently as possible," said House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa. "This legislation would continue our efforts to streamline government so quality services are provided to all Oklahomans at the most efficient price."

The bill passed the House with a vote of 62-35 and now returns to the Senate for further consideration.