§15.3. Office of technology services; offices and staff; duties

A. The office of technology services shall consist of executive offices and staff as deemed necessary for effective information technology governance, acquisition and operation.

B. The state chief information officer shall manage and direct the office of technology services, with roles, duties, and activities including but not limited to the following:

(1) Establishing and coordinating all information technology systems and information technology services affecting the management and operations of the executive branch of state government. The office of technology services shall, subject to the provisions of this Subpart, have sole authority and responsibility for defining the specific information technology systems and information technology services to which the provisions of this Subpart shall be applicable. Information technology systems, including equipment and related services, and information technology services shall mean the equipment, services, and means necessary to provide, including but not limited to the following:

(a) Telecommunications systems and services.

(b) Network systems and services.

(c) Server systems and services.

(d) Storage systems and services.

(e) Information technology security systems and services, including the security systems required in R.S. 39:249.

(f) Related peripheral systems and services.

(g) Software and software application services.

(h) Infrastructure and platform systems and services.

(i) Desktop computing systems and services.

(j) Geographic information systems and services.

(k) Mobile device systems and services.

(l) Video systems and services, except those video systems and services specifically reserved to the Louisiana Educational Television Authority pursuant to R.S. 17:2501.

(m) Radio systems, to include but not be limited to two-way radio systems; however, the operational abilities and priorities of two-way communications of the departments in the executive branch shall not be impeded.

(n) Any and all systems and services based on emerging and future information technologies relating to Subparagraphs (a) through (k) of this Paragraph.

(2) Overseeing and implementing a state master information technology plan on an annual basis.

(3) Establishing and directing the implementation of information technology standards, architecture, and guidelines suitable for statewide application for hardware, software, services, contractual arrangements, consolidation of systems and management of systems.

(4) Reviewing, coordinating, and standardizing information technology strategic business technology planning, information technology procurement, information technology budgeting (both executive and capital outlay), and information technology personnel and training.

(5) Implementing strategic information technology planning, including the review and approval of the planning, initiation, design, acquisition, and operation of information technology systems.

(6) Assessing the performance of information technology systems and technology operations and personnel including establishing accountability, performance measurement, and benchmarking policies and procedures.

(7) Overseeing and coordinating the centralization of the technology systems and data processing systems, including consolidation, outsourcing, and sharing statewide government information technology resources and services.

(8) Overseeing all telecommunication systems.

(9) Assuring compatibility and connectivity of Louisiana's information systems.

(10) Facilitating and fostering innovative applications of emerging technologies that provide cost-effective solutions for improving government operations and services.

(11) Reviewing and overseeing information technology projects and systems for compliance with statewide strategies, policies, and standards, including alignment with state government's business goals, investment, and other risk management policies.

(12) Providing support and technical assistance to the office of state procurement, the office of facility planning and control, and the office of planning and budget.

(13) Overseeing and coordinating access to state information that is electronically available online from agency web sites.

(14) Facilitating a process among state agencies to identify services that are favorable for electronic delivery, and maintaining an electronic directory of state services.

(15) Providing direction to the Louisiana Geographic Information Systems Council and the Louisiana Geographic Information Center (LAGIC) for coordination of geographic data, geographic technology, and geographic standards of the state.

(16) Identifying information technology applications that should be statewide in scope, and ensuring that these applications are not developed independently or duplicated by individual state agencies of the executive branch.

(17) Reviewing and approving the receipt by executive agencies of information technology goods and services and telecommunication systems and services from non-appropriated sources, including but not limited to grants, donations, and gifts.

(18) Preparing annual reports and plans concerning the status and result of the state's specific information technology plans and submitting these annual reports and plans to the governor and the legislature.

(19) Facilitating and fostering the identification of the policy and planning data needs of the state.

(20) Charging respective user agencies for the cost of the information technology systems and information technology services provided by the office of technology services and may include all or part of the cost of the operation of the office. These costs shall be charged in a consistent and equitable manner.

(21) Acting as the sole centralized customer for the acquisition, billing, and record keeping of information technology systems or information technology services provided to state agencies. The ownership of such systems procured by the office of technology services may vest in the respective agency, but control of the systems shall be retained by the office of technology services.

(22) Developing coordinated information technology systems or information technology services within and among all state agencies and require, where appropriate, cooperative utilization of information technology systems and information technology services by aggregating users. However, nothing provided in this Section shall apply to the authority for operation of the National Crime Information Center.

(23) Reviewing, coordinating, approving, or disapproving requests by state agencies for the procurement of information technology systems or information technology services including information technology proposals, studies, and contracts.

C. To accomplish the work of the office of technology services, all agencies as defined in R.S. 39:2 shall cooperate with the office of technology services and provide assistance as required. However, nothing in this Subpart shall apply to the authority of any statewide elected official relative to his authority to implement information technology plans, systems, or services for any agency under his jurisdiction.

D. The information, technology, personnel, agency resources, and records of the Integrated Criminal Justice Information System as established by R.S. 15:1228 through 1228.8 and its components shall be excluded from the provisions of this Part and shall not be under the authority of the office of technology services.

E. Beginning October 1, 2014, the state chief information officer shall report quarterly to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget on the status of the consolidation of the information technology functions of the executive branch of state government. The report shall provide information on organizational changes within the division of administration, as well as organizational changes between the office of technology services and the other executive branch agencies. The report shall include information and data on personnel changes, changes in purchasing and procurement, and any budgetary changes that have occurred.

Acts 2001, No. 772, §1, eff. July 1, 2001; Acts 2009, No. 409, §4, eff. July 1, 2010; Acts 2013, No. 184, §8(A); Acts 2014, No. 712, §2, eff. July 1, 2014; Acts 2014, No. 864, §§4 and 5; Acts 2018, No. 669, §1.