The purpose of this hearing is to examine the State Information Technology governance and procurement methods and structures used by the State, and to discover methods by which the State can improve technology policy and decision-making, resulting in improved services and financial savings.

Testimony may be directed towards the following questions:

1. New York has operated for over a decade without convening its statutory technology advisory board and has no formal statutory governance mechanism for information technology management. What would the advantages and disadvantages of formalizing New York's IT Governance through statute be?

2. What are the respective roles that policy makers, CIO/OFT, and the individual agencies should play in New York's IT Governance structure? What mechanisms, formal and informal, of approval, oversight, and communication among those entities should be adopted or modified to improve IT Governance, and what aspects of existing IT Governance are already functioning well?

3. What advantages and disadvantages exist in pursuing enterprise-wide IT purchasing, agency-driven IT purchasing, and IT purchasing on centralized contracts? How should the State balance flexibility and independence with economies of scale, standardization, and interoperability in its purchasing decisions? Are there types of commodities and services that are more or less appropriate for enterprise purchasing by the State?

Persons wishing to present a written statement to the Committee at this hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation. Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements. In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

---

Persons wishing to present testimony at this public hearing are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail it to: