The Senate recently voted to approve legislation that would strengthen, secure, and consolidate information technology (IT) across state agencies.
The bill would create the Office of Information Technology. The office would establish cybersecurity standards for the entire state government; manage and maintain all IT procurement for state agencies; make recommendations for future consolidation, integration, and investment; and implement a strategic plan for future IT projects.
The state’s annual IT spending totals nearly $1.1 billion, making it the fifth-largest expense in the annual General Fund budget.
State Sens. Ryan Aument (R-Lancaster) and Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York) sponsored the bill.
“Unfortunately, our state’s Department of Labor and Industry is operating on a 1950s computer programming language, despite legislatively approved fund transfers to bolster this decades-old system,” Phillips-Hill said. “Senate Bill 810 will push the entire state government into the 21st century through a consolidated effort.”
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated flaws and increased the urgency to upgrade, the bill’s sponsors said.
According to the FBI, Pennsylvania has the sixth-highest number of cyberattacks nationwide, with Pittsburgh having the greatest number of cybercrimes.
The state’s response to cyberattacks ranked second worst, the FBI said.
The bill moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.