Rep. Mary Whiteford’s bipartisan plan to help prevent cost overruns and inefficiencies hindering state of Michigan information technology projects was unanimously approved today by the House Appropriations Committee.

Whiteford was part of a five-member Information Technology Task Force appointed last summer by Michigan House Appropriations Chair Shane Hernandez. The task force is making several reform recommendations included in the legislation sponsored by Whiteford and her colleagues.

“These reforms are important to Michigan families and taxpayers, who deserve and expect state government computer systems to work properly without cost overruns,” said Whiteford, of Allegan County’s Casco Township. “These systems affect our lives in several ways every day.”

IT programs affect a wide range of government services from the safety of vulnerable children to driver’s license renewals to permits for business operations.

Past problems include systems that cost more than they should while delivering poor service. A Department of Health and Human Services system related to tracking child abuse and neglect cases, for example, has received $231 million in the past several years and still has persistent and significant defects. About 40,000 Michigan residents were victimized and wrongfully accused of fraud between 2013 and 2015 by a faulty computer system used by the Unemployment Insurance Agency. A failed Secretary of State computer system overhaul started in 2005 resulted in service issues, lawsuits and cost overruns.

Whiteford’s measure would require the state department managing IT projects to provide more detailed information to the state Legislature on a quarterly basis.

“This change will improve oversight and transparency,” Whiteford said. “Getting more information related to costs, customer satisfaction and degree of project success will help legislators make decisions in the best interests of our state.”

Other legislation in the bipartisan package would require all state IT contracts to include provisions holding contractors accountable in cases where they fail to deliver on contractual obligations related to project completion and performance. All of the state’s IT projects would be managed by the Enterprise Project Management Office within the Department of Technology, Management and Budget — helping standardize accounting practices and terminology for projects across state government.

The House legislation also would help provide the state’s Auditor General with important information for when it reviews state IT projects that cost more than $250,000.
The legislation advances to the House floor for further consideration.

Note. Rep. Whiteford’s legislation is House Bill 5493. Other bills in the package include House Bill 5053, 5492, 5494 and 5495.