Bentley pushes for control over tech service laden with cash and immense trove of data

The Office of Governor Robert Bentley wants one more chance to create a powerful agency with big money, loose contracts, and a prying eye into the vast state data network.

Once again, Bentley’s administration is proposing legislation that will create the Office of Information Technology (OIT) as a stand-alone agency, which will absorb the Information Services Division (ISD), that was, until recently, closely guarded by the Department of Finance.

According to its website, “ISD professionals acquire and manage network and telecommunications services for all Executive Branch agencies, departments, boards, commissions, offices, and institutions for the State of Alabama.” In other words, they handle all technology needs from complex networks to the kind of telephones used at the Attorney General’s Office.

During the 2013 Legislative Session, State Sen. Phil Williams (R-Rainbow City) sponsored SB116 and SB117, one to create the position of Secretary of the Office of the Information Technology (OIT), and the other to separate Information Services Division (ISD) from Finance into a stand-alone Agency under OIT.

Read more: http://www.alreporter.com/2017/02/21/bentley-pushes-control-tech-service-laden-cash-immense-trove-data/