Information Technology Consolidation and Coordination Act; adding certain entities to definition of certain term. Emergency.
SB68 amends Oklahoma’s Information Technology Consolidation and Coordination Act to broaden and clarify key definitions used in the state IT consolidation framework. The bill expands the definitions of “information technology assets,” “information technology position,” “shared services,” and “state agency,” with the effect of more clearly identifying the equipment, services, job categories, and agencies covered by the act. It also expressly excludes certain entities from the definition of state agency, including higher education institutions, the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the District Attorneys Council, the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of the State Auditor and Inspector, and OneNet.
The bill adds a new provision allowing a state agency to hire its own information technology personnel to develop and implement its technology strategy, but only if the agency remains subject to statewide standards, policies, and oversight from the Chief Information Officer for data integrity and security. Before hiring, the agency must enter into a memorandum of understanding with the CIO that identifies the positions, qualifications, and other agreed terms, and no IT personnel may be hired or retained until that agreement is fully executed. The CIO is also given discretionary audit authority to review compliance, and the bill states that this new hiring authority does not waive or exempt any other part of the consolidation act. An emergency clause makes the act effective immediately upon passage and approval.
SB68 changes state law by refining the scope of the Information Technology Consolidation and Coordination Act and creating a formal process for agencies to hire in-house IT staff while remaining under central CIO oversight. It affects executive branch agencies covered by the act, the Chief Information Officer, and state IT personnel hiring practices, while preserving existing consolidation and security requirements. The bill is intended to provide agencies more flexibility in staffing technology functions without abandoning statewide governance and cybersecurity controls.
The bill appears to have been received favorably overall, with strong bipartisan support in both chambers and no recorded opposition in the Senate votes. The House amended the bill, and the final House third-reading vote included only a small number of dissenting votes, suggesting broad agreement on the need to clarify IT staffing authority while maintaining oversight. The emergency clause and quick passage indicate the measure was treated as a practical administrative reform rather than a controversial policy shift.
The main point of tension is the balance between agency autonomy and centralized IT control. Supporters appear to favor allowing agencies to hire specialized technology staff to meet operational needs, while still requiring CIO oversight, a memorandum of understanding, and compliance with statewide security standards. Any concern would likely center on whether the new hiring authority could weaken consolidation efforts or create uneven IT practices across agencies, but the bill explicitly preserves the broader act and gives the CIO audit authority to address that risk.