Information Technology Council

Promoting Florida’s Move to the Cutting Edge of Technology
Council Lobbyist: Frank Meiners

Florida’s state government has aging IT equipment, a shrinking number of professionals that are able to maintain them, and is falling behind in overall expenditure of IT dollars in comparison to other large states such as California and New York (which spends almost twice annually what Florida spends).

Aging systems impact the ability of state agencies to deliver services to both citizens and businesses. Increasing Florida’s IT capacity is vital to economic development. Business activity is often dependent on how quickly government can act. When government operates inefficiently, it weighs down the ability of a business owner to move forward on economically productive activities.

Further, Information Technology is one of the few areas where government can actually spend money to save money. In a time of shrinking state budgets and economic uncertainty, technology has the potential to turn government around and save money at the same time.

In 2006, AIF created the Information Technology Council (ITC) — a group of some of the most prominent IT corporations and service providers in Florida — to help address Florida’s growing issues with technology projects, to help educate the State about the positive impact of the technology industry, to help balance the needs of government and the private sector, and to help keep technology jobs in Florida.

The ITC is leveraging the knowledge and expertise of its members to assist state government in finding ways to increase efficiencies, raise productivity, and address the growing challenge of an aging workforce so Florida’s taxpayers get the best level of service from state government.

ITC Activities & Issues

Education

• Educating legislators about the importance of governmental outsourcing and the IT community to the future of Florida
• Explaining the realities of IT processes: effectively communicating government’s needs to the IT service provider, realistic timeframes for completion of contracted work, etc.
• Explaining the absolute need to keep the State’s IT infrastructure current, secure, and ready to meet future challenges

Legislation

• All contracting issues, including awarding and performance of IT contracts, amendments, etc.
• Oversight and accountability, shifting focus to output and outcomes
• Rule promulgation
• Streamlining the process under which State agencies request funds to deploy new technology
• Encourage increased government spending on IT in order to achieve hi-tech solutions, keep Florida competitive, and provide better service to citizens and business
• Any other issues that the Information Technology Council deems necessary so long as they are germane to the concept of growing state government IT capabilities to meet the demands of a diverse, fast-growing population