SB 143-STATE INFO SYSTEM PLAN: LEGISLATURE  4:40:48 PM CHAIR THERRIAULT announced SB 143 to be up for consideration. He informed members that an amendment was adopted during the first hearing on SB 143 and discussion took place regarding whether the University of Alaska should be removed along with the Legislature. He reported that Pete Kelly gave two reasons why the university should be taken out of Department of Administration IT system. First, the university deals with super computers and IT that is out of the ordinary. Second, as an educational institution, hardware and software manufacturers frequently approach the university with special deals. He asked Mr. Smith to respond. STEVE SMITH, University of Alaska Anchorage, related that as a public educational system, the university receives special pricing on software, hardware, applications and sometimes telecommunications. The university uses an Oracle database system behind the core applications and Oracle gives the university an educational price for that. Similarly, the university uses the Microsoft desktop utility and it receives special educational pricing. Sun hardware is used in research and a distinct price advantage is given. About 40 percent of the computers on the Fairbanks campus are Apple and the university receives special pricing for those. In addition to the special pricing, the university uses applications that are specific to the university. For instance the student information-system application is specific for university use. It keeps track of student transcripts and records and to make sure the university adheres to FERPA laws relating to student privacy. In addition the university uses a course management system that is specific to higher education. The application makes it possible for instructors to put course information on-line. Furthermore there are needs that are specific, special, and unique to a university system such as research and instruction. With the high-performance computing and networking, specifically with the supercomputer in Fairbanks but also with other departments, there are specific needs for databases or systems used to collect and analyze data for research. This, he said, is tied closely to instruction. Examples of that are the CISCO academies that are run through a number of the campuses to train students on networking. There are specific separate setups to be able to do that kind of training. For research and instruction to be cutting-edge the university must use a variety of systems. MR. SMITH said while they adhere to university wide standards, flexibility is needed to meet research and instructional demands. For example, the university partners with other universities to work on Internet II, which is the next generation Internet. Internet II has set standards that the university must adhere to so that the researchers can collaborate. Students also have access to that. Those standards may not be the same as those used within state government, but those are the standards that work for the university. Certain contributions and partnerships are made specifically for use by the university. Contributions have come from Alaska Fiber Star and GCI and other carriers with the specific criterion that it only be used for education and research. Partnerships with other universities and research entities are not uncommon so applications need to be in line with other education and research institutions. "We would like you to consider that the university may have similar consideration to the judicial and legislative branches," he said. In closing he said the university adheres to standards and works to coordinate, collaborate and share with state agencies whenever possible. 4:49:37 PM CHAIR THERRIAULT noted that the Board of Regents is constitutionally charged with setting policy for the university system. He questioned whether it had established an overall IT policy for the university. MR. SMITH answered yes and he is the chief IT officer. That is a defined officer in university policy and it describes his areas of responsibility and his duties. New policy was instituted at the last board meeting to include language to require all IT investments to be reviewed through his office. Finally, the most extensive language in policy relates to user rights and expectations. SENATOR WAGONER asked what kind of time constraint his office places on itself when it reviews IT requests for change or new equipment. MR. SMITH replied the actual policy language doesn't describe how it would be done and all the procedures aren't in place since this was just passed at the last board meeting. However, in practice it would be coordinated with the procurement offices at each main campus. With the delegation it means that at appropriate places those practices and the review process will be reviewed, but if something doesn't look right the central office would become involved. CHAIR THERRIAULT asked Mr. Peterson if he could offer an opinion from the Administration. MR. PETERSON replied the Administration has no problem with the university being exempt from the definition of state agency. He added, "Any other agency of the state though we would like to have a discussion about that. Only because there is an internal process within the Administration for that to occur." CHAIR THERRIAULT moved conceptual AMENDMENT 2 to include the university in the list of exempt agencies. There being no objection, conceptual AMENDMENT 2 passed. There were no further questions or testimony. He noted the zero fiscal note and asked Senator Wagoner for a motion. SENATOR WAGONER motioned to report CSSB 143(STA) and attached zero fiscal note from committee with individual recommendations. CHAIR THERRIAULT announced that without objection, it was so ordered.