MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Fees, Salaries and Administration

By: Senator(s) Robertson, Horhn

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO DIRECT ALL STATE AGENCIES, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND DEPARTMENTS TO EVALUATE THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND ASSESS THE IMPACT OF THE YEAR 2000 DATE CHANGE ON SUCH SYSTEMS; TO DIRECT THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES TO ADVISE AGENCIES, BOARDS, DEPARTMENTS AND COMMISSIONS ON METHODS TO AVERT NEGATIVE IMPACT FROM SAID DATE CHANGE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

WHEREAS, information is a strategic asset and a valuable resource of the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi depends upon its computer systems to manage information resources and to accomplish its business functions with accuracy and speed; and

WHEREAS, many of the state's systems rely upon accurate date calculations to perform a myriad of required functions; and

WHEREAS, Mississippi, along with the rest of the world, faces a significant problem with computer system software that will not function properly after December 31, 1999, because the technology will not recognize the century change; and

WHEREAS, without a way to recognize the century change, information in the state's computer systems will be interpreted inconsistently and date calculations will be performed incorrectly, representing a serious threat to the state's ability to conduct its business and serve the public; and

WHEREAS, even without regard to the challenges posed by the year 2000, many of our computer programs and systems are in need of both extensive modernization and conversion to a common, statewide standard; and

WHEREAS, state agencies will incur significant costs in attempting to make these obsolete systems function properly when the year 2000 is reached; and

WHEREAS, the challenge of preparing for the year 2000 presents the state with a limited window of opportunity to resolve both the year 2000 problem and the difficulties now being faced due to inadequacies in many of the state's current systems; and

WHEREAS, because the year 2000 date change is fast approaching, time is of the essence if the state is to take advantage of this opportunity to both prepare for the century change and update essential state information systems; and

WHEREAS, state agencies can facilitate the resolution of both of these problems by undertaking a thorough assessment of the impact of the year 2000 date change on their computer systems, developing a project work plan, identifying resources required for that plan, and identifying systems in need of modernization beyond year 2000 concerns:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MISSISSIPPI STATE SENATE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That each state agency, board, department and commission shall:

(a) Conduct a thorough assessment of the impact of the year 2000 date change on all computer systems, applications and networks to identify systems that require modifications to process correctly, or that should be replaced or discarded;

(b) Determine whether replacement of a given system, application or network would be economically and technologically feasible, based on the existence of an effective, cost-efficient replacement that would meet the state's standards for sharing common information;

(c) Develop a Year 2000 Project work plan that identifies additional resources, with estimated costs, that will be required to ensure completion of all project tasks, including systems testing, no later than December 31, 1999;

(d) Provide a summary of the assessment results and a copy of the agency's Year 2000 Project work plan, with its resource requirements, to the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services by August 1, 1997.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services' staff is available to advise state agencies, boards, departments and commissions on methods to help avert adverse impacts of the date change problem.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be provided to the director or governing body of every state agency, board, department and commission.