“My experience, while I was with the state, was always that KPMG is collaborative and develops solutions with the public sector,” Ingenito told Industry Insider — California. “I always saw them as a partner.”
“We are going to be heading into some difficult budgetary times,” says Sarah Soto-Taylor, the new undersecretary for the California Government Operations Agency. “I think the fact that we’re building these relationships [with vendors] is very important. We’re committed to that. For the long game, it might be beneficial to all of us just to keep in touch and being able to build those relationships.”
“This project is a testament to California’s culture of innovation where government, private industry and community organizations come together to solve complex problems,” says Amy Tong, secretary of the California Government Operations Agency.
“I am delighted the new and improved CA.gov website will be an information hub for current and future residents,” said state Chief Information Officer Liana Bailey-Crimmins. “Through CA.gov, we can deliver more services efficiently and with greater consideration of the needs of our communities.”
The controversial bill to establish comprehensive AI guardrails died by veto over the weekend on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, but this won’t be the last attempt to set rules. Newsom has pledged to work with lawmakers to balance between regulation and innovation.
The leading voices in California's foray into generative AI shared their experiences so far, highlighting new opportunities for collaboration and the challenges that still need to be addressed.
“This innovative GenAI RFI2 process keeps California at the forefront of technology and AI advances that can help streamline state functions,” said the award from the National Association of State Procurement Officials.
Key state departments are doing market research into what tools utilizing generative AI might be used to help the state with several key challenges including homelessness, data use, legislative research and financial efficiency.
Public officials and private stakeholders gathered in Natomas last week to celebrate the start of a more than 250-mile stretch of fiber-optic cable that will run from San Jose to Carson City, Nev.
Matthew Zhou of Oakland has been named the state’s new assistant chief data officer, and Summer Mothwood of San Francisco has been named principal analytics engineer.
The challenge-based Request for Innovative Ideas (RFI2) initiative has transformed state government procurement and helped deepen collaboration among departments, according to speakers at the California Government Innovation Summit.
Jeffery Marino, the man leading California’s data and innovation agency, called on technologists to get creative and change the rules that stand in the way of their public service missions.
In a rare move, a group of Democratic members of Congress dipped their toes into state politics, urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to veto the marquee piece of artificial intelligence regulation in California.
The state has signed another agreement with an AI industry leader, this time focusing on bolstering the state’s technology talent pipeline.
“This position will serve as a member of the agency secretary’s top advisory team, fully participate as a member of the agency management group and provide direct input on agency decisions,” the job posting says.
The GenAI training was designed for three groups of state employees: general workforce, business leaders, and technical and cybersecurity experts.
“There’s so much happening at ODI, and I think we’re now at a point where we can start to really tell those stories, and I’m excited,” Lally told Industry Insider — California.
As the conversation around girding state workers from the impacts of generative AI heats up, one advancing bill could establish new rules for state and local government call centers.
The Little Hoover Commission has been looking into artificial intelligence and its potential uses in state government since 2018.
The governor’s office has announced three new IT-related appointments to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Office of Data and Innovation, and the California Government Operations Agency.
Generative AI put government on its heels as officials tried to understand what it is and how to keep it from derailing the status quo. Now, a more proactive approach is taking hold, officials say.
The award-winning executive with a deep background in government technology most recently served as the deputy city manager for the city of San Jose, a role to which he was promoted from chief information officer.
Experts shared testimony about artificial intelligence and the steps the state is taking to better position itself during the Little Hoover Commission hearing late last week.
Senate bills 892 and 893, which would establish an AI risk management standard and a research hub, passed with unanimous support and were sent to the Assembly for consideration.
The Little Hoover Commission will hear from Amy Tong, secretary of the California Government Operations Agency, at Thursday’s meeting, which will be held in Silicon Valley and streamed online.
Five vendors have been tapped to explore possible use cases for generative AI across several agencies and priority areas.
From new rules for AI to small-business contracting thresholds, this session has seen a lot of IT-related bills. Have any survived the journey thus far?
Office of Data and Innovation CIO Chad Bratton is focused on enabling his team to push beyond the status quo in service of Californians.
“Part of the AIO role is to support and partner with the other departments within the agency,” Robinette told Industry Insider — California. “I want to focus on the innovation part of it. There’s some super-capable CIOs within the agency.”
The funds, from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, will be used for affordable Internet service, state-of-the-art devices and digital literacy training. According to the California Department of Technology, “Now the state will pivot from planning to action.”
Several bills could mean changes to how the state and vendors deploy and develop new tech. Here are just a few of them.
Agencies and their vendor partners now have a set of guidelines to follow when it comes to incidental and intentional generative AI procurements.
At an event in Sacramento, Government Operations Agency Undersecretary Miriam Barcellona Ingenito called on state IT leaders to embrace the challenges of working in an often politically charged environment to “fight the good fight.”
The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration plans to use generative artificial intelligence to advise its approximately 375 call center agents on state tax code. The AI will then inform what they pass on to California business owners asking for tax guidance.
The tool, called a Benefits Recommender, is among the state IT projects highlighted in the California Department of Technology’s annual report, Realizing the Success of Vision 2023. It was created by the Office of Data and Innovation, part of the California Government Operations Agency.
Jeffery Marino has a deep background in data, technology and human-centered design, and he’s a proponent of using technology to make government more responsive and accessible to Californians.
As public-sector technologists contemplate how best to use generative artificial intelligence and confront an estimated $68 billion state deficit, lawmakers have released several bills that would create infrastructure, plans and standards for the use of AI.
Dodd’s bill comes as California lawmakers returned to work in Sacramento for the start of an election-year session dominated not only by AI uses and concerns but also by the state’s significant well of budgetary red ink, an estimated $68 billion.
Chock-a-block with procurements, IT executives joining and leaving state and local government, and everyone greatly abuzz about artificial intelligence, 2023 was a year to remember in California gov tech. These were its most significant issues.
A new examination of generative artificial intelligence identified significant areas of potential risk in the state use of such tools.
How might California government make use of generative artificial intelligence? Officials suggest several ways that could happen.
Proposed laws that would create a six-city pilot of automated speed cameras and require the state technology department to inventory “high-risk automated decision systems” are among those passed by lawmakers and headed to the governor’s desk.
The California Government Innovation Summit, to be presented Tuesday in Sacramento by Government Technology, is a transformation of the yearly Digital Government Summit.
Government entities in the early stages of technology projects include the California Government Operations Agency, the Sierra Joint and Solano community college districts, and the North County Transit District.
The California departments of Human Resources and Tax and Fee Administration received millions in funding with the approval of the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year state budget to continue vital IT initiatives.
“California’s Digital Strategy showcases how CDT is taking the lead in government technology by prioritizing resident-focused digital services now and in the future,” writes Jonathan Porat, the state’s chief technology officer as of June.
“We used human-centered design principles in the webpage layout and content development. We tested our prototype with Californians to make sure it was easy to use. Our goal was to make the information easy to find and understand.”
Bills still under consideration by the Legislature would bring changes to everything from cybersecurity education to government websites and email addresses.
As director of procurement for the Sacramento-based Weideman Group, Daniel Kim will focus on “how we can improve government with the help of business.”
The award-winning technologist, who has a background in the public and private sectors, held the role in the California Government Operations Agency for a little more than three years.
Technology veteran Ken Ketsdever has held a series of leadership positions in state government, including chief information officer and chief information security officer.
The California Department of Transportation and the Department of Health Care Services are accepting applications for key leadership roles.
As part of Industry Insider — California’s ongoing efforts to educate readers on state agencies, their IT plans and initiatives, here’s the latest in our periodic series of interviews with departmental IT leaders.
Gaining project approval or a budget bump often comes down to knowing one’s audience and how to deliver a message in a way they can understand. The insiders offered their insights during last week’s California Public Sector CIO Academy.
The free job fair this week “presents an opportunity for governments to attract hard-to-hire professionals into public service roles where their skills can make a major social impact.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed 2023-2024 Fiscal Year state budget offers a variety of strategies for combating an anticipated $22.5 billion shortfall.
He had previously served as San Francisco’s chief data officer and will now take a leadership position in the Office of Data and Innovation.
The incumbent “will also collaborate with policy, program and technology leaders across the state to accelerate the delivery of complex, mission-critical and time-sensitive digital projects that support the broader goals outlined in the state’s Vision 2023 Strategic Plan,” according to the job posting and duty statement.
The appointment of a successor to Russ Nichols was among several key appointments announced Thursday by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The office’s five largest transactions for IT goods during the year’s third quarter approached $2 million.
The Government Operations Agency is seeking an assistant secretary; the Department of Pesticide Regulation is recruiting for a chief information officer; and the California Earthquake Authority is looking for a chief administrative officer.
Past forums have included remarks from CDT’s top leaders, a year in review and a look ahead to the coming year, and a question-and-answer session for those in the industry.
Key state officials and a market expert will offer analysis and forecasts at the State of Technology California Industry Forum, scheduled for Dec. 12 in Sacramento.
The department issued the latest in its series of updates on California’s progress toward building a statewide broadband network, which includes details on the administration of federal funding.
During remarks Thursday at the California Cybersecurity Education Summit in Sacramento, state technology and security leaders emphasized the value in working together to keep residents’ information and state assets secure, and highlighted workforce needs.
State and local government officials commemorated a pivotal moment in California’s multibillion-dollar quest to improve access to high-speed Internet.
This commentary was posted last week by the California Office of Data and Innovation, which encompasses CalInnovate and CalData.
The California Department of Technology initiated an apprenticeship with the union to train employees on how to use IBM zSystems mainframe technology.
The longtime state executive has been elevated to a key role in her former department’s parent agency, the California Government Operations Agency. She was sworn in Monday.
“For the first time, I’ll be coming at this from the other side of the partnership, listening and collaborating to identify and implement technology solutions that meet each group’s unique business and program needs,” Jon Kirkham told Industry Insider — California.
“As the CIO, you will use your extensive knowledge of IT to oversee the development and implementation of IT policies, standards, and practices for the department,” the job posting says. “Your expertise and leadership … will help us achieve our vision to discover technological innovation that serves Californians’ needs.”
Liana Bailey-Crimmins, a veteran of state technology governance, most recently served as the state’s chief technology officer.
Amy Tong, secretary of the California Government Operations Agency, discussed the need for her agency to keep transformation moving forward and to cultivate an innovative culture, in remarks that opened day two of the California Public Sector CIO Academy.
In a new budget change proposal, the Government Operations Agency reveals its plan to merge the Office of Digital Innovation, the Government Excellence and Transformation Center, and the CalData Program into one entity, the Office of Data and Innovation – and how each would function and be staffed.
The California Department of Technology has awarded contracts to two vendors that are expected to enable the state to have materials at the ready when work commences on 3,000 miles of broadband infrastructure, to provide statewide high-speed Internet.
Joy Bonaguro, an award-winning technology executive with experience in the private and public sectors, will discuss her role and the importance of data in the state’s governance.
Strategic plans can offer a clear perspective on how a state or local government wields IT and innovation. This recurring series examines the strategic plans of state entities as well as counties and municipalities.
The governor’s order notes the technology industry’s role in the initiative through use of the Request for Innovative Ideas framework, under which the state fast-tracks the iteration of solutions.
The governor led the ceremony Tuesday elevating the veteran state executive to secretary of the California Government Operations Agency.
Entities with active IT recruitments include the California Employment Development Department, the Office of Digital Innovation, the California Department of Technology and the Department of Motor Vehicles.
“A veteran of state service, Director Tong’s deep experience in the public sector and leadership in the technology field have helped guide key efforts to make government more efficient and effective, including our work to bridge the digital divide and help state agencies navigate complex challenges during the pandemic,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said.
Government Operations Secretary Yolanda Richardson is the third high-profile member of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s leadership team to announce within the past week plans to step down.
The design system is intended to create a consistent look, feel and navigation path, so Californians can more easily find the online information they need across departments and agencies. With a focus on “user experience” (UX), the design system addresses such elements as typography, design style, content and components.
2021 was a year of pivotal change in tech leadership at the state and local levels. A look back at the headlines in California public-sector technology may reveal more about the future of the state’s IT governance than about the past.
Mary Ann Bates, the first director of the Office of Cradle-to-Career Data, is currently a senior fellow in the White House Office of Management and Budget.
State Chief Information Officer Amy Tong, who’s led the California Department of Technology for more than five years, is moving to a new executive role in state government at month’s end.
The two chief positions — one for transformation and digital stabilization, the other for digital identity — are part of the growth promised by state Chief Technology Innovation Officer Rick Klau, who heads the Office of Enterprise Technology.
In a Request for Proposals, the California Office of Digital Innovation indicates it is seeking to hire additional personnel.
Bringing all remaining state agencies and departments into the state’s accounting and budget system means robotic process automation and end-user training will offer key opportunities for vendors to help.
Marybel Batjer, a former secretary of the Government Operations Agency, took over the top job at the California Public Utilities Commission in August 2019. Her term wasn’t due to expire until 2027.
One of the positions is in information security, and the other is in business technology and project management.
The California Government Operations Agency is seeking an executive director and two staffers to spearhead the launch of the state’s new Cradle-to-Career Data System.
The entity selected has a long history of working with state and local government to improve Internet access. Here, it will focus on “developing the fiber network, creating rural exchange points, and collaborating with the California Public Utilities Commission and Caltrans” on, generally, middle-mile broadband.
“Because of our success to date, as well as being the first department in the state to pilot a permanent hybrid telework program, FI$Cal was chosen by the Government Operations Agency’s Center for Government Excellence and Transformation pilot program,” writes FI$Cal Deputy Director Jennifer Maguire.
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With calendar 2024 coming to a close, it’s a natural time to reflect on the cybersecurity mandates, policies, and strategies that have shaped the last few years in government. One of the most impactful strategies has been Zero Trust.
As cybersecurity threats become increasingly sophisticated, government agencies at all levels are facing a difficult task of securing their networks. Just look at these facts about ransomware attacks on state and local government:
