Bill > S31

This bill establishes the Massachusetts Innovation Fund and State Agency Technology Upgrades Account to modernize state agency information technology (IT) systems. The bill creates a board composed of government officials, legislators, and technical experts to administer the fund and provide financial assistance to state agencies for qualifying IT modernization projects. These projects can include replacing outdated systems, transitioning to cloud computing services, improving cybersecurity, reducing data and hardware redundancy, enhancing system interoperability, and implementing Zero Trust architecture. The fund will be financed through legislative appropriations, gifts, donations, grants, and loan repayments. State agencies can apply for loans up to seven years in duration for IT modernization projects, and must report annual cost savings resulting from these projects. Agencies can deposit unused IT and cybersecurity budget funds into the account, which can only be used by the specific agency for qualifying technology modernization efforts. The bill emphasizes that these funds are meant to supplement, not replace, existing agency appropriations, and allows agencies to collaborate on shared IT system purchases. MassDevelopment will oversee the fund and account, working with the comptroller to implement and administer the program.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S31