State of New Jersey
Executive Order #42

Governor Jon S. Corzine
WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 87 (1998) established the Office of Information Technology (OIT); and

WHEREAS, the New Jersey Commission on Government Efficiency and Reform, established by Executive Order No. 9 on April 7, 2006, released a progress report on July 25, 2006, discussing the need to overhaul OIT; and

WHEREAS, there is a critical need to reinforce OIT's role with a new structure and mission to keep up with modern demands, improve services, and reduce costs; and

WHEREAS, the State must develop a comprehensive business plan and the technical architecture necessary to upgrade and renovate its aging portfolio of administrative systems; and

WHEREAS, the State must coordinate and integrate information technology planning, budgeting, and spending throughout the executive branch of State government to advance cost savings and consistent operating efficiencies; and

WHEREAS, information technology plays an integral role in promoting a robust economy and a sustainable workforce in the State; and

WHEREAS, information technology provides a powerful tool to reengineer government services and operations to meet citizen and business expectations; and

WHEREAS, there is a current lack of accountability, control, monitoring, and oversight of State department and agency information technology projects;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JON S. CORZINE, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

  1. There is hereby established a State of New Jersey Technology Governing Board (Governing Board). This Board shall be responsible for setting the overall direction, standards, and priorities for the information technology community in the executive branch of State government and for reviewing and approving the annual budget request of the Office of Information Technology (OIT). Also, all requests from departments and agencies for new information technology spending shall first be submitted to and approved by the Governing Board before submission to the Office of Management and Budget.

  2. The Governing Board shall be chaired by an individual who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor and shall possess the management experience and technology background to govern a complex technology landscape. The Governing Board shall meet quarterly, or more frequently, as directed by the Chair.

  3. The Governing Board shall consist of the Chair and eight (8) other members, as follows:

    1. The Chief Technology Officer;

    2. The State Treasurer;

    3. Three executive branch commissioners, who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor; and

    4. Three public members, who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor. Public members shall possess both business and technology expertise. Public members shall not receive compensation for their services but shall be entitled to reimbursement for expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties. Public members shall be considered "public officers" for purposes of Section I of Executive Order No. 1 (2006).

  4. There is hereby established the position of Chief Technology Officer for the State of New Jersey (CTO). The CTO shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor and shall have overall responsibility and authority for all information technology operations in the executive branch of State government, including agency technology operations.

  5. The Office of Information Technology (OIT) shall be directed by the CTO and shall be responsible for the provision and maintenance of the information technology infrastructure of the executive branch of State government, regardless of where it currently exists, and all ancillary components, including those of State departments and agencies. Also, OIT shall provide staff support to the Governing Board. OIT will remain in, but not of, the Department of Treasury.

  6. There is hereby established the position of Deputy Chief Technology Officer. Each Deputy CTO shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the CTO, and the CTO may appoint up to six (6) Deputy CTOs. Each Deputy CTO shall be responsible for information technology planning, coordination, budgeting, technical architecture, and management and oversight of large information technology initiatives, in a single area of interest as determined by the Chair of the Governing Board and the CTO.

  7. The CTO shall draft and establish Service Level Agreements with each department. The purpose of these agreements will be to set and manage expectations and the levels of service response among OIT, the Deputy CTOs, and the individual department or agency operations. The agreements should also establish priorities and allocate the resources necessary to achieve such priorities.

  8. There is hereby established a Project Review Board (PRB), which shall report directly to the Governing Board. The PRB shall be comprised of between three (3) and five (5) executive branch officials selected by the Chair of the Governing Board, with the approval of the Governor, and shall be responsible for the review, approval, and monitoring of large executive branch information technology projects. The Governing Board shall determine the threshold for projects that would trigger the involvement of the PRB.

  9. The Governing Board shall work with the CTO to review the results of the Statewide IT Assessment Study that has been conducted by OIT to identify recommendations for efficiencies and improvements and to develop a proposal for the restructuring and consolidation of information technology functions, including staff currently supporting those functions.

  10. All executive branch departments and agencies are directed to cooperate fully with the Governing Board, CTO, and OIT in implementing the provisions of this Order, particularly the provisions of Paragraph 4 regarding the CTO's overall responsibility and authority for all information technology operations in the executive branch of State government.

  11. The CTO may enter into agreements, in accordance and consistent with applicable law, regulations, and/or existing contracts, with private and public entities or individuals so as to effectuate the purposes of this Order.

  12. Effective immediately, a moratorium on executive branch information technology expenditures is hereby imposed to enable the CTO and the Governing Board to develop a consolidation proposal pursuant to Paragraph 9 of this Order as well as to provide the Governing Board an opportunity to identify information technology priorities for the State as provided for in Paragraph 1 of this Order. The CTO and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall, within 30 days of the date of this Order, jointly develop and issue a circular letter setting forth details of the moratorium and an exception process.

  13. The CTO shall issue a report annually to the Governor and the Legislature regarding State executive branch information technology operations and the activities of OIT.

  14. The Office of Information Technology Governing Board created by Executive Order No. 87 (1998) is hereby abolished. The position of Chief Technology Officer created by Executive Order No. 87 (1998) is hereby abolished. Any other provisions of Executive Order No. 84 (1984) and Executive Order No. 87 (1998) that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Order are hereby rescinded.

  15. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 20th day
of November, Two Thousand and Six, and of
the Independence of the United States, the
Two Hundred and Thirty-First.

/s/ Jon S. Corzine

Governor

[seal]

Attest:

/s/ Kenneth H. Zimmerman

Chief Counsel to the Governor