The State of KansasOffice of the Chief Information Architect
The State of Kansas
Statewide Information Resource Management activities are coordinated by the Kansas Information Resource Council (KIRC) (K.S.A. 75-4740, K.S.A 75-4741) and the Chief Information Architect (CIA) (K.S.A. 75-4742, K.S.A. 75-4743, K.S.A. 75-4744). KIRC membership includes the heads of the major agencies in the executive branch, a member of the House and a member of the Senate, the Judicial Administrator of the Kansas Supreme Court, a member of the Kansas Corporation Commission, the Executive Director of the Board of Regents, the Commissioner of the Board of Education, executives from three major private firms, the Budget Director and the Chief Information Architect. The Chair is elected by Council members.
The duties of the Council may be described as providing general management oversight and coordination of information technology policies, programs, and resources for state government.The Chief Information Architect reports to the Council. The duties of the CIA may be described as serving the Council to develop policies and standards, to promote coordination of programs, to establish and maintain a management plan, and to otherwise assist the Council in their oversight role of projects and resources. The Council and the Chief Information Architect are located in the Department of Administration for administrative support.
The senior information technology managers from each of the Council organizations were brought
together as the Information Technology Advisory Board (ITAB). The purpose of the Board is
to organize the information technology community for coordination, consensus, and to obtain the
additional resources needed to develop policies, standards, statewide programs statewide
contracts, and to address other resources management issues. The Board is chaired by the CIA.
This provides linkage between the general management level and the operating information
technology organizations in state government.
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The General Powers and Duties of the Council are described in K.S.A. 75-4741. To summarize:
Membership in the Council is specified in K. S. A. 75-4740. It consists of 20 members and includes agency heads, representatives of private industry, the Chief Information Architect and the Director of the Budget as non-voting members, a member of the Senate and a member of the House of Representatives. Members may not appoint an individual to represent them on the Council.
Current Members
Council Committees
Standing Committees
The Kansas Geographic Information System (GIS) Policy Board
The Kansas GIS Policy Board is a standing committee of the Council . It has Federal, State and Local Government members as well as representatives drawn from private industry The GIS Technical Advisory Council serves as a technical resource to the Board.
It was established to provide "improved coordination of the State's geographic information systems resources and development of an infrastructure that promotes efficient service delivery and data sharing among state organizations and government entities is an essential element in improving the quality of services provided to the people of Kansas now and into the next century" (Governor's Executive Order 95-180).
Major functions include:
Staff to the Policy Board
Richard D. (Rick) Miller, State GIS Coordinator
Kansas Water Office, 109 SW Ninth, Suite 300, Topeka, KS 66612-1249, Ph.: 913-296-0877
Fax: 913-296-0878 email: rmiller@fog.kwo.state.ks.us
Data Access and Support Center
The Policy Board has established a Data Access and Support Center (DASC ) which works with state and local goverment organizations and private industry to provide quality GIS data and services for the State of Kansas. DASC maintains a Web Page for Kansas GIS data.
Policy Board Current Membership:
For details on the members please see Kansas State Executive Appointments.
Special Committees
Strategic Information Management Plan Steering Committee
KIRC was given responsibility to develop and adopt a Strategic Information Management Plan for
the state government (K.S.A 75-4741). The Council believes that plan should clearly convey the
goals and objectives; the principles applicable to IT management, service delivery, and policy
issues; the roles and responsibilities of all parties regarding IT management and service delivery;
and identify and prioritize significant policy and technology related issues. The plan should also
contribute to improved use and alignment of technology in support of agency program objectives
and performance measures, support multi-agency coordinated public services, enable coordinated
support of technology related public issues, and serve to raise the quality of technology services
available to agencies.
The Council has established a committee that will guide and approve the draft outcomes of the
plan. That plan will be developed through a consensus-based approach, using groups with
representation of state agencies throughout the three branches of government. It is envisioned that
six groups of 9 to 12 members each will be used to achieve this representation. A professional
consulting team has been selected to structure the project, facilitate all group meetings, provide
administrative and professional support, and prepare and coordinate the deliverables and the plan.
The plan will be completed and approved in calendar year 1996.
The Chief Information Architect is responsible for managing the project and working with the Council, the committee overseeing the project, and the consultant to obtain the approved plan.
The members of the Steering Committee are:
The Ken Orr Institute, a consulting organization based in Topeka, has been selected to conduct the project (Press Release, August 1, 1996).