The State of Kansas
Office of the Chief Information Architect

Information Technology Advisory Board Committees

Year 2000 Conversion

Chairs: Mainframe - Joe Hennes, DISC, Other - David Sanchez, Sec of State

Issues/Activities

• Computer systems & programs not guaranteed to handle new century: 2-digit "year" fields
  Examples:
  • Seven-year prison sentence this year: 96 + 07 = 03
  • Birth year shown as "96" - newborn or senior citizen?
• Solution: convert software to four-position year ("1996", "2002"); convert all data
• Agencies assessing extent of problem
• Much reprogramming will be required
  • Agency staff diverted, or hire contractors
  • Agencies must decide what other projects deferred
  • No functional value added for effort/expense
• Risks: availability of resources to complete on time; liability of state for incorrect processing
• KIRC Policy #2410: all agencies to report

Interesting Year 2000 Links (Send us Yours!)

• Microsoft's Year 2000 Page - Date limits for their products.
• Audit Serve - Tracking of Hardware and Systems Software Y2K Readiness
• Air Force Year 2000 Page - Hardware Y2k Readiness (includes PCs)

 Year 2000 Discussion Forum

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