Study finds Florida should hone IT use
An IT task force suggests the state survey residents to find better ways to serve them using technology
Florida needs to take a hard look at how it uses technology to deliver services over the Internet and to conduct business internally, according to a report issued last week by the IT Florida task force.
The IT Florida report, commissioned by Gov. Jeb Bush last June and delivered to the state legislature on Feb. 14, recommends conducting a survey to find out what services state residents would like and developing a World Wide Web portal to make it easier for people to find those services.
The task force also proposes creating a central IT management group to improve the development and support of online services and internal applications.
"Currently the state spends about $1 billion a year on IT," according to the report. "It is critical that we leverage this purchasing power to create eGovernment efficiencies."
Other recommendations include a study to determine whether every state employee should have Internet access and development of a comprehensive plan for training the government work force in the use of technology.
The recommendations were developed by the eGovernment subcommittee of IT Florida, which Bush established to analyze the role of technology in the state's public and private sectors. Other focus areas include technology access, business development, education, rules and regulations, and work force training infrastructure development.