2-17-501. Responsibilities of director of department of administration for data processing. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), the director of the department of administration, in cooperation with state agencies, shall:
     (a) establish policies and a statewide plan for the operation and development of data processing for state government;
     (b) review and approve agency specifications and procurement methods for the acquisition of data processing equipment;
     (c) review and approve agency specifications and procurement methods for the acquisition of software to ensure network compatibility and conformity with the statewide data processing plan;
     (d) review and approve all contracts for private sector data processing services to ensure conformance with the statewide data processing plan and statewide data network; and
     (e) operate and maintain a central computer center and a statewide data network for the use of all state agencies and political subdivisions.
     (2) (a) The responsibilities of the director under subsections (1)(b) through (1)(d) do not apply to the Montana university system or to the office of the superintendent of public instruction. The university system and the office of the superintendent of public instruction are exempt from the requirements of subsections (1)(b) through (1)(d) unless a data processing activity proposed by the university system or the office of the superintendent of public instruction affects the operation of the central computer center or the statewide data network. If the university system or the office of the superintendent of public instruction determines that the central computer center or the statewide data network will be affected by the proposed activity, the agency shall notify the director and the proposed activity is subject to the requirements of subsections (1)(b) through (1)(d).
     (b) For purposes of subsection (2)(a), a data processing activity affects the operation of the central computer center or the statewide data network if it adds to the processing workload, capacity, or support service requirements of the central computer center or the statewide data network.
     (3) When reviewing data processing activities submitted by the university system or the office of the superintendent of public instruction under subsections (1)(b) through (1)(d), the department shall consider and make reasonable allowances for the unique educational needs and characteristics of the university system and the office of the superintendent of public instruction to communicate and share data with units of the university system and with school districts.
     (4) As used in subsections (1) and (2), the following definitions apply:
     (a) "Central computer center" means any:
     (i) shared or sharable computer system and facilities provided by the department for use by government agencies; or
     (ii) computer operations and software development support services provided by the department.
     (b) "Statewide data network" means any telecommunications facility, circuits, equipment, or software administered by the department for the transmission of data from one computer to another by government agencies.

     History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 175, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 486, L. 1983; MCA 1981, 18-4-111; redes. 2-17-501 by Code Commissioner, 1983; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 207, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 216, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 76, L. 1993.