Gov. Jay Inslee’s 2024 supplemental budget, released on Wednesday, Dec. 13, proposed additional funding for WaTech to tackle strategy for artificial intelligence, support technology modernization and implement an electronic health records program.
The governor’s budget will go to the state Legislature for consideration in January.
Here are WaTech’s highlights pulled from the governor’s proposal:
Manage Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy: With the pressing need to respond to imminent artificial intelligence growth, Washington needs to be ready to manage, use, and mitigate potential opportunities or risks with such technologies. Consolidated Technology Services (WaTech) will provide policies, frameworks, use cases, and guidance on how to safely and effectively use this emerging technology. The program will develop a statewide AI strategy and oversight process that will guide state agencies and local governments through this ever-changing landscape.
WaTech earlier this year published the state's first Interim Guidelines for Purposeful and Responsible Use of Generative AI in Washington State Government. The guidelines contain a definition of generative AI, the principles on which the guidelines are based, considerations for fact-checking, bias reduction, attribution, sensitive or confidential data, and list of "dos and don'ts" for state employees who use generative AI. Feedback so far has been positive, and our AI Community of Practice continues to work to further develop artifacts to guide AI use in the state. Proposed funding: $939,000.
Support technology modernization: Consolidated Technology Services (WaTech) works with agencies to adopt innovative technology and modernize outdated applications. Increasing this funding source will help agencies more quickly solve business problems and invite more state agencies to submit ideas for short-term, low-risk, high-reward projects to update their outdated applications. WaTech during 2023 approved $1.5 in funding from the Innovation and Modernization Fund (IMF) for 12 projects at 10 state agencies aimed at improving state services. The funding will help modernize antiquated systems and processes at state agencies. For example, the Department of Ecology received $152,700 to automate its current paper-based system to process several hundred water rights each year. Ecology’s paper system will be replaced with a user-friendly customer portal to access applications, apply and pay the fee(s) online, and check the status. Proposed funding: $2 million
Implement Electronic Health Records program: Consolidated Technology Services (WaTech) will start the implementation of an enterprise electronic health records solution. WaTech will coordinate this effort with three health and human services agencies. The vision for the Enterprise EHR Solution is to procure and configure a single enterprise platform instance, license the platform, and establish a foundation of common data and workflows that HCA, DSHS, DOC, and other agencies in future phases can leverage to improve the coordination of care across the state and to build upon it based on individual agency client and program needs and requirements. Proposed funding: $13.6 million.
Additional items of note from the governor’s budget for WaTech:
Fully Funded:
- State Privacy Office Gap Funding, 3.5 FTEs, $2.7 million.
- Enhance Small Agency IT Support, 3 FTEs $1.7million.
- Next Generation Network, $1.2 million.
Partially Funded:
- Replace State Enterprise Firewall, $3.26 million (requested 1 FTE, $3.745 million, variance of $485,000). FTE is not funded.
- SGN Essential Maintenance, $1.122 million (requested $4.305 million, variance of $3.183 million). Only the SDC router is funded.
- M365 Increased Enterprise Licenses, $6.876 million (requested $12.591 million, variance of $5.715 million). The anticipated increase for FY 24 and 25 is not funded. Future DPs will need to be submitted.
- IMF Increased Agency Demand, $2 million (requested .5 FTE, $6.254 million, variance of $4.254 million). The FTE is not funded.