Document text
State fears outside millenium bugs Barring computer viruses, Oregon systems should be OK by mid-year By PETER WONG SALEM -- State officials say the greatest potential for glitches in state government's computers on New Year's Day may result from their ties to outside computers that fail to recognize the year 2000. Don Mazziotti, the state's chief information officer, said that most agencies are expected to eliminate potential problems with the so-called millenium bug in their own computer systems by mid-year. "But if we receive a virus through a sneeze, it can affect us," he said Friday at a House committee hearing. "It's the same with data crossing electronic boundaries. If it's not compliant with Y2K, we can inherit the code problem from that system -- and that can corrupt our own system. "We do not yet have a comprehensive plan for those electronic interfaces." Deputy State Treasurer Gary Bruebaker said Oregon's treasury has told brokers and other vendors it will not do electronic business with them after Dec. 31 unless officials are satisfied that transfers from their computer systems will not infect the state system. "Even if Treasury is fully ready for year 2000, the non-compliance of external third parties could adversely affect the cash management and investment activities of Treasury and the state of Oregon," said Bruebaker, whose agency is the bank for state government. Mazziotti said agencies will be surveyed soon to determine other key links that could be vulnerable to glitches through shared computer networks. The House Commerce Committee is reviewing the progress of state agencies, which have spent almost $100 million toward fixing the millenium bug, the name for problems associated with computers' internal clocks mistaking the year 2000 for 1900. Jon Yunker, director of the state Department of Administrative Services, said about $8 million more has been requested in the 1999-2001 budget, mostly for upgrades of Department of Human Resources programs. In an interview with the Mail Tribune last week, Gov. John Kitzhaber said he expects few major problems, despite highly publicized failures in recent years of computer systems such as the one at Driver and Motor Vehicle Services. "The problem we've had is that over the years, we have not been able to get the appropriations necessary to upgrade our computer systems," Kitzhaber said. "That was a problem when I was in the Legislature. It never seemed to be high on the list of things to do." At Kitzhaber's request, a bill has been introduced to limit the liability of state and local governments for computer problems arising from the millenium bug. Yunker said it is similar to legislation passed or pending in other states. Of 76 systems that top officials have defined as critical to the missions of state agencies, about half have made progress but are not yet considered fully compliant, including 16 in human resources and eight at the state police. Most others are close to compliance or fully compliant. Among those considered in good shape are systems that issue checks to state workers -- a new payroll system has been running for more than a year -- and retired public employees. But as of last week, nine critical systems were listed in the red, including those for drivers' licenses, police access to vehicle titles and registrations, student loans, and computation of inmates' sentences and reductions. "We will be looking at who is in the red and what their exact plans are to solve their problems," said Rep. Jim Hill, R-Hillsboro, the House Commerce Committee chairman. Daily updates on the status of state government computer systems can be found at the computer site http://y2k.das.state.or.us/ State government's telephone network also requires an overhaul, but Yunker said AT&T was awarded a contract last month to install a system that agencies will use in July. "We consider voice communications to be our biggest risk," he said. State agencies also have been asked to plan how they would continue to provide critical services even if there are computer failures New Year's Day. Yunker said regulatory agencies will inquire about the computer readiness of businesses that deliver critical services, such as banks and utilities, and the state Emergency Management office will prepare for contingencies. "Although it does expose us to publicity that might be misinterpreted, the reality is that the good it does far outweighs any of the costs," Mazziotti said. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA