1. Background & Need.

The ongoing transition to a global information economy makes our society increasingly dependent on computer technology. In Colorado - as elsewhere throughout the world - government at all levels relies on advanced information infrastructure to provide critical services to the public. This infrastructure includes both computer networks and "embedded systems" - electronic devices of various kinds, such as appliances, engines, machines, sensors and monitoring equipment, that contain computing technology in the form of microprocessors.

Since much of the world's information infrastructure has developed over time, many of the computer networks and embedded systems used today are still based on relatively older computing technology. Some of these systems were developed at a time when the cost of storing data on computers - computer memory - was dramatically more expensive than today. As a result, early computer programmers constantly sought ways to reduce the need for memory.

One such memory-saving practice was for programmers to store dates, such as the year 1999, using only two digits ("99") to represent a calendar year. This practice had at least one unanticipated side effect: Many of the older systems still in use today may be unable to recognize the millennial change - they might mistake the year 2000 for the year 1900 - and thus may not function properly after December 31st of this year.

Given society's strong and growing dependence on computer technology, any disruption to the global information infrastructure posed by the so-called "Y2K problem" could have serious negative consequences. In Colorado, it is vital that all departments and agencies of State government join forces to minimize the potential risks of such disruptions by:

• Developing and implementing a coordinated Y2K remediation, testing and validation program to ensure that those computer networks and embedded systems used by State government to deliver critical public services are fully Y2K-compliant.

• Creating effective statewide contingency plans in the event that some systems disruptions do occur.

It is likewise vital to recognize that the need for Y2K readiness extends well beyond State government. Every major sector of Colorado's economy depends on computer technology. Given the potential for Y2K problems that may cross jurisdictional lines, developing a coordinated approach between the public and private sectors is essential.

Toward that end, State government must work with government at all levels; with private business and industry; and with the non-profit sector to anticipate Y2K problems and mitigate the risks posed by possible systems disruptions in critical services to the public. Providing a statewide forum for sharing practical expertise and best practices about the Y2K problem and its solutions will increase the effectiveness - and reduce the cost - of Y2K compliance and contingency-planning for public and private institutions alike.

This Executive Order seeks to address these and other challenges by creating the Task Force on Year 2000 Readiness within the Office of the Governor.

2. Mission.

The mission of the Governor's Task Force on Year 2000 Readiness is:

A.

To strengthen coordination among the principal departments of State government in identifying and resolving potential Y2K issues within those departments.

B.

To encourage the development of effective contingency plans for State departments should Y2K-related systems disruptions occur.

C.

To facilitate increased interaction between State officials and appropriate representatives from federal, regional, county and local government to discuss inter-jurisdictional Y2K issues that may affect the delivery of critical governmental services to the public.

D.

To provide a forum in which representatives from the public, private and non-profit sectors may share useful knowledge relating to Y2K computer systems remediation, testing, independent verification and validation, and contingency-planning.

E.

To communicate useful information about the Y2K problem and its solutions to the public.

3. Membership.

A.

The Governor's Task Force on Year 2000 Readiness is hereby established in the Office of the Governor and shall consist of the following members:

i. One member of the Governor's senior staff with professional expertise in information infrastructure and the computer industry.

ii. The Executive Director of the Department of General Support Services.

iii. The Director of the Office of State Planning & Budgeting.

iv. The Executive Director of the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.

v. The Executive Director of the Department of Public Safety.

vi. The Adjutant General of the Department of Military Affairs.

vii. The Director of the Governor's Office of Energy Conservation.

vii. Two members of the Colorado House of Representatives to be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be a Republican and one of whom shall be a Democrat.

viii. Two members of the Colorado Senate to be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the President of the Senate, one of whom shall be a Republican and one of whom shall be a Democrat.

ix. Six persons who are not currently employees of State government. These six members shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor, and shall each have professional expertise in one or more of the following areas: Health Care; Human Services; Transportation; Banking and Finance; Energy; Telecommunications; Computing; Fresh Water Delivery and Wastewater Treatment; Food Distribution; Public Safety; and Emergency Preparedness and Response.

B.

The Governor shall appoint one member of the Task Force to serve as chairperson of the Task Force. The chairperson shall exercise the usual and necessary duties and powers of such an office as appropriate, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The chairperson may appoint an acting chairperson from among the members of the Task Force to perform the duties of the chairperson in the absence of the chairperson. The chairperson may also appoint a Director of the Task Force, and may establish such working groups and committees of the Task Force as may be needed to achieve its goals.

4. Staffing and Resources.

A.

The Governor may direct the Executive Directors of the principal departments of State Government to assign one or more part- or full-time State employees temporarily to the Task Force, and to commit such other resources as may be needed to achieve the goals set forth in this Executive Order.

B.

Unless otherwise prohibited by law, costs associated with the Task Force and its activities may be fully or partly defrayed by monetary or in-kind contributions from State, federal, regional, county, municipal, special district or other governmental units or subdivisions; private business and industry; non-profit organizations; and other sources.

5. Communications with the Public.

The Task Force shall take reasonable steps to communicate with the public and may use publications, reports, the Internet, surveys, news conferences, press releases and such other means as may be necessary to facilitate this communication. The Task Force may conduct such public meetings, seminars, conferences, events, tours and other outreach activities, either on its own or jointly with other organizations or entities, as needed to achieve the goals of this Executive Order.

6. Duration.

The Task Force shall take effect upon the enactment date of this Executive Order and shall automatically terminate on January 1, 2001, unless otherwise directed by the Governor.

7. Past Executive Orders Superseded and Replaced.

The Executive Orders of July 17, 1998 and November 10, 1998, concerning the formation of and appointments to the Colorado 2000 Council, are hereby superseded and replaced by this Executive Order.

GIVEN under my hand and the
Executive Seal of the State of Colorado
The 27th day of January, 1999.

Bill Owens
Governor