1. Management of the Intergovernmental Data Services System
In 1993, the Governor and Legislature established the IDSD and assigned it responsibility for managing the statewide, shared computer system that links county governments and state agencies. The system consists of the IBM AS/400 iSeries servers located in each county seat and connected to the state's data communications network and mainframe computers. The purpose of the system is to improve the quality of data and access to information, streamline agency operations, and reduce costs, especially by avoiding the need for duplicate systems if state agencies installed separate networks. Specific uses of the system have included:
- Issue and collect taxes and fees for 100% of vehicle titles and registrations (VTR) in the state, with instantaneous update to a central database for access by law enforcement and other users.
- Automate County and District Courts (implementation of Court JUSTICE application).
- Automate the posting of county payroll data to the State Retirement Board.
- Automate the transfer of data from counties to the Secretary of State's central voter registration database.
- Support the various applications in use in counties, including but not limited to accounts payable, budget preparation, drivers license, payroll, sheriff's access to drivers records, voter registration and other business functions.
Several potential projects benefit from the shared computer system. These include the interactive drivers license program with a digital photo, electronic funds transfers from county governments to the state, public access to court data, electronic filing of court documents, document imaging, and retention.
Statutes require IDSD to contract with the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) for actual operation of the distributed computer network. This provision prevents any possible duplication of systems, insures essential coordination with the state's mainframe computer and communications network, and enables IDSD to focus on broader management issues rather than day-to-day operations.
By statute, the AS/400 computer system must be self-supporting. The division must set rates for access and use of the system that will generate sufficient revenue to pay all costs of the computer network and any additional costs of the division.
2. Statewide Implementation of VTR and JUSTICE
IDSD has performed a critical role in assisting the statewide implementation of the vehicle title and registration system (VTR) and court automation system (JUSTICE). All 93 counties have been using the VTR and the JUSTICE applications.
3. Data Management Across Political Jurisdictions
IDSD facilitates, coordinates, and assists with implementation of multi-jurisdictional projects. This function has grown because a major activity of most government agencies is generating, processing and using information that often crosses jurisdictional boundaries. Optimizing the benefits from automation requires close cooperation among the multiple jurisdictions that create, revise, or use shared data. When becoming involved in a data-sharing project, IDSD applies a collaborative approach and provides project management skills to identify issues and develop solutions.