03/05/2008 GAAS:117:08 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version | Email / Share
Gov. Schwarzenegger, Administration Officials Recognized for Technology Accomplishments
Governor Schwarzenegger and members of his
administration have been honored for their information technology
accomplishments by Government
Technology magazine, a national publication for state and local
governments. The magazine focused on efficiency in government, innovation and
the Governor's environmental agenda to reduce greenhouse emissions, implement
the nation's most strict tailpipe emissions standards and pursue his Million
Solar Roofs initiative in California.
Rosario Marin, Secretary of the State and Consumer
Services Agency, and Christy Quinlan, Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the
California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), were both honored among
the top individuals who have set the standard for using technology to further
the mission of their organization and ultimately improve the lives of
Californians.
"I commend Secretary Marin for her hard work and
dedication to helping Californians and by setting new standards to improve
government services through enhanced applications of technology," said Governor
Schwarzenegger. "California has always been a leader in
technology and my administration is committed to employing the best and latest
tools to make government more efficient, save precious taxpayer funds and better
serve our citizens."
Under Secretary Rosario Marin's
leadership, the State and Consumer Services Agency implemented a 24-hour online
appointment request tool to file complaints of employment and housing
discrimination with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing. Previously,
citizens could only file complaints over the phone on weekdays between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m. Her agency also improved state procurement procedures after the
Department of General Services implemented a program that has cut the time it
takes to classify potential vendors as small businesses. A process that
previously took months now only takes 15 to 20 minutes online. As a
result, 27.6 percent of state contracts came from small businesses in 2007,
beating California's previously unreached goal of 25
percent small business procurement. During the 2007 Southern California wildfires, Secretary Marin also
quickly launched a website to provide survival information and help Californians recover. (www.RebuildYourLife.ca.gov)
The DHCS, with the help of CIO
Christy Quinlan, recently completed an award-winning service-oriented
architecture (SOA) project that interfaces with the Social Security
Administration and can be used by other state agencies. The SOA will help the
DHCS move forward on various improvements, including health-care reform,
automation, e-health records and e-prescribing.
"CIO Christy Quinlan deserves
recognition for helping to create an award-winning program for genetic
screening, which tests expectant mothers and newborns for dozens of hereditary
and congenital disorders," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "This information has
led to a reduction in the need for medications and has saved lives. I would
like to congratulate Christy, Director Sandra Shewry, Secretary Kim Belshé and
the entire team who helped with this terrific
accomplishment."
To more effectively oversee information technology in
state government, the Governor signed SB
90 in August of 2007 to establish the Office of the State Chief Information
Officer as a cabinet-level agency with statutory authority over information
technology policy. The office establishes and enforces information technology
strategic plans, policies, standards and enterprise architecture, as well as
approves information technology projects for all state departments.
"These important projects demonstrate the Governor's
commitment to making state government more accessible to all Californians
through technology," said Teri Takai, California's chief information officer. "I
look forward to working with officials throughout the Schwarzenegger
administration and the legislature to create more efficiency and better service
for the people of California."
In December 2007, Governor Schwarzenegger appointed Teresa (Teri)
M. Takai as the state chief information
officer.
