The budget conference committee on Sunday voted in favor of a compromise proposal as part of budget negotiations.

Language included:

Office of Digital Innovation Conference Compromise: Approve 50 positions, of which 20 are exempt positions.

Governor proposed the establishment of the Office of Digital Innovation within the Government Operations Agency, and requested $36.2 million ($33.7 million General Fund and $2.5 million reimbursements) in 2019-20, of which $20 million would be used to establish an Innovation Fund, and $14.6 million ($9.6 million General Fund and $5 million reimbursements) would be ongoing thereafter. This request is for 50 positions and includes trailer bill language that establishes the Office of Digital Innovation and provides the Office with authority to negotiate and procure Information Technology goods and services.

Senate approved 20 exempted positions and $10 million General Fund to initiate the Innovation Revolving Fund, for a total of $15.2 million General Fund in 2019-20, and $5.2 million ongoing. The Senate also adopted placeholder trailer bill language that established the Office of Digital Innovation, but did not include the procurement authority. Assembly approved 10 positions and $10 million General Fund to initiate the Innovation Revolving Fund, for a total of $18.5 million
General Fund in 2019-20, and $8.5 million ongoing. The Assembly also adopted placeholder trailer bill language, but did not include the procurement authority.

Conference issue is the number of positions and associated funding to initiate the Office of Digital Innovation.