WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 22 – 1 – Chapter 22 (Senate Bill 659) AN ACT concerning 21st Century Financial Systems Council – Establishment Modernization of State Financial Systems – 21st Century Financial Systems Enterprise FOR the purpose of establishing the 21st Century Financial Systems Council to modernize the financial management information systems infrastructure in the State; specifying the responsibilities and priorities of the Council; establishing the position of the 21st Century Financial Systems Director in the Office of the Comptroller; and generally relating to the 21st Century Financial Systems Council requiring the Office of the Comptroller, the Office of the State Treasurer, the Department of Budget and Management, the Department of Information Technology, and the Department of General Services, in consultation with a representative of the Modernize Maryland Oversight Commission, to develop, implement, manage, and oversee the 21st Century Financial Systems Enterprise; and generally relating to the modernization of State financial systems and the 21st Century Financial Systems Enterprise. BY adding to Article – State Government Section 4–113 Annotated Code of Maryland (2021 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) Preamble WHEREAS, Substantial risk and waste are generated from the continued use of the State’s existing accounting and payments platform, the Financial Management and Information System (FMIS), due to limited development resources, cybersecurity risks, and difficulties delivering functional enhancements to meet evolving end–user needs and legislative mandates; and WHEREAS, The State must consider how future systems will integrate across the State’s broader ecosystem and understand that there is substantial risk if key finance functions remain fractured in multiple systems; and WHEREAS, The State’s financial systems and applications are operated and maintained by different departments, which contributes to a complex inform ation technology ecosystem and governance challenges; and WHEREAS, The Office of the Comptroller, as the chief financial officer of the State, should lead the effort to consolidate and modernize the financial systems under a single Ch. 22 2023 LAWS OF MARYLAND – 2 – 21st Century Financial Systems Enterprise that shall become the State’s financial system of record; and WHEREAS, The Office of the Comptroller should partner with the Office of the State Treasurer, the Department of Budget and Management, the Department of Information Technology, and the Department of General Services to consolidate and modernize the financial systems under a single 21st Century Financial Systems Enterprise; and WHEREAS, Because the Modernize Maryland Oversight Commission is responsible for a substantial amount of the State’s information technology and cybersecurity collaboration, input and participation by that body and the constituent agencies it supports will be essential to the creation of the 21st Century Financial Systems Enterprise; and WHEREAS, Because the State has multiple information technology modernization initiatives currently underway that may impact the implementation of a new financial management and payroll system, a coordinated strategy and strong legislative directive is required to minimize additional information technology complexities, technical debt, process inefficiency, and overall cost; now, therefore, SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: Article – State Government 4–113. (A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS INDICATED. (2) “COUNCIL” MEANS THE 21ST CENTURY FINANCIAL SYSTEMS COUNCIL. (3) “DIRECTOR” MEANS THE 21ST CENTURY FINANCIAL SYSTEMS DIRECTOR. (4) “ENTERPRISE” MEANS THE 21ST CENTURY FINANCIAL SYSTEMS ENTERPRISE. (B) THERE IS A 21ST CENTURY FINANCIAL SYSTEMS COUNCIL. (C) THE COUNCIL CONSISTS OF T HE FOLLOWING MEMBERS : (1) THE COMPTROLLER , OR THE COMPTROLLER ’S DESIGNEE; (2) THE STATE TREASURER, OR THE TREASURER’S DESIGNEE; WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 22 – 3 – (3) THE SECRETARY OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT , OR THE SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE; (4) THE SECRETARY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY , OR THE SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE; AND (5) THE SECRETARY OF GENERAL SERVICES, OR THE SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE. (D) (1) THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE MAY APPOINT ON E MEMBER OF THE SENATE TO SERVE IN AN ADVISORY CAPACITY ON THE COUNCIL. (2) THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE MAY APPOINT ONE MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES TO SERVE IN AN ADVISORY CAPACITY ON THE COUNCIL. (E) THE COMPTROLLER , OR THE COMPTROLLER ’S DESIGNEE, SHALL CHAIR THE COUNCIL. (F) THE OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER SHALL PRO VIDE STAFF FOR THE COUNCIL. (G) A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL: (1) MAY NOT RECEIVE COMP ENSATION AS A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL; BUT (2) IS ENTITLED TO REIMBURS EMENT FOR EXPENSES U NDER THE STANDARD STATE TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET . (A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS INDICATED. (2) “DEPARTMENTS ” MEANS: (I) THE OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER ; (II) THE OFFICE OF THE STATE TREASURER; (III) THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT ; (IV) THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ; AND (V) THE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES. Ch. 22 2023 LAWS OF MARYLAND – 4 – (3) “FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE ” MEANS THE INFORMATION TECHNOLO GY INFRASTRUCTURE TH AT IS USED TO MAINTA IN THE GENERAL LEDGER AND A CCOUNTANCY FOR THE STATE, INCLUDING SUBLEDGER FUNCTIONS THAT ENABL E THE MANAGEMENT OF ALL PAYMENTS AND FUN D TRANSFERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. (4) “21ST CENTURY FINANCIAL SYSTEMS ENTERPRISE” MEANS A MODERN CLOUD –BASED INFORMATION TE CHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCT URE. (H) (B) THE COUNCIL IN CONSULTATION WITH A DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MODERNIZE MARYLAND OVERSIGHT COMMISSION, THE DEPARTMENTS SHALL: (1) SET POLICIES , OBJECTIVES, AND PRIORITIES FOR T HE TRANSFORMATION OF TH E STATE’S FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS INFRASTRUCTU RE INTO THE 21ST CENTURY FINANCIAL SYSTEMS ENTERPRISE; (2) LEARN THE NEEDS AND PRIORITIES OF ALL US ERS OF THE FINANCIAL M ANAGEMENT INFORMATIO N SYSTEMS AND FUTURE KNOWN USERS OF THE 21ST CENTURY FINANCIAL SYSTEMS ENTERPRISE; (3) COLLABORATE WITH CON SULTANTS TO CREATE A PROJECT PROPOSAL FOR , AND OVERSEE IMPLEMEN TATION OF, THE 21ST CENTURY FINANCIAL SYSTEMS ENTERPRISE; (4) OVERSEE, COORDINATE , AND AUTHORIZE THE AS SIGNMENT OF RESOURCES TO FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 21ST CENTURY FINANCIAL SYSTEMS ENTERPRISE; (5) ESTABLISH WORKING GR OUPS AS NEEDED ; AND (6) RECOMMEND ANY LEGISL ATIVE CHANGES CONSID ERED NECESSARY BY THE COUNCIL DEPARTMENTS TO ADDRESS FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT INFORMATI ON SYSTEMS ISSUES . (I) (C) THE COUNCIL IN CONSULTATION WITH A DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MODERNIZE MARYLAND OVERSIGHT COMMISSION, THE DEPARTMENTS SHALL SET PRIORITIES TO: WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 22 – 5 – (1) STANDARDIZE FINANCIAL MANAG EMENT FOR ALL STATE AGENCIES BY REQUIRIN G ALL STATE AGENCIES TO PAR TICIPATE IN THE 21ST CENTURY FINANCIAL SYSTEMS ENTERPRISE; (2) PROVIDE SUPPORT TO P ARTICIPATING UNITS I N ACCORDANCE WITH THE POLICIES AN D OBJECTIVES ESTABLI SHED BY TH E COUNCIL DEPARTMENTS ; (3) CONFORM TO MODERNIZE D BUSINESS AND TECHN OLOGY STANDARDS; AND (4) HOST AND MANAGE MODE RNIZED APPLICATIONS AND SHARED DATA FOR THE DELIVER Y OF ALL ACCOUNTING SERVICES IN THE STATE.; (J) (1) THERE IS A 21ST CENTURY FINANCIAL SYSTEMS DIRECTOR IN THE OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER . (2) THE DIRECTOR SHALL BE APP OINTED BY AND SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE COMPTROLLER . (3) THE DIRECTOR SHALL BE PAR T OF THE STAFF OF TH E OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER FOR ADMIN ISTRATIVE, STAFFING, AND BUDGETARY PURPOSES . (4) THE DIRECTOR SHALL : (I) (5) USE AND MANAGE THE 21ST CENTURY FINANCIAL SYSTEMS ENTERPRISE TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS AND OBJECT IVES SET BY THE COUNCIL DEPARTMENTS ; (II) (6) FACILITATE AND COORD INATE THE DELIVERY O F PORTFOLIO PRODUCTS AND SERVICE S; (III) (7) ENSURE THE FAITHFUL EXECUTION OF ALL AGREEMENTS ENTERED I NTO ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL DEPARTMENTS ; AND (IV) (8) OVERSEE AND BE RESPO NSIBLE FOR THE OVERS IGHT, IMPLEMENTATION , AND MANAGEMENT OF TH E 21ST CENTURY FINANCIAL SYSTEMS ENTERPRISE. (D) THE OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER , IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THIS ARTICLE, SHALL REPORT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE STATU S OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF T HE 21ST CENTURY FINANCIAL SYSTEMS ENTERPRISE BEGINNING ON OR BEFO RE DECEMBER 31, 2023, AND EVERY 6 MONTHS Ch. 22 2023 LAWS OF MARYLAND – 6 – THEREAFTER , ENDING WITH THE FINA L REPORT DUE ON OR B EFORE JANUARY 1, 2027. SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect October July 1, 2023. Approved by the Governor, April 11, 2023.