SB1606 Summary: Department of Innovation and Technology Act

• Creates the Department of Innovation and Technology to centralize information technology (IT) functions across 40+ Illinois state agencies, transferring IT responsibilities effective March 25, 2016.

• Consolidates IT operations from multiple departments (including Central Management Services, Governor's Office, and other agencies) under a single Secretary of Innovation and Technology who serves as the State's Chief Information Officer.

• Grants the new Department broad authority to procure, maintain, and operate all state IT systems, establish service charges for client agencies, develop security standards, and manage communications infrastructure statewide.

• Protects employee rights during the transition, ensuring that transferred workers retain their status under the Personnel Code, collective bargaining agreements, and pension/retirement benefits.

• Makes technical amendments across multiple statutes to reference the new Department and renames the "Statistical Services Revolving Fund" to the "Technology Management Revolving Fund" to support IT operations.