HARRISBURG, PA — Two Pennsylvania lawmakers are proposing to consolidate information technology operations across the General Assembly’s four partisan caucuses, arguing that a single system could reduce taxpayer costs and strengthen cybersecurity.
The UNITE Act, introduced by state Reps. Paul Friel, D-Chester, and Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, would place hardware procurement, software licensing, network administration and cybersecurity services under one nonpartisan legislative office.
The House and Senate Republican and Democratic caucuses currently maintain separate IT operations. The legislation would require those systems to be consolidated within five years of enactment.
“Having multiple expensive IT systems and Wi-Fi networks because of partisan mistrust is not a sustainable solution,” Friel stated. “I believe we can save tax dollars and build a better working relationship with our colleagues across the aisle and in the other chamber.”
During the first year, the new office would inventory the legislature’s systems, contracts and vendor relationships and assess its technology needs. It would also submit annual operating reports to lawmakers and the public.
The proposal would preserve access controls for caucus employees based on their legislative responsibilities while eliminating duplicative infrastructure, software licenses and vendor agreements.
Friel and Ciresi did not provide an estimate of the potential savings.
The legislation follows earlier efforts to consolidate legislative technology and purchasing functions. A statewide investigating grand jury convened after the Bonusgate corruption scandal recommended streamlining those operations in 2010 after finding no credible justification for maintaining separate IT budgets and staffs for each caucus.
A bipartisan group of House members raised similar concerns in a 2021 letter to legislative leaders, but the General Assembly did not adopt the proposed changes.
Friel and Ciresi also cited cybersecurity concerns, contending that operating several separate systems increases rather than limits potential vulnerabilities.
Maryland, Iowa and Mississippi use centralized legislative IT offices serving members of both political parties, according to the lawmakers.
Support the local news that supports Chester County. MyChesCo delivers reliable, fact-based reporting and essential community resources—free for everyone. If you value that, click here to become a patron today.