‘Y2K bug’ not
expected to pester
state accounting services

Staff and wire reports

The state government enters fiscal year 2000 tomorrow, but administrators don't expect the so-called "Y2K bug" to cause big accounting glitches.

"We're considering it pretty much a standard workday," said Lester M. Nakamura, administrator of the Information and Communication Services Division of the state Department of Accounting and General Services.

Most departments already have processed budget numbers dated 2000 without major trouble. "There were a few problems, but they were fixed right away," Nakamura said. "We're dealing with this all along. It's not a one-day thing."

The so-called Y2K bug stems from the fact that some older computers may be unable to decipher information dated 2000, causing computer malfunctions or crashes.

In Y2K news elsewhere:

Infuriating many fellow Democrats, President Clinton yesterday reached basic agreement with Republicans in Congress on legislation to limit lawsuits over Y2K computer breakdowns.

The agreement, promoted by business interests and the computer industry and opposed by trial lawyers and consumer groups, would limit punitive damages against small companies, give all companies a grace period to fix computer breakdowns before they could be sued, sharply limit class-action suits involving many plaintiffs, and protect wealthy companies from being held liable for computer failures caused by poorer ones.

A deadline is tomorrow for countries worldwide to report whether airlines and airports are ready for the Y2K bug.

The president of the Singapore Stock Exchange announced that country's stock market would close Dec. 31, joining that country's banking industry, as a safeguard against the Y2K bug.