State delays
Y2K plans

Immediate focus will be
on preventing problems, not
dealing with the aftermath

By Richard Borreca
Star-Bulletin

State contingency plans to deal with disruptions caused by Y2K computer problems are being delayed while workers devote time to fixing the problems.

In November, Gov. Ben Cayetano ordered all state departments to prepare contingency plans "for mission critical systems by Dec. 31, 1998."

State officials say 30 percent of the contingency plans have not been turned in. And a number of the plans that were submitted have been sent back to the departments for further work.

Contingency plans that have been turned in, however, are not being made public.

"We are still going through them. I'm not real comfortable releasing them," said Mary Pat Waterhouse, state deputy comptroller.

There is no need to be concerned, according to Roy Price, state vice director of civil defense, which is responsible for emergency plans in case of a disruption caused by Y2K problems.

"I've surveyed all state departments and looked at emergency plans that they have in place, and we are in good shape," he said.

But there are still cautions. In a report to the Legislature earlier this year, the state administration said "the actual success of the efforts to detect and cure the Y2K problem entirely" cannot be predicted.

"The executive branch cannot provide assurances that all issues associated with the Y2K problem will be identified and cured, despite the efforts being expended," the report stated.

"But the departments have been directed to establish contingency plans to cover problems, which may surface with respect to each department's mission critical functions and system."

Some of the systems that have yet to be certified as Y2K compliant include the state payroll, unemployment insurance, and the state employees retirement system.

Waterhouse says the contingency plans will not be needed if the computer system is fixed so that programs and software will properly identify the year 2000.

"We are asking for (the plans by) June, but September is OK," she said. "I'd much rather have them focus their energies on remediation, rather than a contingency plan."

Price said the federal government now estimates that a massive system failure at the turn of the year isn't likely.