I, Tony Knowles, Governor of the State of Alaska, under the authority of art. III, secs. 1 and 24 of the Alaska Constitution, establish a Year 2000 (Y2K) project office within the Office of the Governor, to be headed by the Y2K senior project manager.

The Year 2000 date change problem is already affecting automation systems and the conduct of business worldwide, in both public and private sectors. The Y2K problem will increasingly affect automation systems and business operations as December 31, 1999, approaches, and will continue to have substantial effects even beyond the Year 2000. Therefore, the Year 2000 problem poses serious potential risks for the State of Alaska and all Alaskans.

The brief time remaining to obtain compliance with year 2000 standards requires the Administration to act as if under emergency conditions to prevent or minimize the effects of noncompliance which may pose a direct and imminent threat of a disaster of sufficient magnitude and severity to justify state action.

To do the Administration's utmost to ensure essential state government functions continue without interruption, I declare Year 2000 compliance to be a priority of the highest level for the executive branch. In recognition of that priority, the Y2K senior project manager must function at the level of a member of the cabinet.

For the same reason, the Y2K project office, which has worked closely with state agencies in compiling inventories and assessments of their automated systems, must be elevated organizationally to link directly to the Office of the Governor.

The Y2K project office shall:

1. coordinate all Y2K efforts for the executive branch and focus those efforts on meeting the needs of mission critical systems of state agencies;

2. set Y2K compliance standards consistent with law for all state agencies in the executive branch;

3. monitor the efforts of state agencies in the executive branch to meet compliance standards established under this order;

4. establish a remediation timetable and a risk management and contingency plan for the executive branch for Y2K efforts;

5. establish a Y2K clearinghouse for making Y2K preparedness information available to state agencies, the public, and entities outside of state government; and coordinate technical assistance to other affected entities in Alaska;

6. maintain ongoing contact with Y2K coordinators in state agencies;

7. compile information regarding resource needs of state agencies to address Y2K issues; and analyze, coordinate, and present Y2K requests for appropriations to the Governor and the Legislature;

8. make monthly reports on the Y2K efforts and progress of state agencies to the Governor, Chief of Staff, Cabinet, and Legislature;

Each state agency is responsible for doing its utmost to ensure its mission critical systems are, or can be made, and will remain, Y2K compliant. This includes ensuring, to the extent possible, its mission critical systems will not be interrupted or corrupted as a result of automation interfaces or business relationships with other entities inside or outside of state government.

Each state agency shall:

1. consistent with legal obligations, adhere to all Y2K standards established for the executive branch;

2. with due consideration for mandated Administration and legislative initiatives, defer commencing new technology projects (including purchases or leases of software, system enhancements, and hardware) until mission critical systems are Y2K compliant, unless the state agency can demonstrate that those projects will not impede the agency's ability to achieve Y2K compliance for all of its mission critical systems;

3. identify all mission critical systems for the agency which requires Y2K-related modifications in order to function correctly and reliably, or may require replacement or elimination;

4. develop and implement a Y2K project work plan that is based on the use of existing resources to the extent possible, and is focused on achieving or maintaining the Y2K compliance of mission critical systems of the agency;

5. develop appropriate contingency plans to ensure that mission critical systems of the agency can continue to operate if Y2K-related interruption or corruption of supporting systems occurs;

6. identify additional needs to ensure its mission critical systems are repaired or replaced, tested, and fully addressed by an appropriate contingency plan of the agency; and

7. provide monthly progress reports on efforts conducted under this order to the Y2K senior project manager.

This order takes effect immediately.

Dated at Juneau, Alaska, this 28 day of August 1998.

S/S Tony Knowles     
Tony Knowles         
Governor