Vote: approved

Item Text

35. EXCEPTION TO TECHNOLOGY FINANCE PROGRAM FOR REFRESH PURCHASE OF SUPERIOR COURT ELECTRONIC COURTROOM PCS Approve an exception to the Technology Finance Program (TFP) to allow the Superior Court to purchase e-courtroom computer equipment through a one-time expenditure from fund balance in the Superior Court Special Revenue Fund (259). Total cost is estimated not-to-exceed $58,000. In addition, pursuant to A.R.S. § 42-17106, transfer expenditure appropriation in the amount of $58,000 from Non-Departmental (470) Non-Departmental Grants Fund (249) Non-Recurring (0001) Potential Expenditures from Fund Balance line to Superior Court (800) Superior Court Special Revenue Fund (259) Non-Recurring (0001). Court Technology Services (CTS) of the Superior Court requests approval to purchase 64 new desktop PCs to replace units purchased as early as 2002 for use in electronic courtrooms. It is important to note that 114 units were previously approved for purchase, ordered, and that CTS received 50 of the 114 units in mid June, 2009. CTS realized that an error was made in the order and stopped delivery on the remaining 64 units. CTS can use the 50 units received without modification. CTS requests permission to purchase the remaining 64 units in fiscal year 2010 with a slightly different configuration that has no cost differentiation from the 50 units already received. Electronic courtrooms require a PC to operate the system’s management software called For The Record (FTR). CTS has 114 electronic courtrooms where the FTR PC is four or more years old with many of them in them six to seven years old. The 50 PCs previously received and discussed above will work in the audio only electronic courtrooms. CTS needs 64 PCs in the desktop form factor (larger case) to allow room for the taller Audio/Video card required in other electronic courtrooms. Court recording is a part of the Judicial Branch’s core services. Problems with the FTR PCs will either delay the court proceedings or require that a court reporter manually record court proceedings. Either alternative will cost the court delays and more money. Another costly impact to the court is the time invested by CTS. There are many hours spent by CTS to resolve FTR PC problems. An intangible impact is the frustration experience by the judicial officers and judicial staff. (C-80-10-001-2-00)