House committee to consider bipartisan Right to Repair Act for electronics
Alabama’s proposed Right to Repair bill would allow consumers and technicians to fix electronics independently and affordably.
software
Russian expat hires Poarch Creek’s lobbyist to hawk legislation to monitor contractor’s work
A former Russian banker’s company is now offering software to the state that would take screen captures of contractor PCs at least once every three minutes and also track keystrokes and mouse activity. Poarch Creek’s lobbyist, Barton & Kinney, LLC, is pushing legislation similar to that being hawked in New Jersey and 20-plus other states … Continued
McLeod Software purchases new headquarters building in Hoover
By Staff Alabama Political Reporter McLeod Software has purchased a 140,000-square foot office building in Hoover for its new corporate headquarters. The company announced that it plans to move into it’s new facility in early summer 2018 at the completion of a major remodeling project. “One of the most rewarding opportunities McLeod Software offers our … Continued
December 5, 2017
US Health and Human Services finds Alabama Medicaid put patient data at risk
By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter Alabama Medicaid has another problem with data security. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General recently released a report detailing Alabama Medicaid’s failure to “adequately secure its Medicaid Management data and Information System (MMIS).” It also failed to “implement specific controls over its MMIS … Continued
Six Million Plus and Counting on Another Failed System
By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter Another one of Governor Robert Bentley’s bright ideas to help bring the State into the “digital-age” is crumbling, as the time and attendance software known as eSTART was abandoned by the Department of Human Resources (DHR). A recent memo from the DHR alerted staff that, ‘the use of e-START, … Continued
Hearing Wednesday in Zeigler’s challenge to Bentley’s $47 million STAARS software
By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Wednesday, September 21, a hearing will be held in a lawsuit challenging Gov. Robert Bentley’s (R) controversial $47 million no-bid contract for the purchase of the ,much maligned STAARS software. State Auditor Jim Zeigler (R) filed suit alleging that the massive no-bid contract violates Alabama’s bid laws and the … Continued
STAARS WAARS: May the Source Be With You
By Susan Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Registering for STAARS takes more technical skills than navigating the Millennium Falcon through an asteroid field. Having some business before the State that requires we register with STAARS, gives us an opportunity to experience, first hand, the workings of this software. Even though we are quite sure that our … Continued
Attorney General’s Opinion Decides Round One in Technology Turf War
By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—An Attorney General’s Opinion issued July 29, confirms the State Personnel Board (SPB) and the State Personnel Department (SPD) have the specific authority to “promulgate the manner by which State agencies are to maintain time and leave records.” The legal definition of promulgating means, “to formally proclaim or declare … Continued
STAARS Still Failing Alabama
By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—The $47 million no-bid software package known as STAARS, a statewide government accounting system, is now going to require more full-time staff at the Department of Finance, according to a presentation made to agency heads last week. SEE HANDOUT The multi-million dollar system, touted as a cost-saving measure, will … Continued
Zeigler Comments on State’s Failed Financial Software
By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter On Wednesday, December 9, Alabama State Auditor Jim Zeigler commented on the software scandal that was first revealed by the Alabama Political Reporter’s Bill Britt on Tuesday. State Auditor Zeigler said in a statement, “We have known for some time that the Bentley administration had major internal problems, but … Continued